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Every Day Is a Gift: A Memoir
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Learn the incredible story of Illinois senator and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth and see what inspired her to follow the path that made her who she is today.
In Every Day Is a Gift, Tammy Duckworth takes readers through the amazing—and amazingly true—stories from her incomparable life. In November of 2004, an Iraqi RPG blew through the cockpit of Tammy Duckworth's U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The explosion, which destroyed her legs and mangled her right arm, was a turning point in her life. But as Duckworth shows in Every Day Is a Gift, that moment was just one in a lifetime of extraordinary turns.
The biracial daughter of an American father and a Thai-Chinese mother, Duckworth faced discrimination, poverty, and the horrors of war—all before the age of 16. As a child, she dodged bullets as her family fled war-torn Phnom Penh. As a teenager, she sold roses by the side of the road to save her family from hunger and homelessness in Hawaii. Through these experiences, she developed a fierce resilience that would prove invaluable in the years to come.
Duckworth joined the Army, becoming one of a handful of female helicopter pilots at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She served eight months in Iraq before an insurgent's RPG shot down her helicopter, an attack that took her legs—and nearly took her life. She then spent thirteen months recovering at Walter Reed, learning to walk again on prosthetic legs and planning her return to the cockpit. But Duckworth found a new mission after meeting her state's senators, Barack Obama and Dick Durbin. After winning two terms as a U.S. Representative, she won election to the U.S. Senate in 2016. And she and her husband Bryan fulfilled another dream when she gave birth to two daughters, becoming the first sitting senator to give birth.
From childhood to motherhood and beyond, Every Day Is a Gift is the remarkable story of one of America's most dedicated public servants.
Learn the incredible story of Illinois senator and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth and see what inspired her to follow the path that made her who she is today.
In Every Day Is a Gift, Tammy Duckworth takes readers through the amazing—and amazingly true—stories from her incomparable life. In November of 2004, an Iraqi RPG blew through the cockpit of Tammy Duckworth's U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The explosion, which destroyed her legs and mangled her right arm, was a turning point in her life. But as Duckworth shows in Every Day Is a Gift, that moment was just one in a lifetime of extraordinary turns.
The biracial daughter of an American father and a Thai-Chinese mother, Duckworth faced discrimination, poverty, and the horrors of war—all before the age of 16. As a child, she dodged bullets as her family fled war-torn Phnom Penh. As a teenager, she sold roses by the side of the road to save her family from hunger and homelessness in Hawaii. Through these experiences, she developed a fierce resilience that would prove invaluable in the years to come.
Duckworth joined the Army, becoming one of a handful of female helicopter pilots at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She served eight months in Iraq before an insurgent's RPG shot down her helicopter, an attack that took her legs—and nearly took her life. She then spent thirteen months recovering at Walter Reed, learning to walk again on prosthetic legs and planning her return to the cockpit. But Duckworth found a new mission after meeting her state's senators, Barack Obama and Dick Durbin. After winning two terms as a U.S. Representative, she won election to the U.S. Senate in 2016. And she and her husband Bryan fulfilled another dream when she gave birth to two daughters, becoming the first sitting senator to give birth.
From childhood to motherhood and beyond, Every Day Is a Gift is the remarkable story of one of America's most dedicated public servants.
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First published March 30, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 571 reviews
July 15, 2021
I found this to be a moving memoir. Duckworth tells of surviving discrimination, poverty and war.
The book is well written and easy to read. Duckworth tells of her love of the Army and identity as a soldier and helicopter pilot. Her struggle with a loss of identity when she could no longer fly after losing both her legs and severely injuring her right arm when shot down in Iraq. The book primarily covers her life from birth in Thailand to her election as senator. I am impressed with her ability and determination to obtain her Ph.D. in spite of all the obstacles. She appears to be highly motivated to help veterans and her fellow citizens. I hope she writes a book about her life as a senator. We need more people like her in government.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is eight hours and thirty-six minutes. Tammy Duckworth does a good job narrating her own book.
The book is well written and easy to read. Duckworth tells of her love of the Army and identity as a soldier and helicopter pilot. Her struggle with a loss of identity when she could no longer fly after losing both her legs and severely injuring her right arm when shot down in Iraq. The book primarily covers her life from birth in Thailand to her election as senator. I am impressed with her ability and determination to obtain her Ph.D. in spite of all the obstacles. She appears to be highly motivated to help veterans and her fellow citizens. I hope she writes a book about her life as a senator. We need more people like her in government.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is eight hours and thirty-six minutes. Tammy Duckworth does a good job narrating her own book.
February 22, 2021
I tore through this book in two sittings. I was expecting Duckworth's memoir to emphasize her political career, but I could not have been more mistaken: all but a few of the chapters revolve around her childhood as a poor immigrant and her military service, all of which serve to provide context for her decision to enter politics. As an aircrew veteran myself, I was deeply emotionally impacted reading about the shootdown of her Black Hawk over Iraq. It was everything we had been trained to fear: catastrophic casualties over enemy territory. Her recovery, too, was a portrait of resilience.
I'm going to be recommending this book to as many people as possible in order to feel more seen and understood as a female veteran. I could not be more impressed with the integrity, courage, and tenacity of Duckworth as an individual, and especially as an advocate for the issues which have directly affected her: poverty, immigration, combat, disability, womanhood (especially in the military), motherhood. I'm so grateful to Duckworth for her lifetime of service and leadership.
I'm going to be recommending this book to as many people as possible in order to feel more seen and understood as a female veteran. I could not be more impressed with the integrity, courage, and tenacity of Duckworth as an individual, and especially as an advocate for the issues which have directly affected her: poverty, immigration, combat, disability, womanhood (especially in the military), motherhood. I'm so grateful to Duckworth for her lifetime of service and leadership.
April 18, 2025
"In shock and acting on pure instinct, I tried to fly the helicopter. Unaware that my legs were gone, and focused on finding a landing spot, I struggled to press the pedals. At the same time, I tried to pull on the cyclic stick between my legs, which controls the rotor and almost certainly had stopped functioning. The RPG had knocked out our avionics system, so we couldn’t hear or talk to each other, and the cockpit was quickly filling with black smoke. We’re gonna get a compressor stall, I thought, knowing the number two engine must have sucked in debris from the explosion. We’re going to have a hydraulic failure. My mind was whirling, frantically trying to solve each new crisis."
How lucky the USA is to have this woman who has dedicated her life to public service!
Her childhood was all in Southeast Asia where her father met her mother while he was involved on behalf of the USA in the Vietnam war. Her father kept working in SE Asia and other countries (such as Indonesia) after the war.
"From a child’s perspective, this all seemed very simple: Americans were the ones who helped people in need, who opened their doors and took in refugees, who cared. I had the same feeling when my dad took us to see the U.S. diplomats cutting ribbons to open new hospitals and schools in Bangkok. I would eagerly tell other people in the crowd that my dad was American, and because of that, I was American. I still had never been to the United States, and wouldn’t get there for five more years. But these experiences marked the beginning of my deep feeling of patriotism for this country."
She was often teased by both her relatives and other children for being biracial. But she was one of the lucky ones.
"I was also very lucky that, unlike many others, I never had to find a way to prove that I was American. In 1982, when I was fourteen, President Reagan signed into law the Amerasian Immigration Act. This new law was aimed at allowing biracial children of U.S. servicemen—kids who were born in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand since 1950, then abandoned by their fathers—to come to America. President Reagan called it “a major step of facing up to the moral responsibility which we can’t ignore.” He also said that “instead of saying ‘welcome’ to these children, we should say, ‘Welcome home.’”"
Eventually coming to America, her family’s life was on the edge of poverty
"“You need to go sign up for food stamps,” she said. “And you need to get the kids enrolled in school. They have subsidized lunch programs, so that will help.” When Dad told her we had been living in a hotel, she said, “No, no. You need to find yourselves an apartment.” But of course, we had no cash to pay the first month’s rent and the deposit, so what landlord would ever agree to rent to us? In one sickening instant, I understood how ordinary people became homeless: If you have no money, you can’t get an apartment. If you don’t have an apartment, you can’t get a job. You fall into a cycle that, once it starts, is nearly impossible to climb out of. And I realized with a sudden and frightening clarity that my own family was close to falling in."
"Without those subsidized meals, there’s no way I would have finished high school. I’d have had to drop out to find a way to feed myself and my family—and who knows where I might have ended up. Is it any wonder that today I’m a vocal defender of social safety net programs?"
Her journey from school to the military and then to government service was full of challenges. One has to admire her dedication and her determination to see beyond her own injuries to the challenges other veterans faced.
"Nearly ten years after the shootdown, I had phantom pain in my legs and could still feel burning on the soles of my nonexistent feet. My right arm was healed, though it had limited mobility. And although shrapnel pieces were no longer falling out of my skin, I still had dozens of metal bits embedded throughout my torso, arms, and face."
"All told, I would spend thirteen months recovering at Walter Reed, a length of time that made my recovery easier not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. If I had been thrown out into the world after a month or two, I would have had to deal with people’s stares, and the frustration of explaining over and over what had happened to me. Instead, I was in an environment where being an amputee was the norm, and everyone understood what everyone else was going through."
Even missing most of one arm and two legs did no cause her to shrink from what she saw as her “duty and responsibility.”
"Since leaving Walter Reed, I had continued to serve as a drilling Guardsman, performing one weekend of service a month, plus two weeks of summer training each year. Because I had started receiving a disability pension after the shootdown, I wasn’t getting paid for these days of service—and in addition, I also had to pay for my own plane tickets and hotel stays, all for the privilege of continuing to serve."
There is so much more to write about her life, but I will just post a several quotations:
At home ----
"When my mom landed a big job sewing costumes for a hālau hula dance troupe, she went into overdrive. These costumes weren’t bikini tops and grass skirts; they were long ruffled skirts with multiple tiers, which meant multiple hems, each of which took hours to complete. I helped Mom when I could, but sewing those hems by hand was murderously boring and tedious, and doing them for even just an hour left me feeling catatonic. Mom, on the other hand, worked for hours on end. Watching her labor, her back aching and fingers bleeding, gave me great appreciation for all the workers who toil to make the cheap clothes and home goods we buy from overseas factories. It also laid bare a simple truth about the working poor. My family never worked as hard as when we were living at the poverty line. The notion that the working poor don’t need a living wage, or that they just need to work harder if they want to get ahead, is abhorrent. I can tell you from personal experience, that’s not how life works—even though a whole lot of politicians who’ve never lived in poverty themselves seem to think it is."
Of camaraderie -
"Yet these men courageously took this extra time—not even to save my life, because they thought I was dead. They stayed behind, risking their own lives, to recover my body for my family. They did it for the purest of all reasons, that you never leave a fallen comrade behind."
Being used -
"Unfortunately, I learned quickly that this wouldn’t be a one-time occurrence—far from it. All day, every day, whether in the ICU or the regular hospital ward, people wanted to come to my bedside, say a word or two, get a photo taken, and then continue on their rounds to the next wounded warrior. And these weren’t just military officers either. We had nonstop visits from celebrities, actors, politicians, comedians, Cabinet members—a regular who’s who of high-powered strangers, dutifully filing past my hospital bed. Visitors fell into one of two categories. The first consisted of people who really cared about the patients—guys like Gary Sinise and Adam Sandler, who visited repeatedly, offered support, and never made the visits about themselves. The second consisted of those who came for their own PR purposes, turning the wounded into props so their marketing machine could show them “supporting the troops.” They’d shuffle through, offer a hello and a half-hearted handshake, flash their pearly whites for the camera, and then head out without bothering to learn our names. Feeling like exotic creatures in a cage, we patients started referring to ourselves as the Amputee Petting Zoo."
Recovery -
"All told, I would spend thirteen months recovering at Walter Reed, a length of time that made my recovery easier not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. If I had been thrown out into the world after a month or two, I would have had to deal with people’s stares, and the frustration of explaining over and over what had happened to me. Instead, I was in an environment where being an amputee was the norm, and everyone understood what everyone else was going through."
How lucky the USA is to have this woman who has dedicated her life to public service!
Her childhood was all in Southeast Asia where her father met her mother while he was involved on behalf of the USA in the Vietnam war. Her father kept working in SE Asia and other countries (such as Indonesia) after the war.
"From a child’s perspective, this all seemed very simple: Americans were the ones who helped people in need, who opened their doors and took in refugees, who cared. I had the same feeling when my dad took us to see the U.S. diplomats cutting ribbons to open new hospitals and schools in Bangkok. I would eagerly tell other people in the crowd that my dad was American, and because of that, I was American. I still had never been to the United States, and wouldn’t get there for five more years. But these experiences marked the beginning of my deep feeling of patriotism for this country."
She was often teased by both her relatives and other children for being biracial. But she was one of the lucky ones.
"I was also very lucky that, unlike many others, I never had to find a way to prove that I was American. In 1982, when I was fourteen, President Reagan signed into law the Amerasian Immigration Act. This new law was aimed at allowing biracial children of U.S. servicemen—kids who were born in Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand since 1950, then abandoned by their fathers—to come to America. President Reagan called it “a major step of facing up to the moral responsibility which we can’t ignore.” He also said that “instead of saying ‘welcome’ to these children, we should say, ‘Welcome home.’”"
Eventually coming to America, her family’s life was on the edge of poverty
"“You need to go sign up for food stamps,” she said. “And you need to get the kids enrolled in school. They have subsidized lunch programs, so that will help.” When Dad told her we had been living in a hotel, she said, “No, no. You need to find yourselves an apartment.” But of course, we had no cash to pay the first month’s rent and the deposit, so what landlord would ever agree to rent to us? In one sickening instant, I understood how ordinary people became homeless: If you have no money, you can’t get an apartment. If you don’t have an apartment, you can’t get a job. You fall into a cycle that, once it starts, is nearly impossible to climb out of. And I realized with a sudden and frightening clarity that my own family was close to falling in."
"Without those subsidized meals, there’s no way I would have finished high school. I’d have had to drop out to find a way to feed myself and my family—and who knows where I might have ended up. Is it any wonder that today I’m a vocal defender of social safety net programs?"
Her journey from school to the military and then to government service was full of challenges. One has to admire her dedication and her determination to see beyond her own injuries to the challenges other veterans faced.
"Nearly ten years after the shootdown, I had phantom pain in my legs and could still feel burning on the soles of my nonexistent feet. My right arm was healed, though it had limited mobility. And although shrapnel pieces were no longer falling out of my skin, I still had dozens of metal bits embedded throughout my torso, arms, and face."
"All told, I would spend thirteen months recovering at Walter Reed, a length of time that made my recovery easier not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. If I had been thrown out into the world after a month or two, I would have had to deal with people’s stares, and the frustration of explaining over and over what had happened to me. Instead, I was in an environment where being an amputee was the norm, and everyone understood what everyone else was going through."
Even missing most of one arm and two legs did no cause her to shrink from what she saw as her “duty and responsibility.”
"Since leaving Walter Reed, I had continued to serve as a drilling Guardsman, performing one weekend of service a month, plus two weeks of summer training each year. Because I had started receiving a disability pension after the shootdown, I wasn’t getting paid for these days of service—and in addition, I also had to pay for my own plane tickets and hotel stays, all for the privilege of continuing to serve."
There is so much more to write about her life, but I will just post a several quotations:
At home ----
"When my mom landed a big job sewing costumes for a hālau hula dance troupe, she went into overdrive. These costumes weren’t bikini tops and grass skirts; they were long ruffled skirts with multiple tiers, which meant multiple hems, each of which took hours to complete. I helped Mom when I could, but sewing those hems by hand was murderously boring and tedious, and doing them for even just an hour left me feeling catatonic. Mom, on the other hand, worked for hours on end. Watching her labor, her back aching and fingers bleeding, gave me great appreciation for all the workers who toil to make the cheap clothes and home goods we buy from overseas factories. It also laid bare a simple truth about the working poor. My family never worked as hard as when we were living at the poverty line. The notion that the working poor don’t need a living wage, or that they just need to work harder if they want to get ahead, is abhorrent. I can tell you from personal experience, that’s not how life works—even though a whole lot of politicians who’ve never lived in poverty themselves seem to think it is."
Of camaraderie -
"Yet these men courageously took this extra time—not even to save my life, because they thought I was dead. They stayed behind, risking their own lives, to recover my body for my family. They did it for the purest of all reasons, that you never leave a fallen comrade behind."
Being used -
"Unfortunately, I learned quickly that this wouldn’t be a one-time occurrence—far from it. All day, every day, whether in the ICU or the regular hospital ward, people wanted to come to my bedside, say a word or two, get a photo taken, and then continue on their rounds to the next wounded warrior. And these weren’t just military officers either. We had nonstop visits from celebrities, actors, politicians, comedians, Cabinet members—a regular who’s who of high-powered strangers, dutifully filing past my hospital bed. Visitors fell into one of two categories. The first consisted of people who really cared about the patients—guys like Gary Sinise and Adam Sandler, who visited repeatedly, offered support, and never made the visits about themselves. The second consisted of those who came for their own PR purposes, turning the wounded into props so their marketing machine could show them “supporting the troops.” They’d shuffle through, offer a hello and a half-hearted handshake, flash their pearly whites for the camera, and then head out without bothering to learn our names. Feeling like exotic creatures in a cage, we patients started referring to ourselves as the Amputee Petting Zoo."
Recovery -
"All told, I would spend thirteen months recovering at Walter Reed, a length of time that made my recovery easier not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. If I had been thrown out into the world after a month or two, I would have had to deal with people’s stares, and the frustration of explaining over and over what had happened to me. Instead, I was in an environment where being an amputee was the norm, and everyone understood what everyone else was going through."
August 15, 2022
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s memoir is an unforgettable story of courage, determination, resilience, loyalty and patriotism.
Born in Thailand, she is the daughter of a Thai-Chinese mother and a caucasian American father. Because of her biracial heritage, she dealt with discrimination throughout her childhood in Southeast Asia. As a child she dreamed of living in the United States, but her father continued to work in Southeast Asia. The family lived in Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, and Singapore before finally relocating to Honolulu and then Virginia.
While a student in graduate school, a friend suggested she join ROTC. It was there that she found her calling in the United States Army. She trained to become a helicopter pilot. When the United States became involved in the war in Iraq, Tammy answered the call of duty and went to Iraq where she flew support missions. It was on one of those missions that the helicopter she was flying was hit by an RPG. Her rescue and survival from horrific injuries were nothing short of a miracle.
Senator Duckworth relates her story with honesty and humility. She exemplifies what it means to love and serve your country. She is a true patriot. Her incredible story reminds us that, truly, every day is a gift.
Born in Thailand, she is the daughter of a Thai-Chinese mother and a caucasian American father. Because of her biracial heritage, she dealt with discrimination throughout her childhood in Southeast Asia. As a child she dreamed of living in the United States, but her father continued to work in Southeast Asia. The family lived in Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Jakarta, and Singapore before finally relocating to Honolulu and then Virginia.
While a student in graduate school, a friend suggested she join ROTC. It was there that she found her calling in the United States Army. She trained to become a helicopter pilot. When the United States became involved in the war in Iraq, Tammy answered the call of duty and went to Iraq where she flew support missions. It was on one of those missions that the helicopter she was flying was hit by an RPG. Her rescue and survival from horrific injuries were nothing short of a miracle.
Senator Duckworth relates her story with honesty and humility. She exemplifies what it means to love and serve your country. She is a true patriot. Her incredible story reminds us that, truly, every day is a gift.
May 31, 2025
This isn't great literature but it IS a great memoir. Apparently Tammy Duckworth's "writing helper" was aiming to keep the story in Duckworth's voice and to not add any literary flourishes. But that was OK with me. Duckworth's life story (so far) factually stands on its own as an amazing read.
Her story begins with her mother's family's escape to Thailand from China during the communist revolution. Duckworth's father was a white American who, unlike many American men, did not abandon his Asian partner but married her before Duckworth's birth. They lived a fairly comfortable life in Asia until her father lost his civilian job and they moved to Hawaii. The father struggled to find employment and they lived in poverty. Duckworth managed to graduate from U of Hawaii and joined the Army National Guard. She became a helicopter pilot, was shot down in Iraq, and lost both her legs. Then got married and subsequently had two daughters.
Underwood is very patriotic and considers being a soldier her life's calling. She is now a retired Lt. Col. and a current US Senator (D) from Illinois. How about them apples!?! You can't make this stuff up.
Her story begins with her mother's family's escape to Thailand from China during the communist revolution. Duckworth's father was a white American who, unlike many American men, did not abandon his Asian partner but married her before Duckworth's birth. They lived a fairly comfortable life in Asia until her father lost his civilian job and they moved to Hawaii. The father struggled to find employment and they lived in poverty. Duckworth managed to graduate from U of Hawaii and joined the Army National Guard. She became a helicopter pilot, was shot down in Iraq, and lost both her legs. Then got married and subsequently had two daughters.
Underwood is very patriotic and considers being a soldier her life's calling. She is now a retired Lt. Col. and a current US Senator (D) from Illinois. How about them apples!?! You can't make this stuff up.
July 4, 2021
July 3, 1240am ~~ Review asap. This woman is amazing!!
July 4, 215pm ~~ We all think our lives are special. Or tragic. Or filled with drama. Or blessed. Or whatever.
Reading biographies and memoirs reminds us that every life is just as special as ours, and often more dramatic, more intense, more whatever.
This is a good lesson for everyone, especially those who tend to pity themselves for what may seem mountains but are actually smaller than molehills.
Senator Duckworth has faced mountains her entire life. This woman is the living example of true grit. Strength. Determination. Stubbornness. She needed all of these attributes to survive November 12, 2005.
The story packs a punch. I cried. I held my breath. I cheered.
I will never forget.
Thank you, Senator Duckworth, for sharing. For reminding us all that it is possible to conquer mountains and not merely endure them.
You are my hero.
July 4, 215pm ~~ We all think our lives are special. Or tragic. Or filled with drama. Or blessed. Or whatever.
Reading biographies and memoirs reminds us that every life is just as special as ours, and often more dramatic, more intense, more whatever.
This is a good lesson for everyone, especially those who tend to pity themselves for what may seem mountains but are actually smaller than molehills.
Senator Duckworth has faced mountains her entire life. This woman is the living example of true grit. Strength. Determination. Stubbornness. She needed all of these attributes to survive November 12, 2005.
The story packs a punch. I cried. I held my breath. I cheered.
I will never forget.
Thank you, Senator Duckworth, for sharing. For reminding us all that it is possible to conquer mountains and not merely endure them.
You are my hero.
November 7, 2022
Wow! Senator Tammy Duckworth is an incredible person filled with grit, determination, stamina, and an off-the-chart work ethic.
She was born to an American father and a Thai mother and lived in many places including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Cambodia. Tammy and her family were one of the last American families flown out of Phnom Penh as the Khmer Rouge surrounded the capital city.
Her father had difficulty holding down a job so they often lived in abject poverty. Tammy, her father and her brother moved to Hawaii but her mother did not have a visa so she couldn't move with them. While in high school, Tammy would pass out tourist flyers in Waikiki to earn money for the family. She was responsible for the family budget, cooking, and cleaning while attending high school.
When Tammy sets her mind on a goal, she outworks everyone around her so that she can achieve her goal. She became an Army pilot and was shot down in Iraq. Both of her legs were amputated and one arm was severely damaged.
While recuperating at Walter Reed, she was constantly in pain but she became an advocate for veteran's rights and would contact Senator Dick Durbin to help. Durbin had visited Tammy and other veterans at Walter Reed. Durbin became a friend and mentor.
Durbin suggested to Tammy that she run for the US House of Representatives. She did and lost the race. She began working on veteran's affairs and later ran for Congress and was sworn in on January 2017.
As if recovering from her injuries and running challenging campaigns wasn't enough, she also gave birth to two girls. Babies were not allowed on the Senate floor which would have made voting on bills difficult for Tammy while she was nursing her second daughter. She advocated for the Senate rules to change and ran into many roadblocks, but eventually the rules were changed. Her 10-da-old daughter was present when Tammy voted on proposed legislation.
Highly recommend for readers who enjoy memoirs, history, politics, and stories about badass women.
She was born to an American father and a Thai mother and lived in many places including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Cambodia. Tammy and her family were one of the last American families flown out of Phnom Penh as the Khmer Rouge surrounded the capital city.
Her father had difficulty holding down a job so they often lived in abject poverty. Tammy, her father and her brother moved to Hawaii but her mother did not have a visa so she couldn't move with them. While in high school, Tammy would pass out tourist flyers in Waikiki to earn money for the family. She was responsible for the family budget, cooking, and cleaning while attending high school.
When Tammy sets her mind on a goal, she outworks everyone around her so that she can achieve her goal. She became an Army pilot and was shot down in Iraq. Both of her legs were amputated and one arm was severely damaged.
While recuperating at Walter Reed, she was constantly in pain but she became an advocate for veteran's rights and would contact Senator Dick Durbin to help. Durbin had visited Tammy and other veterans at Walter Reed. Durbin became a friend and mentor.
Durbin suggested to Tammy that she run for the US House of Representatives. She did and lost the race. She began working on veteran's affairs and later ran for Congress and was sworn in on January 2017.
As if recovering from her injuries and running challenging campaigns wasn't enough, she also gave birth to two girls. Babies were not allowed on the Senate floor which would have made voting on bills difficult for Tammy while she was nursing her second daughter. She advocated for the Senate rules to change and ran into many roadblocks, but eventually the rules were changed. Her 10-da-old daughter was present when Tammy voted on proposed legislation.
Highly recommend for readers who enjoy memoirs, history, politics, and stories about badass women.
April 4, 2021
I don't know when I've read a more inspirational book. Senator Duckworth saw so many choices for her life. I marvel at her attitude - always positive, always "forward". I can't even comprehend how she looks at situations and never seems to think -"I couldn't do that. . .I have no legs. . .I am too busy. . .I am too old to have children. . .". But she never sees things that way. There's no need for a summary of her story as the main points are well known at this point. I was a woman in a male corporate environment and I certainly was never as effective in making changes as she was. I admire her so much, and having read what she has done against so many odds, I think I may be able to
adopt a little more of her style. This is 5-stars as it was and will be impactful! READ THIS BOOK!
adopt a little more of her style. This is 5-stars as it was and will be impactful! READ THIS BOOK!
July 11, 2022
Senator Tammy Duckworth has lived an extraordinary life so far, filled with joy, heartbreak and seemingly impossible physical challenges, yet she stays positive and and perseveres through the worst that life has thrown her. Her story is beyond inspirational and her kick ass attitude is both admirable and hysterical.
Her early life had so many challenges, growing up as a mixed race child in Southeast Asia, moving to Hawaii where she and her family we’re always on the verge of homelessness and hunger, to graduating college, getting her Masters Degree, joining the Army, deploying to Iraq and suffering devastating injuries after her Black Hawk helicopter was shot down. Her recovery at Walter Reed hospital was excruciating, yet recover she did, and at the urging of Sen. Dick Durbin, she entered politics, becoming a member of the House of Representatives (IL-8) and later, the junior Senator from Illinois. Along the way, she also received her Doctorate and worked to improve Veterans Affairs in both Illinois and on the Federal level. Her husband Bryan Bowlsbey, who she met during their ROTC days, has always been her rock of support in everything she had done, and together they have 2 beautiful daughters, which in itself is a miracle.
Throughout the book, Tammy is clear eyed about her life and also maintains her wicked sense of humor. She had a difficult relationship with her father, who, in my opinion, was a loser, and I am being kind in that description. As an adult, she saw him for who he was, and accepted him for who he was and who he wasn’t.
Although I don’t use audiobooks, this is one of the few books that would tempt me if she was the narrator. I would be hard pressed to find another woman who I admire as much, with only Gabby Giffords coming in a really close second, and maybe RBG.
I can’t recommend this book enough! If I’m having a bad day, I’ll need to think of WWTD (what would Tammy do?) and get over myself.
Her early life had so many challenges, growing up as a mixed race child in Southeast Asia, moving to Hawaii where she and her family we’re always on the verge of homelessness and hunger, to graduating college, getting her Masters Degree, joining the Army, deploying to Iraq and suffering devastating injuries after her Black Hawk helicopter was shot down. Her recovery at Walter Reed hospital was excruciating, yet recover she did, and at the urging of Sen. Dick Durbin, she entered politics, becoming a member of the House of Representatives (IL-8) and later, the junior Senator from Illinois. Along the way, she also received her Doctorate and worked to improve Veterans Affairs in both Illinois and on the Federal level. Her husband Bryan Bowlsbey, who she met during their ROTC days, has always been her rock of support in everything she had done, and together they have 2 beautiful daughters, which in itself is a miracle.
Throughout the book, Tammy is clear eyed about her life and also maintains her wicked sense of humor. She had a difficult relationship with her father, who, in my opinion, was a loser, and I am being kind in that description. As an adult, she saw him for who he was, and accepted him for who he was and who he wasn’t.
Although I don’t use audiobooks, this is one of the few books that would tempt me if she was the narrator. I would be hard pressed to find another woman who I admire as much, with only Gabby Giffords coming in a really close second, and maybe RBG.
I can’t recommend this book enough! If I’m having a bad day, I’ll need to think of WWTD (what would Tammy do?) and get over myself.
May 3, 2021
4.5 - An incredibly inspiring memoir from one amazing woman, soldier, senator and mother. Admittedly I didn’t know much about Tammy Duckworth other than what I saw in the headlines about her being the first sitting Senator to breastfeed on the floor. Her story is so much more than that. Born to a white American father and a Thai mother, Tammy grew up living hand to mouth in Hawaii. She managed to put herself through university and then enlisted in the army, where she served in the Iraq war and was shot down from her Black hawk helicopter, losing both her legs. It was a miracle she survived the accident but while recovering she kept fighting for better disability rights and care for hospital vets which eventually led to her entering politics. At the same time she was also trying to become a mother in her 40s and had to fight for fertility treatments against doctors who said she was too old. She did this not once but multiple times having her second daughter just before she turned 50 all while running a senate election race. Truly an inspiration about what women can achieve with enough determination. Highly recommend if you enjoy reading about strong women working to change the world.
November 2, 2021
Beth says:
You may think you know something about our U.S. Senator, Tammy Duckworth, but her memoir really gives insight into her life and personality. She had such a fascinating childhood, growing up in five different countries as a biracial child to a white American-born father and Thai-Chinese mother. Her authenticity and humor shines through as she describes her teenage and college years, as well, working odd jobs including selling flowers to tourists in Hawaii. She defies gender norms by becoming a helicopter pilot in Iraq, and she shares the experience (and difficult recovery) of being shot down in 2004. You also get a glimpse of what it is like to be the first U.S. Senator to give birth while in office (spoiler: a breast-feeding Senator wasn't exactly welcomed on the Senate floor!). She reads the audiobook version of the book, which really helps you feel like you are getting to know her as she reads to you about her life.
You may think you know something about our U.S. Senator, Tammy Duckworth, but her memoir really gives insight into her life and personality. She had such a fascinating childhood, growing up in five different countries as a biracial child to a white American-born father and Thai-Chinese mother. Her authenticity and humor shines through as she describes her teenage and college years, as well, working odd jobs including selling flowers to tourists in Hawaii. She defies gender norms by becoming a helicopter pilot in Iraq, and she shares the experience (and difficult recovery) of being shot down in 2004. You also get a glimpse of what it is like to be the first U.S. Senator to give birth while in office (spoiler: a breast-feeding Senator wasn't exactly welcomed on the Senate floor!). She reads the audiobook version of the book, which really helps you feel like you are getting to know her as she reads to you about her life.
April 4, 2021
Senator Duckworth crossed my radar a couple of years ago. I liked what I've seen of her, so when this book popped up on my library's website, it was a no brainer to grab it to learn more about Tammy. She comes off as very down to earth, someone who genuinely wants to help others, first her family, then her army family and now those that elected her. Along the way she has paid a high price, but she continues to strive to help those that need it. I hope she has a long career to keep helping.
May 4, 2021
Tammy Duckworth's memoir, "Every Day is a Gift," is a compelling account of the senator's remarkable life thus far. Tammy begins with heartbreaking anecdotes about her childhood. Her mom, Lamai, is Thai-Chinese, and her dad, Frank Duckworth, was an American serviceman. Tammy's early years were not a cakewalk. The other children teased her and, even though her dad withheld praise from Tammy, she always did her best to win his approval. As a teenager, she was a go-getter who worked at a variety of jobs to help her itinerant and sometimes destitute family make ends meet. In addition, she was a diligent and ambitious student, and when she joined the military, she lived her dream—to fly a Black Hawk helicopter.
Duckworth wholeheartedly expresses her appreciation for her many blessings. This may sound far-fetched, considering that she nearly died when, while flying a mission over Iraq, her chopper was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on November 12, 2004. If not for her compassionate, quick-thinking, and skilled fellow servicemen, she could not have survived. Furthermore, thanks to the excellent medical attention and therapy she received at Walter Reed and her determination to recover as quickly as possible, she regained her independence and went on to accomplish a great deal, both personally and professionally. Although Senator Duckworth is a double amputee, she drives, walks with the aid of titanium prosthetics, and uses a wheelchair when necessary. Considering the hardships that she has faced, she has a remarkably positive attitude.
This book is touching and inspiring, but never mawkish. In lucid, fast-paced, and eloquent prose, the author relates her sometimes tragic but ultimately triumphant history. Although much of the book is intense and serious, it is also funny and even a bit raunchy at times. We learn not only about Tammy's challenging early years and her determination to excel at any task she undertook, but also about her love for her supportive husband, Bryan. At the behest of Senator Dick Durban, Duckworth entered the world of politics. She fought for veterans' rights, served two terms in the House of Representatives, and has been the junior Senator from Illinois since 2016. She makes a point of paying tribute to other wounded warriors who, like her, endured and overcame adversity, as well as to her mentors, particularly Senator Durban. This incredible woman— who exemplifies grit, patriotism, and commitment to public service—sums up the personal philosophy: "I know I've been given a second chance, and every day I must try to make good use of it."
Duckworth wholeheartedly expresses her appreciation for her many blessings. This may sound far-fetched, considering that she nearly died when, while flying a mission over Iraq, her chopper was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on November 12, 2004. If not for her compassionate, quick-thinking, and skilled fellow servicemen, she could not have survived. Furthermore, thanks to the excellent medical attention and therapy she received at Walter Reed and her determination to recover as quickly as possible, she regained her independence and went on to accomplish a great deal, both personally and professionally. Although Senator Duckworth is a double amputee, she drives, walks with the aid of titanium prosthetics, and uses a wheelchair when necessary. Considering the hardships that she has faced, she has a remarkably positive attitude.
This book is touching and inspiring, but never mawkish. In lucid, fast-paced, and eloquent prose, the author relates her sometimes tragic but ultimately triumphant history. Although much of the book is intense and serious, it is also funny and even a bit raunchy at times. We learn not only about Tammy's challenging early years and her determination to excel at any task she undertook, but also about her love for her supportive husband, Bryan. At the behest of Senator Dick Durban, Duckworth entered the world of politics. She fought for veterans' rights, served two terms in the House of Representatives, and has been the junior Senator from Illinois since 2016. She makes a point of paying tribute to other wounded warriors who, like her, endured and overcame adversity, as well as to her mentors, particularly Senator Durban. This incredible woman— who exemplifies grit, patriotism, and commitment to public service—sums up the personal philosophy: "I know I've been given a second chance, and every day I must try to make good use of it."
September 30, 2025
I must admit that I was not looking forward to reading this book for our book club. I am not a person who is greatly interested in soldiers or, really, biographies.
But Tammy Duckworth, I quickly discovered, is not just a soldier and this isn't just a biography.
Tammy Duckworth was born to an American soldier and his Thai wife in Southeast Asia at the end of the Vietnam War. Though her family was, for a time, affluent, later they spent many years in deep poverty.
It is Duckworth's drive and resolve and persistence and grit that won my heart. She clawed her way into college, into becoming a helicopter pilot, through the trauma of losing her legs after being shot down, into a Senate seat, and into having children.
What an inspiration.
But Tammy Duckworth, I quickly discovered, is not just a soldier and this isn't just a biography.
Tammy Duckworth was born to an American soldier and his Thai wife in Southeast Asia at the end of the Vietnam War. Though her family was, for a time, affluent, later they spent many years in deep poverty.
It is Duckworth's drive and resolve and persistence and grit that won my heart. She clawed her way into college, into becoming a helicopter pilot, through the trauma of losing her legs after being shot down, into a Senate seat, and into having children.
What an inspiration.
April 21, 2021
Nothing excites me more than inspiring women with the willpower to turn a less-than situation into a positive force of motivation and courage. As someone who is a military brat as well as a military spouse, I have heard of Tammy Duckworth for many years and am familiar with her story, but the amount of respect I have for her has tripled after reading, Every Day is a Gift. She is a beautiful American and is a shining example of what being an American means.
~Tanja
*Provided by Publisher
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~Tanja
*Provided by Publisher
Follow me on
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April 25, 2021
Never have I been so moved in reading a memoir as I was reading this. I usually avoid memoirs by politicians, assuming the books are little more than marketing. And I also usually avoid books that I fear will be "rah rah Amurica" themed stories because, well, I'm just not there. This is not that - at all. Senator Duckworth's book is candid and one hell of a story. And you can tell she speaks her own mind because she calls this or that person a sexist asshole, references one of her blowjob jokes, and comes across in some ways as someone you might know at work. This is clearly not a book intended for the conventional campaign trail. And it's the polar opposite of a woe-is-me wounded warrior book. This is a person who is almost supernatural in her commitment to hard work done for the right reasons. It's a great read (and I'm so glad I voted for her).
May 5, 2021
Best memoir since Jessica Simpson’s “Open Book” (that’s a compliment!!!!). This is a future Academy Award winning movie role for some unknown actress out there somewhere.
But in all seriousness, very enjoyable to listen to. I could have finished it in a day but I intentionally stretched it out because I will miss not listening to this book. Tammy Duckworth has lived a very interesting life and although I was aware of how she lost her legs, I didn’t know her full story. Worth consuming this memoir - watch her interview on CBS Sunday Morning to be sold even more. Remarkable story - and inspiring person who always manages to stay hopeful during dark times.
But in all seriousness, very enjoyable to listen to. I could have finished it in a day but I intentionally stretched it out because I will miss not listening to this book. Tammy Duckworth has lived a very interesting life and although I was aware of how she lost her legs, I didn’t know her full story. Worth consuming this memoir - watch her interview on CBS Sunday Morning to be sold even more. Remarkable story - and inspiring person who always manages to stay hopeful during dark times.
March 27, 2021
I've always had tons of respect for Tammy Duckworth without knowing much about her. Learning her history only makes me respect her more. While this provides insights into the military and politics, I was most intrigued by Duckworth's early years moving around the globe. A great pick if you want to know more about our awesome senator.
April 3, 2021
One of the best books I've ever read!
I had the honor of serving as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Thailand. I know that there was "half persons" in Thailand. Because Senator Duckworth was honest about this, she was likely to be honest about the test of the book. I'm very proud to have her serving as a senator even though I'm not from her state.
I had the honor of serving as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Thailand. I know that there was "half persons" in Thailand. Because Senator Duckworth was honest about this, she was likely to be honest about the test of the book. I'm very proud to have her serving as a senator even though I'm not from her state.
March 31, 2025
I had not expected to get so much out of this book because I couldn’t imagine reading about someone involved in politics and the army, but I was curious about this woman. Tammy Duckworth has a fantastic story from growing up as a child with an Asian mother and an American father who was in the Army, and I’m delighted that I read it. Tammy said many things in the book that spoke to her determination to be the best she could and how she pursued life.
Under the acknowledgments at the end of the book, she spoke to her daughters and said: “You are both named for strong women, and I know you will grow into powerful, caring, young ladies, capable of doing anything you set your minds to achieving. Just remember that not all children grow up with the privileges you enjoy every day. As you make your own journeys through life, I hope you will take to heart the lessons of this book, practicing empathy and sharing the gifts you’ve been given with others who may be laboring to survive the challenges in their own lives.”
I learned many lessons from this book and from how Tammy Duckworth lived her life up to this point, and I think anyone else reading it would feel the same way.
Under the acknowledgments at the end of the book, she spoke to her daughters and said: “You are both named for strong women, and I know you will grow into powerful, caring, young ladies, capable of doing anything you set your minds to achieving. Just remember that not all children grow up with the privileges you enjoy every day. As you make your own journeys through life, I hope you will take to heart the lessons of this book, practicing empathy and sharing the gifts you’ve been given with others who may be laboring to survive the challenges in their own lives.”
I learned many lessons from this book and from how Tammy Duckworth lived her life up to this point, and I think anyone else reading it would feel the same way.
April 6, 2021
Definitely the best political autobiography I have read, but at the same time, politics are not the focus. Sen. Duckworth was born in Thailand to a Thai mother and American father. Her childhood was spent moving around Southeast Asia for her father's assignments. She details the life of a biracial child growing up during a time when wars and American soldiers left behind severe consequences for poor Asian women. When her father lost his job, the family immigrated to Hawaii and struggled to get by for a while. She managed to graduate with honors and attend college and grad school. It was during this time, she joined the Army Reserves and learned to fly helicopters. This later led to her deployment to Iraq where she flew Black Hawks. Duckworth was shot down in 2004 and sustained injuries that damaged an arm and caused her to become a double amputee. Recounting her time in Walter Reed and her desire to help other wounded vets, Duckworth earned positions in the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs before going to the Federal VA. During this time, she decided to run for Congress and manage to start a family at the same time. This is definitely a woman who knows how to get things done.
September 18, 2021
Soldier, senator, mother, fighter, survivor, and all around an incredible human being, an amazing woman, and exemplary patriot, Senator & Iraq War veteran Duckworth’s memoir “Every Day Is a Gift: A Memoir” is not your usual political memoir. Senator Duckworth has quite the story to tell, and she takes you on her incredible life journey that made her who she is today — from difficult childhood in Southeast Asia & Hawaii, joining the Army & that eventful day in Iraq where she lost both her legs to grueling recovery process, motherhood, and serving in the U.S. Army, House, and now the Senate. Honest, compelling, and unfiltered storytelling, this is a must read.
October 22, 2021
Tammy Duckworth is an amazing woman. She was born to a Chinese Thai mother and an American father. She spent much of her childhood is Southeast Asia and finally moved to Hawaii in her late teens. She loved being a soldier and specifically a Black Hawk pilot. Her helicopter was shot down in Iraq and she lost both of her legs. After a grueling recovery at Walter Reed Veterans Hospital, she managed to become a House of Representative member for the state of Illinois. She became a mother in her late 40s and then a Senator. Such an interesting memoir about a remarkable, inspirational woman.
August 23, 2021
Ms. Duckworth is an amazing person. I can not believe all the things she overcame to become a U.S. senator. Her story should be an inspiration for anyone seeking to overcome disability in their lives. The only complaint I had about the book was the bad language she used during her time in the army.
October 26, 2021
4.5 stars
January 2, 2022
Fascinating, inspiring — I could not put it down. Wonderful memoir!
April 25, 2021
Every Day is a Gift by Tammy Duckworth is an honest memoir about growing up Amerasian in Asia and then transition to Hawaii and then the greater 48 states. Growing up, Tammy saw many biracial Asian children mixed with different American fathers, begging and facing discrimination. However, her father stayed with the family making her unique. I taught Sociology of Work for years and always told students that you take your whole person to the workplace, it is very true about Tammy Duckworth. Experiences as a child and teenager shapes the way she commands and governs.
Her father, Frank was a White man from Virginia who joined the Marine Corp when he was underage and made much of his life outside the U.S. Yet, there are many missing details of his life, as he was married before meeting her mother, Lamai in Thailand. Lamai was from China, but left there during one of that country’s difficult period. Frank had two children and a stepdaughter from that marriage. He constantly compared Tammy with the stepdaughter, but again no details. So, Tammy grew up wanting to please and receive praise from her father. Her younger brother, Tom, as a boy got attention and praise immediately. Frank worked in different capacities, including running a housing complex for expats, but once it was sold, he lost his job and had trouble as an aging man in this global market finding work that suited his vision of himself. That meant Tammy knew comfort as well as hard times.
Frank and the two children return to the US, actually to Hawaii and quickly run out of money. As a veteran he sought help and was told to get Food Stamps, enroll the children in school, where they will get free meals and find a job. Yet, he does not find paid work. Eventually Tammy has to confront her father and in addition to school and sports, she is working in the informal economy in Waikiki Beach. She writes to her mother in Thailand and Lamai borrows money to join them and helps the family through arduous work to get on their feet. Tammy finishes high school, working hard and often spending time hungry. She knows that without Food stamps and school meals, she would not have finished high school, because she would have had to quit to help support her family.
Her parents did make many sacrifices to help her with college at the University of Hawaii, where her dorm room was luxury compared to the tiny apartment the family occupied. Her family moves to Virginia, where her father finally has work and during summers, she does visit them.
Her parents did not have clear expectations for her, so it is suggestions from other that set her on paths. She is interested in international relations and after college enrolls at Georgetown. She had a good job, but once the institute sold the company where she worked, she was jobless and a friend suggested she join ROTC and go to Basic training for the summer. The military was in her blood, but she really found her place. After coming of age in a dysfunctional family, the order of the Army as well as the camaraderie was exciting. After discrimination and not fitting in racially, at the point when she was in the Army there was a core value of treating people equally—not shared by all—but because the Army was integrated in 1948, it faced many battles that private corporations put off for decades.
She juggles much but does make it through training and school, eventually going to Northern Illinois University for a degree in Southeast Asian studies. As she enters the state, she feels like she found a home.
I know little about the military and grew up in a city that had tuition free colleges, at least in my era, so that was my path to higher education. Family member in other states have used the military as a route to higher education. I’ve even had students on that path in my classes. Thus, I learned much about the organization of the military reading this book. Tammy wanted combat and the path for her as a woman was via Aviation. She worked hard and got an excellent placement to a Black Hawk, since the Army was going to replace other helicopters. She was a great team members and leader, older people who had served in Vietnam supported her.
She married Bryan, who she met in Basic Training, and begins working different deployments around the world. They have a home in a suburb of Chicago. She does not go to Iraq with the unit she commanded for years, but gets there via another route. She is good about commenting on how the Army is not ready for women in many ways, uniforms, but people are committed to each other.
When her helicopter was shot and she was gravely injured, Dan who had just taken over controls landed it. Helicopters fly in teams, so the other Black Hawk, landed and got the injured people back to base, letting them know she would need critical care. She was in Bagdad and then Walter Reed, where she does connect with Bryan. The recovery was long, complicated and painful, but she pushed through it especially since people initially thought she was dead. It took many months, different treatment, IV drips and the like. However, because she was in a protective setting, it was like therapy.
Many people who need mental health treatment do not seek it. Tammy brings many insights into the life of military people. Men like her father stopped Food Stamps when his wife arrived, never applied to disability and that resulted in a small payment for his widow. Tammy knows the barriers and can think about ways to administratively avoid them.
In Walter Reed she speaks up about mistreatment and other matters, like not enough housing for the families of people in treatment. There is much that the military is not handing well. She has a direct line to Senator Dick Durbin. It is he who encouraged Tammy to run for Congress, which she does and losses. But wins when she runs again. Meanwhile, she works in Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, where she can be effective since she knows how people in the military think. She does more for Veterans in the Obama’s administration.
She can also work on other goals, like motherhood, which she discovered she was misinformed about. Again, a way to take action to correct misinformation given to military women. Tammy gives birth and even though Abigail is little, she runs for the Senate in 2016. Sworn in by Biden in 2017, she is ready for work. She gets pregnant again and has Maile in April of 2018. Changing rules as she brings her infant onto the Senate floor to vote.
Tammy talks much about retiring from the Army, since Solider is very much a part of her identity. I think that is important for women in other occupations to read this memoir and appreciate how the military was Tammy’s home with her comrades who literally saved her life.
Her father, Frank was a White man from Virginia who joined the Marine Corp when he was underage and made much of his life outside the U.S. Yet, there are many missing details of his life, as he was married before meeting her mother, Lamai in Thailand. Lamai was from China, but left there during one of that country’s difficult period. Frank had two children and a stepdaughter from that marriage. He constantly compared Tammy with the stepdaughter, but again no details. So, Tammy grew up wanting to please and receive praise from her father. Her younger brother, Tom, as a boy got attention and praise immediately. Frank worked in different capacities, including running a housing complex for expats, but once it was sold, he lost his job and had trouble as an aging man in this global market finding work that suited his vision of himself. That meant Tammy knew comfort as well as hard times.
Frank and the two children return to the US, actually to Hawaii and quickly run out of money. As a veteran he sought help and was told to get Food Stamps, enroll the children in school, where they will get free meals and find a job. Yet, he does not find paid work. Eventually Tammy has to confront her father and in addition to school and sports, she is working in the informal economy in Waikiki Beach. She writes to her mother in Thailand and Lamai borrows money to join them and helps the family through arduous work to get on their feet. Tammy finishes high school, working hard and often spending time hungry. She knows that without Food stamps and school meals, she would not have finished high school, because she would have had to quit to help support her family.
Her parents did make many sacrifices to help her with college at the University of Hawaii, where her dorm room was luxury compared to the tiny apartment the family occupied. Her family moves to Virginia, where her father finally has work and during summers, she does visit them.
Her parents did not have clear expectations for her, so it is suggestions from other that set her on paths. She is interested in international relations and after college enrolls at Georgetown. She had a good job, but once the institute sold the company where she worked, she was jobless and a friend suggested she join ROTC and go to Basic training for the summer. The military was in her blood, but she really found her place. After coming of age in a dysfunctional family, the order of the Army as well as the camaraderie was exciting. After discrimination and not fitting in racially, at the point when she was in the Army there was a core value of treating people equally—not shared by all—but because the Army was integrated in 1948, it faced many battles that private corporations put off for decades.
She juggles much but does make it through training and school, eventually going to Northern Illinois University for a degree in Southeast Asian studies. As she enters the state, she feels like she found a home.
I know little about the military and grew up in a city that had tuition free colleges, at least in my era, so that was my path to higher education. Family member in other states have used the military as a route to higher education. I’ve even had students on that path in my classes. Thus, I learned much about the organization of the military reading this book. Tammy wanted combat and the path for her as a woman was via Aviation. She worked hard and got an excellent placement to a Black Hawk, since the Army was going to replace other helicopters. She was a great team members and leader, older people who had served in Vietnam supported her.
She married Bryan, who she met in Basic Training, and begins working different deployments around the world. They have a home in a suburb of Chicago. She does not go to Iraq with the unit she commanded for years, but gets there via another route. She is good about commenting on how the Army is not ready for women in many ways, uniforms, but people are committed to each other.
When her helicopter was shot and she was gravely injured, Dan who had just taken over controls landed it. Helicopters fly in teams, so the other Black Hawk, landed and got the injured people back to base, letting them know she would need critical care. She was in Bagdad and then Walter Reed, where she does connect with Bryan. The recovery was long, complicated and painful, but she pushed through it especially since people initially thought she was dead. It took many months, different treatment, IV drips and the like. However, because she was in a protective setting, it was like therapy.
Many people who need mental health treatment do not seek it. Tammy brings many insights into the life of military people. Men like her father stopped Food Stamps when his wife arrived, never applied to disability and that resulted in a small payment for his widow. Tammy knows the barriers and can think about ways to administratively avoid them.
In Walter Reed she speaks up about mistreatment and other matters, like not enough housing for the families of people in treatment. There is much that the military is not handing well. She has a direct line to Senator Dick Durbin. It is he who encouraged Tammy to run for Congress, which she does and losses. But wins when she runs again. Meanwhile, she works in Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, where she can be effective since she knows how people in the military think. She does more for Veterans in the Obama’s administration.
She can also work on other goals, like motherhood, which she discovered she was misinformed about. Again, a way to take action to correct misinformation given to military women. Tammy gives birth and even though Abigail is little, she runs for the Senate in 2016. Sworn in by Biden in 2017, she is ready for work. She gets pregnant again and has Maile in April of 2018. Changing rules as she brings her infant onto the Senate floor to vote.
Tammy talks much about retiring from the Army, since Solider is very much a part of her identity. I think that is important for women in other occupations to read this memoir and appreciate how the military was Tammy’s home with her comrades who literally saved her life.
July 7, 2023
Senator Tammy Duckworth is an extraordinary individual who navigated through incredibly traumatic circumstances with otherworldly resilience and grace. Regardless of one's political affiliations or preferences, her story serves as a beacon of hope and fortitude; this is the story of a war vet who unapologetically loves her country, who courageously advocates for her fellow veterans to ensure they receive the promised support and care they deserve for their service to the United States. For me, there was no better way to commemorate the week of Independence Day than immersing myself in the memoir of this heroic figure who would have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. Thank you for your service and sacrifices, Senator Duckworth.
March 11, 2023
This book is a good 3.5/5 for me because of how interesting Duckworth's story is and how positively the book talks about it. It's not the best written book but given that Duckworth isn't an author, I can't grudge her for it. This book has however changed my general disdain for non-fic and I might end up reaching for one or two of them occasionally (Thanks Ruthwik).
August 21, 2021
This well written and inspiring memoir chronicles U.S. Senator and Lt. Col. Tammy Duckworth's life from her childhood as a mixed race child of a US serviceman and a Thai/Chinese mother in Southeast Asia overcoming poverty and adversity to achieve an education through her distinguished military career in which she survived the loss of both legs when her helicopter was shot down by enemy fire in Iraq. Although she was able to adapt to prosthetic legs and even fly again, she was no longer fit for combat and went to work in veterans affairs before entering politics and becoming a Congresswoman and later US Senator (and mother) from Illinois. Not the least of her accomplishments is her loving partnership with her husband, a fellow serviceman.
Written in adown to earth, irreverent, and engaging style, readers will not only learn about this remarkable American hero but also the adversities that low (or no) income foreign born nonwhites, especially females, encounter, the brother and sisterhood of the US military, and how the US looks after its veterans.
Written in adown to earth, irreverent, and engaging style, readers will not only learn about this remarkable American hero but also the adversities that low (or no) income foreign born nonwhites, especially females, encounter, the brother and sisterhood of the US military, and how the US looks after its veterans.
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