If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.
Tammy DuckworthRead
As I recovered at Walter Reed, I worried about the soldiers who pulled me out of my helicopter that Friday afternoon. Would they make it back okay? And what about all the other soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who were also putting their lives on the line every day?
Interpretation
The quote reflects concerns for the well-being of fellow soldiers who risk their lives for others.
In this quote, Tammy Duckworth expresses her profound gratitude and worry for her fellow service members during her recovery at Walter Reed. She acknowledges the sacrifices made by those in the military and highlights the deep sense of camaraderie and responsibility that exists among soldiers, emphasizing a shared commitment to each other's safety and sacrifice in service to their country.
In practice
Using this quote in a speech to honor veterans during a Memorial Day ceremony.
If I still had my legs, I would be in line for a battalion command, and instead, I'm flying a desk.
It was the combination of hard work and a hand up that allowed me to become one of the first women to fly in combat missions and achieve my American Dream.
I went to Iraq in 2004 because I believe in doing my duty, not because I agreed with the war.
The women putting their lives at risk for our country deserve better than to be treated as second-class citizens.
The wheelchair and the prosthesis give me a soapbox to stand on. If it helps me get my message across, I'm glad; then we need to talk about what we need to do for this country.
My experience in Iraq made me realize, and during the recovery, that I could have died. And I just had to do more with my life.
Seeing their children touched and seared and wounded by race prejudice is one of the heaviest crosses which colored women have to bear.
Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion.
Anyone can see the adversity in a difficult situation, but it takes a stronger person to see the opportunity.
My own cancer experience has taught me that the most comforting words from friends have often been both the simplest and the most honest.
I think there was a reason God helped me escape... and I don't take my freedom for granted.
When danger is far off we may think of our weakness; when it is near we must not forget our strength.
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