Roy Exum: The Secret Train Ride

  • Saturday, February 28, 2015
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

It was during Christmas of 2003 when Bennett Levin and his wife found themselves talking and worrying about the wounded soldiers at the Walter Reed Military Hospital in Bethesda, Md., and at the nearby Bethesda Naval Hospital. Their wish was that they could do something meaningful, something really grand, for the soldiers who had lost limbs, their eyesight, and far worse.

As fate would have it, the two Philadelphia philanthropists had just enjoyed the annual Army-Navy football game and had gloried in the pageantry as the two academies marched into Philadelphia’s Municipal Stadium.

Well, one idea spawned another. Levin had parlayed an engineering degree at Penn State into one of the country’s greatest engineering firms and, for the record, has so much money he could set a wet mule on fire and not miss a dime.

He also is in a small, select group of wealthy men who own very luxurious railroad cars. For the record Levin has three, plus two huge, fire-breathing locomotives – think your own Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum – and suddenly they settled on the “Liberty Limited,” a magnificent train that would carry Wounded Warriors from the Army and those from the Navy to the 2005 Army-Navy football game.

The reason no one heard about it until earlier this month when Bob Taylor revealed what happened is that it was done under a heavy cloak of secrecy – there were three steadfast rules that all involved must obey:

1. No media whatsoever. This was to be a lavish excursion for the soldiers who had been injured while fighting for freedom – not some traveling circus where every time a guy moved he would be hounded for interviews, asked to pose for pictures and bombarded with stupid questions. No – this was designed just for the guys.

2. No politicians of any kind. This wasn’t going to turn into a photo-op for some vote-zealous candidates seeking re-election.

3. No Pentagon “suits.” This was for soldiers -- a way they could relax instead of jumping to attention every time some General walked into the different train cars.

Because Levin is a trustee with the Army War College Foundation, he knew the commander at Walter Reed and got immediate approval. And because he knows other very wealthy men who have the ornate and deeply luxurious antique railroad carriages, he rounded up enough to have space for nearly 100 special riders.

Best of all, because he’s at heart an engineer, he put together a logistics scheme where Amtrak would gather the cars from across the country, assemble them behind the burly steam locomotives and take his special guests to Philadelphia and back.

President Kennedy traveled to two Army-Navy games this way – riding in the very car that Levin owns today. The same car brought Bobby Kennedy home when he was killed. Today the undercarriage is heavy steel plate filled with concrete because, don’t you know, a heavy car rides smoothest.

Friends at the War College came up with tickets to the game, a cluster at the 50-yard line on both sides of the field, and Levin made a few more calls. The “goodie bag” for each person included, among many more things, a heavy stadium blanket, a down-filled jacket, precision binoculars, cameras and more. Every donating company knew there would not be any recognition given and not a one said no.

"We wanted to give them a first-class experience," says Bennett. "Gourmet meals on board, private transportation from the train to the stadium, perfect seats - real hero treatment."

Bennett Levin admitted he was nervous when he went to meet his special guests at Union Stadium in Washington but almost immediately he was swept up in the joy of the day. The Wounded Warriors put him and his wife at ease immediately and, when the boys saw how opulent the cars were, the starched tablecloths and the dazzling waiters, the ride to the stadium in Philadelphia was like none had ever experienced. “They were all smiles on the ride to Philly. Not an ounce of self-pity from any of them. They're so full of life and determination."

Each soldier was allowed to bring a date or a friend. Some were accompanied by medical personnel. The Marines, however, had a request. "They voted not to take guests with them, so they could take more Marines," says Levin, choking up at the memory. A sumptuous lunch was served inside the stadium at halftime and another dinner was served on the return trip. “Heroes get hungry,” Levin explained.

Bennett admits he is not too emotional, but as he and his wife said goodbye to the grateful soldiers, one cried out, “Man, I’m blind so I can’t see you but you must be (expletive) beautiful!” Bennett said, “I had a lump in my throat that was so big I couldn’t answer.”

Just before special buses would return the boys back to the hospitals, 11 Marines serenaded the Levins with the Marine Corp Hymn in a manner where many wept. Last year, the husband and wife were awarded the highest civilian award the Corps can bestow, “The Semper Fidelis Award.”

Bennett, who is Jewish, remembered. “My Christmas came early," says Levin, who loves the Christmas season. "I can't describe the feeling in the air. "

One of many thank you notes read: "The fond memories generated last Saturday will sustain us all - whatever the future may bring."

Isn’t that just wonderful? For almost 10 years the secret of the Liberty Limited has been closely-held because it wasn’t about publicity, politicians or “the brass.” It was for the boys. And as though you now know far more than was ever intended, there is one last thing. That train has rolled a couple or three more times to the annual Army-Navy game.

royexum@aol.com

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