Leavey and Rex in 2012.     
    
    
   

Megan Leavey (41) is a US Marine corporal who served as a Military
Police K9 handler. She was paired with military working dog Rex
(E168). The pair served two deployments in Iraq together.

They were first deployed to Fallujah in 2005, and then to Ramadi
in 2006, where they were both wounded by an improvised explosive device. Leavey was awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy and
Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a "V" device denoting
heroism in combat.

In 2012, Rex developed facial palsy, which ended his bomb-
sniffing duties. Leavey was able to adopt him through the
intervention of Senator Chuck Schumer, around April 2012.  
   

While living with Leavey, Rex died of old age on December 22,
2012.

Lance Corporal Leavey with Rex in Iraq, November 2005.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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. 

Kate Rooney Mara (41)

Near the end of a weeklong national salute to Americans who
served in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 
was dedicated in Washington, D.C. after a march to its site
by thousands of veterans of the conflict.

WASHINGTON (TNND) — President-elect Donald Trump has
picked a well-known television host and Army veteran
officer to serve in his Cabinet.

Trump has selected Fox News host Pete Hegseth (44) to
serve as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth currently co-hosts
"Fox & Friends Weekend."

Hegseth is an Army combat veteran who deployed to Iraq
and Afghanistan. He was decorated with two Bronze Stars,
as well as a Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service.

Pete Hegseth was previously the executive director of Vets
for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.

"Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a
courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through
Strength’ policy," Trump wrote.

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. On 
November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson issued a
message to his countrymen on the first Armistice Day, in
which he expressed what he felt the day meant to all
Americans. Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day
in 1954.

Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. public
holiday in May: Veterans Day commemorates the service
of all U.S. veterans, while Memorial Day specifically honors
those who have died while in military service.

Thomas Woodrow Wilson
(December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924)

At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the
Great War ended. At 5 a.m. that morning, Germany, bereft of
manpower and supplies and faced with imminent invasion,
signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car
outside Compiégne, France (above).