(Ben Bloker/Stars and Stripes)

Landstuhl, Germany, Oct. 30, 2007: Tammy Duckworth, then the director of Illinois’ Department of Veterans Affairs, talks with Airman 1st Class Johann Diakunczak, 25, a security forces specialist with the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

Duckworth, a veteran of the war in Iraq, lost both legs when her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, giving her the grim distinction of being the war's first female double amputee. In 2012, Duckworth was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving two terms. In 2016 she ran a successful U.S. Senate campaign, and has been serving as a U.S. senator for Illinois since.

Read about Duckworth's visit to Landstuhl here.