US Marine veteran Megan Leavey, known for her service in Iraq as a canine handler, is being celebrated for her dedication and bravery.
Megan, born on October 28, 1983, in Valley Cottage, New York, enlisted in the US Marine Corps in August 2003 following the 9/11 attacks. She joined the K-9 unit a year later and was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with her loyal companion Rex in May 2005.
Megan and Rex’s bond was unbreakable, as they were deployed once more to Ramadi in May 2006. However, their journey took a dangerous turn in September 2006 when they were injured in an IED explosion while on patrol. Fortunately, both Megan and Rex survived the blast, although Rex suffered a serious shoulder injury.
After undergoing physical therapy, Megan was honorably discharged from the Marines in December 2007. In April 2012, Megan was granted permission to adopt Rex, but sadly he passed away later that year from old age.
Despite the loss, their story was immortalized in a 2017 film adaptation, with Kate Mara portraying Megan.
In 2018, Megan and Rex were honored at the Congers Lake Memorial Park in New York with a dog park named Clarkstown K-9 Corrals. Today, Megan works as a veterinary surgical technician at Old Tappan Veterinary in New Jersey, where she continues to provide exceptional care to her patients.
She received a Purple Heart for her service and remains proud of her time in the Marines.
In April 2024, the film based on Megan’s life became available to stream on Netflix, allowing viewers to learn more about her remarkable story and her enduring bond with Rex.
