Women in War: How Major Tammy Duckworth Lost Her Legs and What She Says Is Wrong with the War in Iraq
SM: You were studying for a master’s in international affairs when you decided to join the military. Why did you enlist?
Duckworth: I found in graduate school that the friends I had and the people whose values I respected were all members of the military. So I got to talking to my friends and they said, “If you’re serious about it why don’t you take ROTC [Reserve Officers Training Corps]?” I really enjoyed my ROTC classes and that’s when I realized I wanted to make the military part of my life.
SM: What is it about the military you like?
Tammy Duckworth: The value system. I can be with other people who truly understand what it means to serve your country and that there’s something bigger than yourself. I wouldn’t have had anywhere near the leadership development in the civilian world. I ended up commanding a Black Hawk helicopter company. They didn’t care if I was female or a minority; as long as I could do the job then I was going to be given an opportunity to do the job.
SM: You are obviously an inspiration for many people. Who inspires you?
Duckworth: The World War II generation has always been my hero. The fact that they fought this incredible war and then came home and brought America into the modern era and made a world leader of it has always been inspiring. My personal heroes are people like Senator Dole, Senator Inouye and Senator Hart [who] all were World War II veterans and all were injured and recovered together at the same military hospital as young soldiers. They could have stopped serving, but each went back to their homes and chose to continue to serve their country. They’re my heroes and it’s not about any political party, it’s about serving your country.
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Your comments
| fun_in_the_sun | |
| I think we have to listen to what Tammy said about the troops not having freedom of speech to speak out against the war. One of my friends is in Iraq and he agrees that we just need to get out of there. We need to start listening to the soldiers themselves who have seen everything first hand, because only they can tell us the truth about the situation. | |
| asya | |
| what i appreciate most about this interview is that it's not sensationalist like many people out there. tammy does not simply bash on the administration but intellectually defines the problem and what we can do to alleviate the situation. | |
| LILA -- Los Angeles | |
| Tammy--thank you so much for shedding light on the military experience. While I respect the fact that the troops put their lives on the line for their country, with this war (that I don't agree with), it's been rather hard to not think of the troops as being "brainwashed." Now I feel like I can't really say that anymore thanks to your story and explanation of what it's like and what it means to be a U.S. soldier. Thank you. | |
| blackie | |
| Tammy, if you happen to read this, don't be so sure that you CAN'T wear those aforementioned summer dresses and wedge heels. I saw a girl on the news recently wearing SHORT SHORTS--damn near hot pants and SHE had lost a leg at 10. They're called LISA legs--just the thing for a night out on the town, when you don't want to be wheeled around or wear the "industrial" legs. Check 'em out IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY--they, fit HIGH, too. I THINK they're made by a firm called FDR orthotics. | |
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