Delta Airlines First Officer Rick Leavitt, of Jefferson, was not a baseball fan before March, when he was asked to transport Marine Cpl Megan Leavey and combat dog Rex from California to New York City for a ceremony reuniting the bomb detection team.
Leavey is a Purple Heart recipient who, along with Rex, completed multiple tours of duty and more than 100 missions in Iraq, detecting roadside bombs.
A year after Leavey and Rex were injured in a bomb incident, Leavey was discharged from service. She now works in the security department at Yankee Stadium. Hearing about her separation from her service partner, Yankees President Randy Levine arranged to have Leavey flown from her Valley Cottage, N.Y. home to Camp Pendleton, Cal. to be reunited with Rex, now discharged as well.
That’s where Leavitt came into the story. Delta Airlines, the baseball team’s official airline, gave first class passage to Rex and Leavey so that they could be honored at a pre-game ceremony at the stadium. Leavitt and Capt. Greg Walsh were part of the ceremony at which Leavey was presented with a new Purple Heart medal, a replacement for the original that went missing while she was in the hospital recuperating from her injuries.
“Dogs normally aren’t allowed in the cabin,” Leavitt said May 24. “At least, not big dogs.” He said the exception made for Leavey and Rex was arranged through the Federal Aviation Administration and gave him the opportunity to help a fellow former service member. Leavitt is a Navy Veteran.
“A lot of times, on our flights, we transport service people,” he said. “They’re in uniform and often times a frequent flyer in Business Class will give up a seat.” He said military personnel are often recognized in this way and that he was glad for a chance to be part of this event.
“On top of that, I’m a big dog lover,” he said.
At Yankee Stadium, Rick Leavitt joined Leavey and Rex at home plate for the ceremony that officially retired the dog and gave him to his Marine partner.
“It was a great, once in a lifetime experience,” Leavitt said.
After the ceremony Levine invited Leavitt and his brother Rob Leavitt, of Damariscotta, to enjoy the game from the owner’s box, where they saw “a half-dozen people wearing championship rings.
“I have to consider myself a Yankees fan, now,” he said. “Most of the time you watch sports on TV, or even if you’re lucky enough to go to a game, you never get that close to the action. When you’re on the ball field amongst the players, you feel a part of the game. I feel like I have more of connection to baseball now.”
