Tammy Duckworth Reunited With Army Medic Who Saved Her Life (pic)

[cal04]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/tammy-duckworth-iraq-medic_n_4054074.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

Scott Gillis sat in the House balcony, watching a speech by Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). The last time Gillis had seen her, she was unconscious, bleeding profusely and in need of life-saving surgery.

Gillis was one of the medics who helped save Duckworth's life in 2004. Back then, he was an Army sergeant stationed in Iraq, and Duckworth was rushed into Gillis' hospital tent after her helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Before passing out, Duckworth, an Army pilot, somehow managed to help land the helicopter, despite injuries that led to both of her legs being amputated and one of her arms being damaged. Gillis was there to receive her, helping to stabilize her before she was flown to Germany for emergency surgery. He never saw her after that.

Despite having treated more than 2,000 soldiers during the war, Gillis said he always remembered Duckworth. There were a couple of things about her that stood out.

"The grotesqueness of her injuries and that she was a woman," said Gillis, now 40 and living in Northern Virginia. "We also got briefed as to what happened to our patients when we got them."



Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a former Army pilot, was reuinted at the Capitol with the medic who saved her life in Iraq in 2004. | Jennifer Bendery

[gopiscrap]

1. That's pretty cool!

Last edited Wed Oct 9, 2013, 06:05 PM - Edit history (1)

[cal04]

11. Yes, it is gopiscrap

[postulater]

2. Salutes to both of them!

[Cha]

3. Wow.. amazing..thanks cal

[cal04]

6. Yes, it is Cha

Last edited Wed Oct 9, 2013, 06:05 PM - Edit history (1)

You're very welcome

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It's good, for the both of them

[cal04]

10. They made me cry

[Boomerproud]

5. This is such a life-affirming story in such a dark time.

Beautiful people both.

[cal04]

9. It sure is Boomerproud

[DakotaLady]

7. Oh my ...

... what a wonderful heartfelt story this is.

Rep. Tammy Duckworth is on my most admired persons list.

Thank you cal04 for posting.

[cal04]

8. Mine too DakotaLady

You're very welcome

[Stuart G]

12. K and R thanks for posting nt

[grantcart]

13. A great Thai American. Her father worked in refugee matters in Bangkok when

I was there but I don't remember every meeting him.

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. rec

[joeybee12]

15. Great photo...thanks...knr

[Wait Wut]

16. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sgt. Gillis.

You didn't just save the life of an amazing woman, you saved her for all of us. Without you, we wouldn't have her voice to speak for us. You saved a role model.

We owe you so much.

[longship]

17. I happily R&K all Duckworth threads...

She is a very special congress person.

It helps that she has charisma = 18 and a double saving throw versus GOP bullshit.

[blaze]

18. It never occurred to me

that all those medics usually have no real closure on all the people they cared for.

What an eye opener.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

[sheshe2]

19. Thank You Scott Gillis

You helped save her for us. What an amazing Woman!





I love her calO4~ Thank you

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

20. I love Tammy Duckworth!

She is such an inspiration to every American!

Thanks for sharing that with us!

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

21. K&R. Great report, nt

[progressoid]

22. kick

and rec!