Tammy Duckworth visits Iraq for first time since being shot down in 2004

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said she recently visited Iraq for the first time since she was shot down in 2004 while piloting an Army helicopter.

Duckworth’s office said in a statement Friday that the Illinois senator led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Iraq during April’s recess and was joined by Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Angus King (I-Maine).

{mosads}Duckworth said the senators made the trip to “show our support for the people of Iraq and express our hope that Iraq will be an independent, strong country and a close ally of the United States for many years to come.”

“I was proud to join Senators Isakson and King representing our nation on this important trip – and I was even prouder that I was able to leave Iraq under my own power this time,” Duckworth said in a statement.

Duckworth lost both her legs when her Black Hawk helicopter was shot down in 2004.

King said he was “proud to share” the experience of visiting Iraq with Isakson “and particularly Senator Duckworth.”

“To witness Senator Duckworth flying once again over the site where she was shot down in 2004 was a moment I’ll never forget,” King said in a statement. “I’m deeply grateful for her service, and for the service of all the men and women deployed to Iraq and across the world to keep America safe.”