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The 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC, in August became a platform for up-and-coming Democrats to address a national audience. Although San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro gave a compelling and convincing immigrant story and captured headlines, it was the speech by the former Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that captured the imagination of many of us.

Ladda Tammy Duckworth is a disabled military veteran, and currently a major in the National Guard. She is also the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois 8^th district, where she faces controversial Republican incumbent Joe Walsh.

Duckworth said it was a “privilege” to speak at the convention where she shared her story of military service, her injury and the perspective as an Asian-American woman and war veteran. (Duckworth’s mother, Lamai, is a native of Thailand and of Chinese ancestry.) Duckworth, 44, enthralled the delegates with her “American Dream” story, a story which involved poverty, using safety net programs, and eventually succeeding.

“Growing up, my family struggled with poverty and unemployment, but through hard work we were able to rebuild our lives and achieve the American Dream,” said Duckworth. The challenge came when her father, Frank Duckworth, an American veteran who put himself through college on the GI Bill, became unemployed at age 55.

“My entire family pitched in—my mom took in sewing and I got a minimum wage job after school,” she explained. “Hard work, food stamps, and charity are how we paid the bills and rebuilt our lives. These experiences have taught me that I will work to find practical solutions. The core of the American Dream is the opportunity to create a future for yourself and your family.”

Thailand-born Duckworth served in Iraq as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, one of the first women to fly combat missions there until Nov. 12, 2004. On that day she suffered severe combat wounds when the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. In the explosion, she lost both legs and part of the use of her right arm. She received decorations including the Purple Heart, the Air Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

“I could have died when my helicopter was shot down in Iraq,” she reflected. “Now, I believe that this time in my life is a second chance for me, a ‘bonus time.’ This means that I am free to stand up for what I believe in and speak out for what I think is right.”

During her recovery at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, Duckworth became an advocate for her fellow soldiers. She worked through the pain and challenge of her own recovery while helping Rotary International to provide wheelchairs for the disabled in developing countries. Since her recovery, she has dedicated her life to public service, advocating on behalf of disability rights and for veterans.

In 2006, Duckworth was the Democratic candidate for Illinois’ 6th congressional district. After losing a close race, she continued to serve as a major in the National Guard and became director of Illinois’ Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where she implemented several first-in-the-nation programs to address post traumatic stress, improve traumatic brain injury screening and reduce homelessness among vets.

In 2007, she received the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award and was named the 2008 Disabled Veteran of the Year by the Disabled American Veterans. In 2008, she was selected by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama to deliver the key address on veterans’ rights at the Democratic National Convention. In 2009, she was named as an American Veterans (AMVETS) Silver Helmet award recipient, as well as The George Washington University’s Colin Powell Public Service Award Recipient.

“From one generation to the next, our veterans have stood up for America,” said Duckworth. “Some veterans are looking to live out their final years with dignity. Some are returning from overseas wounded, with a long rehabilitation ahead. Most are simply looking for a job and an opportunity. They’ve fulfilled their promise to America, and America should fulfill its promise to them.”

In 2009, President Obama nominated her to the Department of Veterans Affairs where she sought to improve the standard of care for vets. She oversaw efforts to end veteran homelessness and led initiatives for female vets and increased accessibility and accountability with the new Office of Online Communications. She resigned June 2011 to launch her congressional campaign.

Military service is a Duckworth tradition, she said, with a family member serving during every period of conflict since the Revolutionary War. Duckworth followed her father’s ancestors by joining the Reserves in graduate school and chose to fly helicopters because it was one of the few combat jobs open to women. Her husband Bryan shares her love of the military, serving as an Army Major.

A graduate of the University of Hawaii, she received a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. Despite her injuries, she declined military medical retirement and continues to drill as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard. Duckworth speaks fluent Thai and Indonesian and is a published author on the health risks of environmental radon and lung cancer.

On her campaign website, www.tammyduckworth.com, Duckworth cites her main issues as maintaining the American dream, education, jobs and economy, civil rights, Social Security, the deficit and taxes, energy, gas and the environment, Afghanistan, Israel, national defense and foreign policy and veterans’ issues. She is also recognized as working in behalf of health care for children.

“Many candidates and office holders say the right things on the issues, but too many fail to be champions when they are needed most,” Duckworth declared. “When I hear from people who are struggling to put food on the table, I understand because I’ve been there.”