Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran and the Democratic Illinois congressional candidate, drew applauds for her speech lauding Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, N.C, Tuesday night.

Duckworth, who lost both her legs and partial use of an arm in a rocket attack in Iraq, cited the story of her rescue from the attack to praise Obama's achievements.

"In that moment, my survival - and the survival of my entire crew - depended on all of us pulling together. And even though they were wounded themselves, and insurgents were nearby, they simply refused to leave a fallen comrade behind. Their heroism is why I'm alive today," said Duckworth, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

"It's about whether we do for our fellow Americans what my crew did for me, whether we'll look out for the hardest hit and the disabled, whether we'll pull together in a time of need, whether we'll refuse to give up until the job is done," she added.

Duckworth, who came to the stage in crutches to deliver her brief speech at the convention, said that Obama had "lived up to his responsibilities" by ending the Iraq war and eliminating the terrorist leaders. She lauded Obama's efforts to end gender disparity in the military policy by giving more combative roles to women and his efforts to end discrimination against gays in the military.

She criticized Republican candidate Mitt Romney for not mentioning "Afghanistan" in his GOP nomination acceptance speech.

Duckworth is running against tea party-backed freshman Republican Rep. Joe Walsh.

Check out the pictures.

Investors look at an electronic board
Investors look at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Wuhan, Hubei province, November 2, 2009. REUTERS
Tammy Duckworth Cheered in Democratic National Convention Photos
U.S. congressional candidate Duckworth addresses the opening session of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte Reuters
Tammy Duckworth Cheered in Democratic National Convention Photos
U.S. congressional candidate Duckworth walks off stage after addressing the opening session of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte Reuters
Tammy Duckworth Cheered in Democratic National Convention Photos
U.S. congressional candidate Duckworth addresses the opening session of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte Reuters
Tammy Duckworth Cheered in Democratic National Convention Photos
U.S. congressional candidate Duckworth departs after addressing delegates during the first session of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte Reuters
Tammy Duckworth Cheered in Democratic National Convention Photos
U.S. congressional candidate Duckworth waves as she arrives to address delegates during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte Reuters
Tammy Duckworth Cheered in Democratic National Convention Photos
U.S. congressional candidate Duckworth addresses the opening session of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte Reuters
Tammy Duckworth Cheered in Democratic National Convention Photos
U.S. congressional candidate Duckworth addresses delegates during the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte Reuters
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