Sounds like a platitude, right? Trust me, it’s not.
Read Senator Tammy Duckworth’s memoir of the same title and you will be awestruck by the courage, tenacity, and unbelievable resilience of this amazing woman.
I normally would not write a blog post about a book, but this is not something that can be highlighted in a simple review.
I stepped into her life and learned about challenge of being biracial, the desperate search for food amid poverty, and the grit to rise above circumstances.
My heart raced as I followed her determination to be the best soldier and fly Black Hawk helicopters in the Middle East.
I cried in horror when she and her crew were shot down and she totally lost one leg, the majority of the other and suffered a mangled arm.
I became angry at a senseless war and how Walter Reed Hospital was not prepared for the steady influx of critically wounded soldiers. I was disgusted at the steady parade of politicians who came to Walter Reed for photo ops and had NO idea about what it means to be soldier.
I cheered Senator Dick Durbin’s tenacity to help Tammy and influence her to move beyond a harrowing 13-month recovery into another form of serving our country.
I totally concur with the words of Admiral William H. McRaven, (U.S. Navy Ret.) This book is “raw, unfiltered, powerful—a compelling story of courage and determination against overwhelming odds… a true warrior who overcame a difficult upbringing, a glass ceiling, and a horrific helicopter shoot-down to become one of the most respected senators on Capitol Hill.”
Read her story. Weep. Then leave with a deeper understanding of resiliency and truth to power.