Name of AAPI Figure	Tammy Duckworth
What is the person’s Asian heritage or ethnicity?	Thai American
Area of Influence	Tammy Duckworth’s area of influence is Military (served in the U.S. army as a helicopter pilot in the iraq war, during this time she suffered a severe combat wound losing both of her legs including her right arm. After her situation she continued to serve as a lieutenant colonel as Illinois Army National Guard. she was also an influencer in politics. She was the first Asian American woman to be elected into the congress of Illinois. Was also the first disabled woman to be elected to the U.S. house of representative. And the first member of congress to be born in Thailand.
Date of birth or time period	March 12,1968
How did this individual make a contribution to their field or to society/culture at large?	Tammy Duckworth had devoted her life to her job as a veteran in the military by helping to serve the citizens of the United States. But after her critical incident she wanted to do more so she turned to politics and created so many fair and equal acts. For example, The Choice Act in 2014 which seeks to increase the availability of care outside of the VA healthcare system for veterans who are eligible. Another example is The Bipartisan Clay Hunt SAV Act, which is a law that critical legislation that increases access to quality mental health care and combats veteran suicide.
Why did you choose this person? What about their story speaks to you?	I decided to write about Ladda Tammy Duckworth because while I was looking up people to write about she was the first person that had really made an impression on me how she did this was by me watching and reading all about her story and the things she has had to go through to get to where she is today in her life. She has done so many brave and courageous things in her life. Like losing both of her legs and right arm to save others , then having to leave the career she loved so much but then started a new one that was even better than the other and made an even bigger impact on others and wasn’t at all for the money or the fame but to encourage and help others.
How does this person inspire you?	What really had inspired me was how she was so ready to get up and do something with herself and her life after her helicopter accident. It shows how she is brave and will never give up even if she gets hurt or loses. she will always get back up and try again at something new or something old. I liked when I was reading an article about her and her interview. It had said “Many veterans are asked about their sacrifice, whether it was worth it, and Duckworth is not an exception. In a Washington Post interview, Duckworth said, “I was hurt in service for my country. I was proud to go. It was my duty as a soldier to go. And I would go tomorrow.” When she had said that I had shown me that she didn’t really care that she had gotten hurt but she cared about whether or not she was going to get back up from that injury.
Submitted by	Jassmine Jones-Buluck
Age	14
City, State	Lawrenceville, Georgia