Early Life
Born on March 12th 1968 in Thailand to her father Franklin, an American Veteran who fought in WW ll and Vietnam, and her mother Lamai, a Thai shopkeeper of Chinese descent.
Franklin moved the family of four around in search of a well paying job. This included: Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Honolulu.
While in Vietnam Franklin worked for the United Nations development programs. After he moved Tammy, Tommy, and himself to Honolulu, Hawaii too poor to pay for Lamai to come over just yet. While Duckworth's father struggled to find a well paying job She began working low paying jobs and using food stamps to keep her family afloat and off the streets.
Education & Military
Attended University of Hawaii working minimum wage jobs to finish with her B.A. in 1989.
Attended George Washington University for her M.A. in international affairs, with the encouragement from her peers at GW University and the need to save money, Duckworth joined the Reserve officers training Corps...Just a few weeks into training she was hooked. She felt like she was meant to fly helicopters as well as it was the closest women were allowed to get to combat in the 90's. graduated GW in 1992 she kept rising in military ranks, where she met her husband.
With her husband Duckworth moved to Illinois to attend Northern Illinois University for her Ph. D in political science.