Megan Leavey

Corporal Megan Leavey (born October 28, 1983) is a United States Marine Corps Veteran who served as a Military Police K9 handler.

For the 2017 film, see Megan Leavey (film).
Megan Leavey
Leavey and Rex in 2012
Born (1983-10-28) October 28, 1983
Valley Cottage, New York
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service2003–2007
RankCorporal
Battles/warsIraq War
Awards

Life and career

Leavey enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2003 and completed recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina.[1] Afterwards, she attended and completed the Military Police school in San Antonio, Texas where she joined the K-9 program and was paired with a military working dog named "Rex" (E168) in October 2004.[2] Leavey was stationed next at Camp Pendleton, California, assigned as a military police dog handler with the 2nd Military Police Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD).

The pair served two deployments in Iraq together, first to Fallujah in May 2005, and then to Ramadi in May 2006, where she and the German Shepherd were both wounded the following September by an improvised explosive device (IED) while she and her dog were leading a U.S. Army patrol down a street.[3][1] Leavey was awarded the Purple Heart.[3]

Leavey first sought to adopt Rex before she was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in December 2007 with the rank of corporal.[4][1] Four years later, when Rex developed facial palsy that ended his bomb-sniffing duties, Leavey again petitioned the Marine Corps for his adoption.[4][5] In April 2012, "Sergeant Rex" was retired by the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton's K-9 unit and Leavy and the dog were reunited through the intervention and support of Senator Chuck Schumer, Randy Levine (and his wife Mindy), president of the New York Yankees baseball club, and others.[2][4][6] While living with Leavey, Rex died of old age on December 22, 2012.[6][7]

Leavey and Rex became the subject of the 2017 biographical film Megan Leavey.[8] Leavey is portrayed by Kate Mara, and had a cameo appearance in the film as "Female Drill Instructor #3". In 2019, she was one of two recipients of the Genesis Legacy Medal which was presented to her by the National Purple Heart Honor Mission.[9][10]

  • Lance Corporal Leavey with Rex in Iraq, November 2005
    Lance Corporal Leavey with Rex in Iraq, November 2005

Military awards

Leavey received the following decorations and awards:

 
V
Gold star
Bronze star
Bronze star
1st row Purple Heart Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ "V" device and one 5/16" Gold Star
2nd row Combat Action Ribbon Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal
3rd row Iraq Campaign Medal w/ one 3/16" bronze star Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ one 3/16" bronze star
Badges Marine Corps Rifle Marksman Badge Marine Corps Pistol Marksman Badge

Other honors
  • Leavey and Rex were honored during a pregame ceremony at Yankee Stadium on May 13, 2012.[11]
  • Leavey received Rockland County, New York's first annual "Freedom Award" on March 19, 2013.[12]
  • A new dog park "Clarkstown K-9 Corrals" was dedicated to Leavey and Rex (and the Clarkstown Police K-9's) at Congers Lake Memorial Park in Congers, New York, on September 21, 2018.[13][14][15]

References
  1. National Purple Heart Honor Mission, Megan Leavey
  2. Iohud. "Real-life Megan Leavey talks about the Marines and Sgt, Rex", June 2/9, 2017
  3. "Marines. "MP receives Purple Heart medal", March 8, 2007". Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  4. Coffey, Wayne (May 12, 2012). "Iraq veteran Megan Leavey and her bomb-sniffing dog Rex set to be honored by the Yankees". Daily News. New York. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  5. Martinez, Luis (March 19, 2012). "Sgt. Rex and Ex-Marine Handler to Be Reunited". ABC News. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  6. "Beloved Bomb-Sniffing Dog Who Retired To Live With Marine Handler Dies". CBS New York. December 27, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  7. "Combat Dog Known as Sgt. Rex Dies, 8 Months After Being Reunited With Marine". NBC News. December 27, 2012. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  8. Lincoln, Ross A. (August 6, 2015). "Kate Mara Enlists In Biopic About Iraq War Hero Megan Leavey". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  9. Randall, Mike. "Genesis Medals awarded to pair of veterans". Times Herald-Record. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  10. National Purple Heart Honor Mission, Genesis Legacy Medal
  11. Youtube, " Cpl. Leavey and Sgt. Rex honored", May 13, 2012
  12. Patch.com
  13. Youtube, "Marine Megan Leavey And Her Beloved Dog Honored", September 21, 2018
  14. Rockland County Times, September 20, 2018
  15. Iohud. September 21, 2018
  1. Museum of the American G.I., "K9 Veterans Day"
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