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Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse
New York Times Bestseller! She wasn't a horse—she was a Marine. She might not have been much to look at—a small "Mongolian mare," they called her—but she came from racing stock, and had the blood of a champion. Much more than that, Reckless became a war hero—in fact, she became a combat Marine, earning staff sergeant's stripes before her retirement to Camp Pendleton. This once famous horse, recognized as late as 1997 by Life Magazine as one of America's greatest heroes—the greatest war horse in American history, in fact—has unfortunately now been largely forgotten. But author Robin Hutton is set to change all that. Not only has she been the force behind recognizing Reckless with a monument at the National Museum of the Marine Corps and at Camp Pendleton, but she has now recorded the full story of this four-legged war hero who hauled ammunition to embattled Marines and inspired them with her relentless, and reckless, courage.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published July 28, 2014
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April 1, 2017
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
The days of the horse cavalry were long past by the time of Reckless. But the valley of Death remained ... just relocated to Korea. Almost exactly 100 years after The Charge of the Light Brigade.
This was no publicity stunt. This horse thought she was a Marine. When work was over she wanted to be with her platoon. She ate with them; she drank beer with them; and, she partied with them. They returned her respect and love.
Reckless, a red Mongolian pony was bought by a U.S. Marine sergeant to help carry ammunition in the treacherous terrain where his recoilless rifle platoon was stationed. Hutton has collected what appears to be a complete set of annecdotes on this remarkable beast from her life before the Marines to her heroism under fire. And "under fire" did not mean just booming in the distance.
“The concussions from the incoming . . . we were so sore, it was as if somebody had beat us with a hammer, just from that pounding of the concussions. The concussion against that mare . . . I couldn’t believe she was still doing what she was doing.”
What Reckless was doing was carrying almost 200 lbs. of ammunition up hillsides that could have as much as a 45% grade....over and over while this was going on.
"Communist gunners had fired almost 41,000 shells into Allied positions during the twenty-four-hour period ending at 6:00 p.m., March 27. Approximately 36,000 of these shells were concentrated on Marine defenses...
"You talk of the Fourth of July,” Wadley remembered. “The tonnage of incoming mixed with the outgoing was unbelievable. The concussion waves from the explosives hit every fiber in our bodies. The rounds were coming in and going out so fast, a lot of them would collide mid-air over us. The rounds were hitting each other up there and causing aerial bursts."
Here is what one of her platoon mates offered:
“I was raised on horseback, working cattle and horses in Oklahoma, and know that the best of our horses could not, or would not, attempt to do what this little mare was doing. And by herself! I thought surely there was a Marine leading her, but in the flare light all I could see was her alone. She struggled along with her head and neck stretched out to help balance her load of 75 mm rounds like she knew where she was going. Indeed she knew.”
According to testimony, she did make many trips alone over hills, through swamps and barbed wire.
Her sense of duty was incredible.
"No longer did she run at the hill rising sharply from the paddy . . . rather she crept up the twisting trail and paused to take two or three rest periods en route.” But she never stopped for long. No matter how tired she was, the mare with an almost incomprehensible sense of duty just kept going."
The horse was as much a member of the platoon as any human. She received promotions to corporal and then to sergeant as the war finally ended.
The book documents how much her mates were willing to do, with money, food, and their own flak jackets, to keep her well. They got the attention of the top brass and assured that she could find a good place to retire to in the USA.
You can read this book as a horse story or as an important chapter in the history of the Korean conflict. Highly readable.
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
The days of the horse cavalry were long past by the time of Reckless. But the valley of Death remained ... just relocated to Korea. Almost exactly 100 years after The Charge of the Light Brigade.
This was no publicity stunt. This horse thought she was a Marine. When work was over she wanted to be with her platoon. She ate with them; she drank beer with them; and, she partied with them. They returned her respect and love.
Reckless, a red Mongolian pony was bought by a U.S. Marine sergeant to help carry ammunition in the treacherous terrain where his recoilless rifle platoon was stationed. Hutton has collected what appears to be a complete set of annecdotes on this remarkable beast from her life before the Marines to her heroism under fire. And "under fire" did not mean just booming in the distance.
“The concussions from the incoming . . . we were so sore, it was as if somebody had beat us with a hammer, just from that pounding of the concussions. The concussion against that mare . . . I couldn’t believe she was still doing what she was doing.”
What Reckless was doing was carrying almost 200 lbs. of ammunition up hillsides that could have as much as a 45% grade....over and over while this was going on.
"Communist gunners had fired almost 41,000 shells into Allied positions during the twenty-four-hour period ending at 6:00 p.m., March 27. Approximately 36,000 of these shells were concentrated on Marine defenses...
"You talk of the Fourth of July,” Wadley remembered. “The tonnage of incoming mixed with the outgoing was unbelievable. The concussion waves from the explosives hit every fiber in our bodies. The rounds were coming in and going out so fast, a lot of them would collide mid-air over us. The rounds were hitting each other up there and causing aerial bursts."
Here is what one of her platoon mates offered:
“I was raised on horseback, working cattle and horses in Oklahoma, and know that the best of our horses could not, or would not, attempt to do what this little mare was doing. And by herself! I thought surely there was a Marine leading her, but in the flare light all I could see was her alone. She struggled along with her head and neck stretched out to help balance her load of 75 mm rounds like she knew where she was going. Indeed she knew.”
According to testimony, she did make many trips alone over hills, through swamps and barbed wire.
Her sense of duty was incredible.
"No longer did she run at the hill rising sharply from the paddy . . . rather she crept up the twisting trail and paused to take two or three rest periods en route.” But she never stopped for long. No matter how tired she was, the mare with an almost incomprehensible sense of duty just kept going."
The horse was as much a member of the platoon as any human. She received promotions to corporal and then to sergeant as the war finally ended.
The book documents how much her mates were willing to do, with money, food, and their own flak jackets, to keep her well. They got the attention of the top brass and assured that she could find a good place to retire to in the USA.
You can read this book as a horse story or as an important chapter in the history of the Korean conflict. Highly readable.
July 2, 2014
Lucky me, I was able to get an advance copy of this all-American war horse story...and then I got to meet the author! I was up half the night my first day in this book. It is that good. The author does a great job of portraying the character of a Noble animal during terrible circumstances.
July 22, 2014
I had read Andrew Geer's Sgt. Reckless Pride of the Marines and thought I had the inside scoop on the story of this little red Mongolian mare. I was sadly mistaken.
Robin Hutton's Sgt. Reckless America's War Horse truly brings Reckless to life and fills in the huge gaps about her life, personality and life after the war, b/c that is what Korea was, a war. I cried, laughed and was absolutely enthralled with Reckless' story. I couldn't put the book down. I fell asleep with it on my chest, and was angry with myself that I had fallen asleep.
I admit, I'm a horse person. I talk to them, work with them, play and find comfort in them. The portrayal of Reckless and her Marines is the natural trust, friendship and bond that grows between man and horse, especially in stressful combat situations where horses are not known for their tremendous courage. Reckless, and her unflagging courage and determination, saved an untold number of lives. In turn, her Marine comrades gave her what she wanted most, not to be alone. This bond, the stark contrast between life in war and in America, and her love of her Marines at all times is so lovingly shown by the author that I recommend this book to everyone I know.
If you like non-fiction, biographical topics where humans and animals interact in good ways you will love this book. It does not rehash "Pride of the Marines". It is a fresh, complete look at a worthy, forgotten (by many, but not us horse people who love this little mare) subject who brought great honor to this country in the form a little red-haired Mongolian mare.
Thank you to Robin Hutton for bringing SSgt. Reckless to the fore again. And telling her story the way it should be told, in its entirety. A wonderful, intelligent, gratifying read.
Robin Hutton's Sgt. Reckless America's War Horse truly brings Reckless to life and fills in the huge gaps about her life, personality and life after the war, b/c that is what Korea was, a war. I cried, laughed and was absolutely enthralled with Reckless' story. I couldn't put the book down. I fell asleep with it on my chest, and was angry with myself that I had fallen asleep.
I admit, I'm a horse person. I talk to them, work with them, play and find comfort in them. The portrayal of Reckless and her Marines is the natural trust, friendship and bond that grows between man and horse, especially in stressful combat situations where horses are not known for their tremendous courage. Reckless, and her unflagging courage and determination, saved an untold number of lives. In turn, her Marine comrades gave her what she wanted most, not to be alone. This bond, the stark contrast between life in war and in America, and her love of her Marines at all times is so lovingly shown by the author that I recommend this book to everyone I know.
If you like non-fiction, biographical topics where humans and animals interact in good ways you will love this book. It does not rehash "Pride of the Marines". It is a fresh, complete look at a worthy, forgotten (by many, but not us horse people who love this little mare) subject who brought great honor to this country in the form a little red-haired Mongolian mare.
Thank you to Robin Hutton for bringing SSgt. Reckless to the fore again. And telling her story the way it should be told, in its entirety. A wonderful, intelligent, gratifying read.
August 3, 2014
The Military should create a medal for bravery and valor above and beyond duty such as the bronze and silver star for the animals in the service. Also an equivalent of the Medal of Honor should be created and Sgt. Reckless its first recipient. It is obvious this book was well researched. The author interviewed hundreds of Marines and other people whose lives were touched by Reckless and incorporated the wonderful stories into this book. Sgt. Reckless had a unique personality that attracted the Marines to her and she bonded with each member of her unit (75 mm Recoilless Rifle Platoon of the 5th Marines, First Marine Division. Robin Hutton’s passion for this little horse/pony and her story is evident in the details, not just about Sgt. Reckless, but in laying the groundwork for the Military action that Sgt. Reckless participated in. Hutton tells Reckless’s story from birth to her life at Camp Pendleton.
Reckless went through “hoof camp” where she was trained to step over communication lines, barb wire, ignore battle sounds and get down when incoming fire arrived. She only had to be shown once or sometimes twice and she learned the lesson. She was a 13 hand Mongolian mare, chestnut in color with white blaze down her face and three white stockings. She only weighted 900 pounds. Her job was to take ammunition (200 to 300 lbs. per load) to the men and carry the wounded back. Reckless amazingly did this on her own, men loaded her with the ammunitions, and she went alone to deliver it to the men and came back alone with the wounded on her back. She was named Reckless by the Platoon because that was their call sign.
The book goes into detail about the bloody battle of “Outpost Vegas” in March 1953. On one day Reckless made 51 round trips up and down steep terrain that no man could travel carrying nearly 5 tons of ammunitions to various gun sites and returning carrying the wounded. Incoming artillery was exploding at the rate of 500 rounds per minute, through this Reckless covered over 35 miles that day and she did all this solo. She was wounded twice in this battle. Once on her left flank and over her eye. Plus her ears where cut from barbwire. She was promoted to Sergeant by the Marines for her valor in this battle. She was the only true NCO in the Marines; those strips meant something to her men. Sgt. Major James E. Babbitt stated, “It’s difficult to describe the elation and boost in morale that little white faced mare gave Marines as she outfoxed the enemy bringing vitally needed ammunitions up the mountain.”
Reckless was discharged as Staff Sergeant. Medals awarded are as follows: Two Purple Hearts, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with Star, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation and the French Foarragere. She wore them proudly on her red and gold blanket whenever she was paraded around at official function.
Robin Hutton led a campaign to have Sgt. Reckless recognized by a monument. A Statue of the Mongolian mare, Sgt. Reckless, was dedicated at the National Museum of the Marine Corp, in Triangle Virginia on July 26, 2013. The statue was sculpted by Joycelyn Russell. A second monument is at Camp Pendleton where Reckless lived out her days and is buried. She was the first female Marine in Combat. The Marines just say, “ she was a Marine.” This is a captivating story of the most noble of creatures. If you are interested in history or just a horse lover you will enjoy this book. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Susan Boyce did an excellent job narrating the book.
Reckless went through “hoof camp” where she was trained to step over communication lines, barb wire, ignore battle sounds and get down when incoming fire arrived. She only had to be shown once or sometimes twice and she learned the lesson. She was a 13 hand Mongolian mare, chestnut in color with white blaze down her face and three white stockings. She only weighted 900 pounds. Her job was to take ammunition (200 to 300 lbs. per load) to the men and carry the wounded back. Reckless amazingly did this on her own, men loaded her with the ammunitions, and she went alone to deliver it to the men and came back alone with the wounded on her back. She was named Reckless by the Platoon because that was their call sign.
The book goes into detail about the bloody battle of “Outpost Vegas” in March 1953. On one day Reckless made 51 round trips up and down steep terrain that no man could travel carrying nearly 5 tons of ammunitions to various gun sites and returning carrying the wounded. Incoming artillery was exploding at the rate of 500 rounds per minute, through this Reckless covered over 35 miles that day and she did all this solo. She was wounded twice in this battle. Once on her left flank and over her eye. Plus her ears where cut from barbwire. She was promoted to Sergeant by the Marines for her valor in this battle. She was the only true NCO in the Marines; those strips meant something to her men. Sgt. Major James E. Babbitt stated, “It’s difficult to describe the elation and boost in morale that little white faced mare gave Marines as she outfoxed the enemy bringing vitally needed ammunitions up the mountain.”
Reckless was discharged as Staff Sergeant. Medals awarded are as follows: Two Purple Hearts, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with Star, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation and the French Foarragere. She wore them proudly on her red and gold blanket whenever she was paraded around at official function.
Robin Hutton led a campaign to have Sgt. Reckless recognized by a monument. A Statue of the Mongolian mare, Sgt. Reckless, was dedicated at the National Museum of the Marine Corp, in Triangle Virginia on July 26, 2013. The statue was sculpted by Joycelyn Russell. A second monument is at Camp Pendleton where Reckless lived out her days and is buried. She was the first female Marine in Combat. The Marines just say, “ she was a Marine.” This is a captivating story of the most noble of creatures. If you are interested in history or just a horse lover you will enjoy this book. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Susan Boyce did an excellent job narrating the book.
July 16, 2018
The story is great. The writing is not. Don't get me wrong - it's not a struggle to read. Quite the opposite, but not in the right direction, because it reads like online news, and not a book it's supposed to be.
The first part is devoted to Reckless and the Korean War; interesting, and covers all that there is to the story. But then there is the second part, which tells us how Reckless was transported to American soil (in details that no one cares about), how her foals were named (I'm pretty sure I dozed off a few times), how she attented all the parades, how she liked per paddock... too much info, am I right?
And then there's the final part of the book, which has even less to do with Reckless and the war: namely, the author's endless phone calls and paperwork needed to make a memorial for Reckless. It would've been a heartwarming epilogue, told in two pages. Instead, it's a full-blown chapter with subchapters and whatnot, covering all the fascinating stuff like the calls mentioned above, or raising money, or donations, or dozens of names. By the time I was done with it, well... my irritation with the author was at its peak.
Is it worth the read? Certainly, if only for the first part of the book.
The first part is devoted to Reckless and the Korean War; interesting, and covers all that there is to the story. But then there is the second part, which tells us how Reckless was transported to American soil (in details that no one cares about), how her foals were named (I'm pretty sure I dozed off a few times), how she attented all the parades, how she liked per paddock... too much info, am I right?
And then there's the final part of the book, which has even less to do with Reckless and the war: namely, the author's endless phone calls and paperwork needed to make a memorial for Reckless. It would've been a heartwarming epilogue, told in two pages. Instead, it's a full-blown chapter with subchapters and whatnot, covering all the fascinating stuff like the calls mentioned above, or raising money, or donations, or dozens of names. By the time I was done with it, well... my irritation with the author was at its peak.
Is it worth the read? Certainly, if only for the first part of the book.
May 30, 2017
Don't get me wrong - the story behind this book is truly amazing. Sgt. Reckless was a charismatic and idiosyncratic horse who's acts of amazing bravery earned her the title of a marine. Great true story, but I have to say I wasn't in love with the writing. The author obviously pored so much devotion into the research for this book, and I'm sure it was no easy task. However, the critical side of me says it was not put together into a cohesive and captivating story. The characters came and went without the reader getting to know them or getting attached to them. The story arc just wasn't there. The chapters dragged on and the tone never changed. A great, detailed historical account of an amazing animal? Definitely. The kind of engaging read I was looking for? Not really.
February 11, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! What a great story! Everyone (not just horse lovers) would enjoy learning more about Sgt. Reckless, winner of two purple hearts! Why was a movie never made about this story??
May 29, 2023
Painstakingly researched, this author not only pulled together an amazing amount of research into a cohesive story but she also spearheaded the formation of a 501(c)3 to raise funds for monuments to this phenomenal marine mare, Sgt. Reckless.
October 28, 2023
A not so well known horse who became a marine. Sgt Reckless! Very loved by those who served with him. A nice story for any animal lover...
July 28, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/sg...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer JoAnne
Reckless began life in Korea just before the war. She was bred as a racehorse, and owned Huk Moon (a pseudonym), the young jockey who rode her. He had owned her dam, Ah-Chim-Hai, or Flame of the Morning. He was given her as a gift for his many acts of bravery and kindness during World War II. Because he loved her so much, when she was finally bred, he named her offspring Flame of the Morning also. But when her mother died suddenly, he wanted nothing to do with the young filly.. So a friend of his took her to be raised by one of his own mares, and it wasn’t until some time later when he saw her playing with other young horses that he realized she was much like her mother and his love for her grew. When war struck in 1950, Kim and his family had to temporarily leave their home, taking Flame with them. When they returned, two years later, there wasn’t much left.
The family did what they could to survive; but one day his sister Chun, working in a rice paddy, was badly hurt. A worker next to her stepped on a landmine, and Chun’s leg was mangled and would have to be removed. It was soon after that, that Kim realized he would have to sell his horse to purchase a prosthetic leg for his sister. This is where the marines stepped in.
I won’t go into a lengthy detail of the recoilless rifle. It is enough to say that it took three or four men to carry it, and more to carry each 75mm shell. It was a powerful gun, and each man could carry no more than two shells, due to the weight. It was backbreaking work. Watching his men run up and down the hill to secure more shells was dangerous work, and Lt. Eric Pedersen, commander of the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, knew something needed to be done.
Leave it to say that after searching for a horse, he discovered Reckless. Paying $250 American dollars for her, Kim knew he could now obtain the leg for his sister, heartbroken though he was to lose his precious Flame. Little did he know that she would go on to a greater destiny, one that would more than likely save the lives of many Americans. For it was she, renamed Reckless by the marines, who would be trained to carry the shells to the soldiers.
It was dangerous work. She must be trained carefully. Reckless would travel on her own, up and down the treacherous hills, with anywhere from four to ten rounds strapped to her back, in a specially made pack. She made the journey many times, herself being wounded twice and still continuing on in battle.
I will say no more, except that you need to read this book. Not only did I read the book, I read much of it to my husband, when I came across something particularly striking; and he listened intently, which is an achievement since he really only reads technical manuals or things of that sort. This is how riveting the book is.
There are books that excite us, agitate us, soothe, enamor and make us feel giddy. Only once in a while does a book come along that pulls from our soul. This is one of those books. I dare you to read this book without it bringing tears to your eyes. It did mine, many times. It was a beautiful story, yet heart-wrenching to read. It is beautifully written, and I can only hope that I felt some of what the author felt while she was researching Reckless’s life.
If one can say that a horse lived life to the fullest, then Reckless is that horse. Not only did she work as hard, if not harder, than any marine ever did, she also joined with them in their play. She slept alongside them in their tents when the nights grew cold; she ate what they ate-and that included cookies, pancakes, peanut butter; she drank what they drank, including Coca-Cola and beer. In fact, many of the stories of Reckless are downright humorous; and show what an intelligent being she was.
My regret is that I did not know anything about her before, but due to the generosity of Regnery Press in providing this book for my review, I plan to remedy that. On one of my travels back east I plan to visit her memorial in Triangle, Virginia. However, I am looking forward to it as soon as possible.
Hopefully, this book will renew interest in one of the bravest marines ever - Sgt. Reckless of the Recoilless Rifle Platoon.
Highly recommended for anyone, and especially for everyone.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer JoAnne
Reckless began life in Korea just before the war. She was bred as a racehorse, and owned Huk Moon (a pseudonym), the young jockey who rode her. He had owned her dam, Ah-Chim-Hai, or Flame of the Morning. He was given her as a gift for his many acts of bravery and kindness during World War II. Because he loved her so much, when she was finally bred, he named her offspring Flame of the Morning also. But when her mother died suddenly, he wanted nothing to do with the young filly.. So a friend of his took her to be raised by one of his own mares, and it wasn’t until some time later when he saw her playing with other young horses that he realized she was much like her mother and his love for her grew. When war struck in 1950, Kim and his family had to temporarily leave their home, taking Flame with them. When they returned, two years later, there wasn’t much left.
The family did what they could to survive; but one day his sister Chun, working in a rice paddy, was badly hurt. A worker next to her stepped on a landmine, and Chun’s leg was mangled and would have to be removed. It was soon after that, that Kim realized he would have to sell his horse to purchase a prosthetic leg for his sister. This is where the marines stepped in.
I won’t go into a lengthy detail of the recoilless rifle. It is enough to say that it took three or four men to carry it, and more to carry each 75mm shell. It was a powerful gun, and each man could carry no more than two shells, due to the weight. It was backbreaking work. Watching his men run up and down the hill to secure more shells was dangerous work, and Lt. Eric Pedersen, commander of the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, knew something needed to be done.
Leave it to say that after searching for a horse, he discovered Reckless. Paying $250 American dollars for her, Kim knew he could now obtain the leg for his sister, heartbroken though he was to lose his precious Flame. Little did he know that she would go on to a greater destiny, one that would more than likely save the lives of many Americans. For it was she, renamed Reckless by the marines, who would be trained to carry the shells to the soldiers.
It was dangerous work. She must be trained carefully. Reckless would travel on her own, up and down the treacherous hills, with anywhere from four to ten rounds strapped to her back, in a specially made pack. She made the journey many times, herself being wounded twice and still continuing on in battle.
I will say no more, except that you need to read this book. Not only did I read the book, I read much of it to my husband, when I came across something particularly striking; and he listened intently, which is an achievement since he really only reads technical manuals or things of that sort. This is how riveting the book is.
There are books that excite us, agitate us, soothe, enamor and make us feel giddy. Only once in a while does a book come along that pulls from our soul. This is one of those books. I dare you to read this book without it bringing tears to your eyes. It did mine, many times. It was a beautiful story, yet heart-wrenching to read. It is beautifully written, and I can only hope that I felt some of what the author felt while she was researching Reckless’s life.
If one can say that a horse lived life to the fullest, then Reckless is that horse. Not only did she work as hard, if not harder, than any marine ever did, she also joined with them in their play. She slept alongside them in their tents when the nights grew cold; she ate what they ate-and that included cookies, pancakes, peanut butter; she drank what they drank, including Coca-Cola and beer. In fact, many of the stories of Reckless are downright humorous; and show what an intelligent being she was.
My regret is that I did not know anything about her before, but due to the generosity of Regnery Press in providing this book for my review, I plan to remedy that. On one of my travels back east I plan to visit her memorial in Triangle, Virginia. However, I am looking forward to it as soon as possible.
Hopefully, this book will renew interest in one of the bravest marines ever - Sgt. Reckless of the Recoilless Rifle Platoon.
Highly recommended for anyone, and especially for everyone.
June 10, 2017
Admittedly, I probably shouldn't have read this directly after finishing Laura Hillenbrand's masterful WWII tome "Unbroken," but I did and I can't take that back. As a result, I spent my entire reading of this book thinking about how much better I would have liked it if Hillenbrand had gotten to tell the story.
To be clear, I reserve no critical commentary for the tale itself, which is mesmerizing and a tearjerker in places. It's also so fantastic and unbelievable that you know it can't be fiction because no author - no matter how creative - could make this stuff up. A tiny little mare (her exact height is still in dispute, as apparently she lacked a USEF pony measuring card - sorry, that's a 21st century joke) was purchased by a troop of Marines in Korea to carry artillery shells up to the firing line and then not only completed her tasks, but did so under fire, while wounded, and unaccompanied by her handlers much of the time. In fact, she performed with such success that she eventually rose to the rank of sergeant in the US Marine Corps. Amazing stuff and definitely worthy of a book!
I know that I echo many other reviewers on this site, however, when I say that what frustrated me most about the telling of Reckless' story was its sheer execution. Again, reading Hillenbrand right before colored my palette, but even that aside, this book reads more like a fifth grade book report on Sergeant Reckless than anything else - right down to the awkward citation of source materials within the text. What's more, it suffers from disorganization in the telling - one minute Pedersen is in charge of Reckless' company, then it's his successor, and in the next chapter Pedersen is back. A bit of reader whiplash is therefore to be expected during the descriptions of Reckless in the war years; in fact, I thought the most clarity that the author displayed was in the final chapters when she described the efforts to memorialize Reckless with a monument. I wonder if the book wouldn't have been more successful in the execution if she had written the entire thing in the first person, to be honest.
All in all, I do recommend the book based on its story alone. Reckless was an unexpected American hero and her tale should be read and remembered by future generations.
To be clear, I reserve no critical commentary for the tale itself, which is mesmerizing and a tearjerker in places. It's also so fantastic and unbelievable that you know it can't be fiction because no author - no matter how creative - could make this stuff up. A tiny little mare (her exact height is still in dispute, as apparently she lacked a USEF pony measuring card - sorry, that's a 21st century joke) was purchased by a troop of Marines in Korea to carry artillery shells up to the firing line and then not only completed her tasks, but did so under fire, while wounded, and unaccompanied by her handlers much of the time. In fact, she performed with such success that she eventually rose to the rank of sergeant in the US Marine Corps. Amazing stuff and definitely worthy of a book!
I know that I echo many other reviewers on this site, however, when I say that what frustrated me most about the telling of Reckless' story was its sheer execution. Again, reading Hillenbrand right before colored my palette, but even that aside, this book reads more like a fifth grade book report on Sergeant Reckless than anything else - right down to the awkward citation of source materials within the text. What's more, it suffers from disorganization in the telling - one minute Pedersen is in charge of Reckless' company, then it's his successor, and in the next chapter Pedersen is back. A bit of reader whiplash is therefore to be expected during the descriptions of Reckless in the war years; in fact, I thought the most clarity that the author displayed was in the final chapters when she described the efforts to memorialize Reckless with a monument. I wonder if the book wouldn't have been more successful in the execution if she had written the entire thing in the first person, to be honest.
All in all, I do recommend the book based on its story alone. Reckless was an unexpected American hero and her tale should be read and remembered by future generations.
July 28, 2015
Great story, steeped in Marine Corps history!
July 26, 2018
If you are a horse lover, I highly recommend this book. Wonderful story!
October 2, 2018
What an inspiring story and life this small little mare had. She had a definitive personality and joined right in with her troops learning to drink beer and coke. She lived beside her unit, sleep with them and ate their same food. She loved pancakes, bacon and eggs (no pepper), and peanut butter sandwiches. She'd walk into the mess tent for her chow just like any other Marine. I found the funniest story to be during her run up against the commander of a U.S. Naval LST during amphibious training. The U.S. Navy got back at her by kidnapping her much to the displeasure of the Marine Corps and her unit. Sgt. Reckless was held for ransom. The fight was on to get Sgt. Reckless back. You'll have to read the book to find out what this was all about. She is also connected to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington D.C. Another funny story in the book is her disgrace on becoming pregnant while on active duty at Camp Pendleton. Her handler almost got court marshalled by allowing a stallion into her paddock! Cupid had already shot his arrows, uh so to speak! The Commandant of Camp Pendleton wasn't amused.
S.Sgt. Reckless only stood 13 hands high. She was originally foaled in South Korea believed to be in 1948 and originally meant to be a racehorse in Seoul South Korea, then the conflict started between North and South which remains to this day. She had been running her races that day at the Seoul race track when the invasion started. She escaped with her owner at the time going south of Seoul and crossing a dangerous river leading to the south toward safety helping her owner get his children to safety by crossing a fast flowing river, having to cross and recross several times to get everyone to safety. Due to an unfortunate accident within the family she was sold to a commander of the U.S. Marines for $250 dollars. Serving in South Korea with the U.S. Marines. She was named after the gun unit she was assigned too and the military gun she helped getting ammunition to during one of the bloodiest battles for the Command Posts Vegas in South Korea, her most heroic battle. Which is also one of the bloodiest battles in modern U.S. Military History. So much ammunition fell on the top of the mountain where CP Vegas was wiping the summit of the mountain clean away. It rained bloody red with shrapnel and blood raining down on Reckless and her fellow Marines. She kept on - didn't stop - inspiring the troops around her, even as she was wounded several times. She was also a well kept secret within her battalion to the extent fellow Marines had no idea she was there until they saw her through binoculars during her first battle. She was trained to carry ammunition shells weighing 75 pounds each and she carried up to 6 to 8 shells at a time for one trip up a 45 degree slope hill to help keep the guns firing nonstop and also carried wounded soldiers back down that bloody hill. Sometimes fighting day and night, trip after trip. She was trained to take shelter within her own bunker, also trained to lay down in the trenches with the troops. She was so beloved of the troops she served with they threw their own flack jackets over her to protect her when the shells and bullets were flying to such an extent they couldn't return fire and they wouldn't allow her to return for more ammunition least she be killed. She had to be inducted into the Marine Corps so they could get her on the supply list to fed her. She also became a target of the enemy when they realized why this horse was in the middle of a battlefield. This book includes her service record, her military promotions, her service citations and the stories of the men she served with with numerous pictures included. Her entire story. The fight to get her home to her new adopted country and her remaining years of service to the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton in California where she was stationed after Korea and continued her duty. The Marines took care of their famous war hero until the day she died. S. Sgt. Reckless is buried at Camp Pendleton.
I learned of her story by accident. I read an article last spring of this year regarding the Lexington Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky where a new statue in her honor was unveiled this past May and wanted to read her story. What an amazing true story of U.S. Marine Corps history.
S.Sgt. Reckless only stood 13 hands high. She was originally foaled in South Korea believed to be in 1948 and originally meant to be a racehorse in Seoul South Korea, then the conflict started between North and South which remains to this day. She had been running her races that day at the Seoul race track when the invasion started. She escaped with her owner at the time going south of Seoul and crossing a dangerous river leading to the south toward safety helping her owner get his children to safety by crossing a fast flowing river, having to cross and recross several times to get everyone to safety. Due to an unfortunate accident within the family she was sold to a commander of the U.S. Marines for $250 dollars. Serving in South Korea with the U.S. Marines. She was named after the gun unit she was assigned too and the military gun she helped getting ammunition to during one of the bloodiest battles for the Command Posts Vegas in South Korea, her most heroic battle. Which is also one of the bloodiest battles in modern U.S. Military History. So much ammunition fell on the top of the mountain where CP Vegas was wiping the summit of the mountain clean away. It rained bloody red with shrapnel and blood raining down on Reckless and her fellow Marines. She kept on - didn't stop - inspiring the troops around her, even as she was wounded several times. She was also a well kept secret within her battalion to the extent fellow Marines had no idea she was there until they saw her through binoculars during her first battle. She was trained to carry ammunition shells weighing 75 pounds each and she carried up to 6 to 8 shells at a time for one trip up a 45 degree slope hill to help keep the guns firing nonstop and also carried wounded soldiers back down that bloody hill. Sometimes fighting day and night, trip after trip. She was trained to take shelter within her own bunker, also trained to lay down in the trenches with the troops. She was so beloved of the troops she served with they threw their own flack jackets over her to protect her when the shells and bullets were flying to such an extent they couldn't return fire and they wouldn't allow her to return for more ammunition least she be killed. She had to be inducted into the Marine Corps so they could get her on the supply list to fed her. She also became a target of the enemy when they realized why this horse was in the middle of a battlefield. This book includes her service record, her military promotions, her service citations and the stories of the men she served with with numerous pictures included. Her entire story. The fight to get her home to her new adopted country and her remaining years of service to the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton in California where she was stationed after Korea and continued her duty. The Marines took care of their famous war hero until the day she died. S. Sgt. Reckless is buried at Camp Pendleton.
I learned of her story by accident. I read an article last spring of this year regarding the Lexington Horse Park in Lexington Kentucky where a new statue in her honor was unveiled this past May and wanted to read her story. What an amazing true story of U.S. Marine Corps history.
May 8, 2018
An amazing story of an amazing mare during the Korean War. The American forces in the Korean "conflict" used the recoiless rifle, nicknamd the reckless. The shells were 25 pounds and volatile. Usually only 2 could be carried at a time and from some of the places it was fired from a jeep could not get to transport the shells so yhe runners were alwaysnen of the unit. One officer had the idea of procuring horse or mule to haul the shells to savethe wear and tear on his men. He went to the racetrack in Seoul where most of the horses and mules still in the city were still stabled eve though the track had been converted into an air field. There he found a small sorrel race mare and bought her with all the money he had - $250. She was taken to their base and received training in hoof camp. She was taught to recognize and step over barbed wire and communications wire, to get down or in a bunker from incoming shells and to carry from 4 to 8 shells. Usually a man led her to the supply depot and back to the rifles. She would often go ahead and wait for them to catch up.Butduring a particularly fierce 2 day battle, she made the trip on her own, carrying down wounded and returning with the shells. Reckless, she was named for the guns, could always find her guns again even though the men had to change positions after a few firings because the rifles were east to spot. For 2 days frombefore dawn to dark she carried shells across an open rice paddy and up a steep 45 degree incline, under fire, on her own. She also carried wounded back to the depot - some climbed on as she made her way past r the medics loaded a badly injured man. Reckless was wounded twice by shrapnel, but kept going. The men in the field were awes by the way she kept going, doing her duty, even though no one led her. She was accepted as a matine - one of them for her courage and persistence to her duty. She was made Corporal, then raised to Sergeant and awarded 2 Purple Hearts for her injuries. When a truce was called, the marines she served with fought hard to have her brought back to the US.
November 27, 2019
If you love horses, if you love the Marines, this book is definitely for you. I have known a few Marines, and more than a few horses, so I may not be objective in my review. Sergeant Reckless's tale is amazing and inspiring. It took me longer to read it than I thought, because it is hard to read with tears forming in your eyes. Is it a tear jerker with a sad end? Absolutely not! But if you knew a few Marines and a few horses, happy endings can bring tears too. While the exciting descriptions of Reckless's heroics in battle were a relatively short portion of this book, I found myself wanting to read on and find out more about her life. Funny parts were vivid in my mind, and since I actually have shared a beer with both horses and marines (though not at the same time), it was not exaggeration. Getting shipped form Asia to the USA is not riveting story, yet I wanted to read about it anyway. This biography has it all. Many thanks to the author for bringing me this tale, and for all her work preserving Sergeant Reckless in print and in statue.
April 29, 2020
I want to express great fulfillment in taking my than 91 year old dad to the 72nd anniversary of the Iwo Jima in 2016 at Camp Pendleton. He was a 19 year old Marine Amtrak Tank Driver during the Iwo Jima invasion.
During the anniversary festivities, my brother, dad and I got to meet Robin Hutton and she sighed a copy of her book that I bought during the event which also included a beautiful presentation on Reckless.
I had the author sign and dedicate this book copy for my beautiful wife, Kim the most mindful animal lover that I know. I dedicated it to her for her selfless gift letting me go to this event with my dad. This less than 10 weeks after I put her through hell as I went through heart surgery.
This book holds a special place.
Kevin
During the anniversary festivities, my brother, dad and I got to meet Robin Hutton and she sighed a copy of her book that I bought during the event which also included a beautiful presentation on Reckless.
I had the author sign and dedicate this book copy for my beautiful wife, Kim the most mindful animal lover that I know. I dedicated it to her for her selfless gift letting me go to this event with my dad. This less than 10 weeks after I put her through hell as I went through heart surgery.
This book holds a special place.
Kevin
March 8, 2023
After reading this wonderful story it just left me with feelings of wanting to be a Marine and share in the pride of Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful, Staff Sergeant Reckless. My uncle was in the Korean War and reading this particular story made the history so real and tangible. Thank you to those who bought and took care of her in Korea, to those who brought her to the US so she could continue her beautiful gift of service, and to all those who were her caretakers. I’m glad to now know the history.
January 31, 2018
This book really meant a lot to me. The story of the little horse was amazing. My father served in Korea. The book reminded me the days of running with my friends on in the back trails of Camp Pendleton. Taking horseback riding lessons with Buttermilk, Strawberry, Leo (and all the other horses) and Chesty standing under a tree with a hat, nobody messed with him. Sgt Major Steppe drove his Gunney mobile - an open air truck and gave the kids hay rides in the horse drawn carriage with the Clydesdales Bonnie and Clyde. In school we studied and revered Reckless, it was important for us to attend the memorial for that amazing horse in the 4th grade. I still have pictures from that day.
April 19, 2023
I give Reckless 5 stars and hope that one day in the eternities I get to meet her.
March 28, 2024
Not the type of book I normally go for, but what an incredible story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learning about Sgt Reckless.
March 2, 2021
There IS a great horse story here, hidden amongst all of the Marine Corps & other military jargon. It was ALMOST a bit much, but I muddled through & soldiered on (pun intended), & I’m glad I did.
December 24, 2016
Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse is a beautiful story about an amazing horse and the meaning of the Marine Corp's motto, Semper Fi; but most importantly, it is a story of compassion and loyalty—traits which make American fighting men and women the best in the world. American soldiers are known for their affection toward animals and children in war zones, and so it was during the Korean Conflict.
Reminded of the childhood story, The Little Engine that Could, which taught the value of determination and hard work, I couldn't help but think that this brave little Mongolian-Korean horse, Ah-Chim Hai (which translates Flame in the Morning), exemplified those very traits. Purchased by a Marine lieutenant to haul 75mm Recoilless Rifle ammunition up the steep Korean hills to the guns, Flame took to the job and quickly learned her duties. Fearless and with an indomitable will, The Little Mare That Could became a Marine and met the enemy head on. Time after time the heroic little mare braved combat and incoming fire–usually alone–to deliver ammunition to her Marines on the front lines. Ah-Chim Hai needed an American name and she was named Reckless after the 75mm Recoilless Rifles (a/k/a Reckless Rifles) she supported. Sometimes she returned from a mission carrying a wounded Marine.
Reckless became Sergeant Reckless when she was officially inducted into the Corps and gained the undying loyalty of every U.S. Marine who served with her.
During the worst day of one of the fiercest battle in Marine history, Sgt. Reckless made 51 round trips up and down steep slopes from the ammo resupply point to her Marines and their 75mm guns. Covering a total of 35 miles, she delivered a total of 9,000 pounds of badly needed ammo. Often she returned with a wounded Marine on her back. Sgt. Reckless was a true Marine and was recognized as one.
Because my parents had horses in my early years, and my wife and I raised two fillies from birth, my memories and understanding of horses enhanced my enjoyment of the adventures of the little Mongolian mare. Reading about Reckless' voracious appetite, preference for beer and comical exploits brought back many memories. When Reckless grabbed a t-shirt off a clothesline and ran through the camp with it in her mouth, I roared with laughter. Josey, one of our fillies, had done the exact same thing when she grabbed the shirt I'd left lying on a tractor seat and ran around the pasture with it in her mouth. Then there was my parent's Shetland pony, a former CCC camp mascot, who, like Sergeant Reckless, also loved beer; and my Pinto who drank her beverage of choice, a Coke, straight from the bottle. These experiences made this story both realistic and personal.
Sgt. Reckless' deeds won the respect and admiration of the Marine Corps, and many, many others. She shared the men's trenches, bunkers and tents, often sleeping by their stoves; was known to eat in the mess tent; and even visited the officer's bar on least one occasion. Always hungry, she ate anything, including her Aussie bush hat. She was partial to beer, cake, pie, and chocolate. If someone had food or candy on their person she would smell it and follow them until he shared most of it with her. Know for her escapades, bravery and sense of duty, she became a Marine Corps legend.
Returning to America as a war hero after the Armistice, she retired as a staff sergeant (E-5) in 1960 at Camp Pendleton, California. She was the only animal to be awarded a military rank. Sgt. Reckless was awarded food and lodging in lieu of pay and lived out her days enjoying beer, coke, cake, flowers (especially the commanding officer wife's flower garden), candy, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, scrambled eggs, milk, coffee, and anything else that caught her fancy. She passed away in 1968 at the age of twenty and is buried on Camp Pendleton where a memorial headstone sits at the entrance to Stepp Stables. Her medals and decorations included two Purple Hearts, National Defense Service Medal, U.S. Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, French fourragére, and numerous unit citations.
Finally immortalized in 2013, thanks to the efforts of author Robin Hutton and her TEAM RECKLESS, a 10-foot bronze statue likeness of Staff Sgt. Reckless now proudly stands in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.
This review is but a thumbnail sketch of Reckless' adventures. The book is filled with many, many more, including her visit to the Bohemian Club in San Francisco.
Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse is a great read, an inspiration for our children, and a book that will permanently reside on my bookshelf.
Reminded of the childhood story, The Little Engine that Could, which taught the value of determination and hard work, I couldn't help but think that this brave little Mongolian-Korean horse, Ah-Chim Hai (which translates Flame in the Morning), exemplified those very traits. Purchased by a Marine lieutenant to haul 75mm Recoilless Rifle ammunition up the steep Korean hills to the guns, Flame took to the job and quickly learned her duties. Fearless and with an indomitable will, The Little Mare That Could became a Marine and met the enemy head on. Time after time the heroic little mare braved combat and incoming fire–usually alone–to deliver ammunition to her Marines on the front lines. Ah-Chim Hai needed an American name and she was named Reckless after the 75mm Recoilless Rifles (a/k/a Reckless Rifles) she supported. Sometimes she returned from a mission carrying a wounded Marine.
Reckless became Sergeant Reckless when she was officially inducted into the Corps and gained the undying loyalty of every U.S. Marine who served with her.
During the worst day of one of the fiercest battle in Marine history, Sgt. Reckless made 51 round trips up and down steep slopes from the ammo resupply point to her Marines and their 75mm guns. Covering a total of 35 miles, she delivered a total of 9,000 pounds of badly needed ammo. Often she returned with a wounded Marine on her back. Sgt. Reckless was a true Marine and was recognized as one.
Because my parents had horses in my early years, and my wife and I raised two fillies from birth, my memories and understanding of horses enhanced my enjoyment of the adventures of the little Mongolian mare. Reading about Reckless' voracious appetite, preference for beer and comical exploits brought back many memories. When Reckless grabbed a t-shirt off a clothesline and ran through the camp with it in her mouth, I roared with laughter. Josey, one of our fillies, had done the exact same thing when she grabbed the shirt I'd left lying on a tractor seat and ran around the pasture with it in her mouth. Then there was my parent's Shetland pony, a former CCC camp mascot, who, like Sergeant Reckless, also loved beer; and my Pinto who drank her beverage of choice, a Coke, straight from the bottle. These experiences made this story both realistic and personal.
Sgt. Reckless' deeds won the respect and admiration of the Marine Corps, and many, many others. She shared the men's trenches, bunkers and tents, often sleeping by their stoves; was known to eat in the mess tent; and even visited the officer's bar on least one occasion. Always hungry, she ate anything, including her Aussie bush hat. She was partial to beer, cake, pie, and chocolate. If someone had food or candy on their person she would smell it and follow them until he shared most of it with her. Know for her escapades, bravery and sense of duty, she became a Marine Corps legend.
Returning to America as a war hero after the Armistice, she retired as a staff sergeant (E-5) in 1960 at Camp Pendleton, California. She was the only animal to be awarded a military rank. Sgt. Reckless was awarded food and lodging in lieu of pay and lived out her days enjoying beer, coke, cake, flowers (especially the commanding officer wife's flower garden), candy, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, scrambled eggs, milk, coffee, and anything else that caught her fancy. She passed away in 1968 at the age of twenty and is buried on Camp Pendleton where a memorial headstone sits at the entrance to Stepp Stables. Her medals and decorations included two Purple Hearts, National Defense Service Medal, U.S. Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, French fourragére, and numerous unit citations.
Finally immortalized in 2013, thanks to the efforts of author Robin Hutton and her TEAM RECKLESS, a 10-foot bronze statue likeness of Staff Sgt. Reckless now proudly stands in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.
This review is but a thumbnail sketch of Reckless' adventures. The book is filled with many, many more, including her visit to the Bohemian Club in San Francisco.
Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse is a great read, an inspiration for our children, and a book that will permanently reside on my bookshelf.
July 11, 2020
Being a horse lover, of course I loved this book!
April 15, 2023
A great read, especially for animal lovers!
June 23, 2015
Oh, how I wanted to love this book. And I greatly enjoyed so much of it, right up through Reckless' battle triumphs, until her retirement to the US. However, even the most interesting, moving, or funny anecdotes lose their charm after numerous repetitions. In addition, a more skillful writer might have injecting something of themselves into the story, a technique at which my favourite nonfiction storytellers (Laura Hillenbrand, Mary Roach, Jon Ronson, Sy Montgomery, Bill Bryson) excel. Without that added immediacy and connection to the current day, this exciting story felt like a dry recitation of far distant events. It's clear Robin Hutton loved this topic and set out to write a great book that would reinvigorate this forgotten piece of Marine history; however, for me it simply missed its mark and began to drag. I really wish I could have given this one a much higher review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2014
This was an interesting story about a horse who carried ammunition for the troops in the Korean War. I enjoyed the story about the horse but there was a lot of technical information about the weaponry. Apparently this horse made headlines back in the mid-1950s when she was brought to the Marine base in California. I can't imagine how I missed it at the time because that was during my horse-adoring phase.
December 8, 2018
Didn't know much about the Korean war. Enjoyed reading about the amazing horse.
January 13, 2018
I have to give five stars to Sgt. Reckless but three stars to the book itself. This is the story of a small Mongolian mare with great racing potential who becomes a Marine. It is a story about a remarkable, extremely intelligent and courageous horse who is adopted by the Marines during the Korean war for the purpose of carrying ammunition (tons of it) as well as wounded and dead soldiers during the heat of battle. She does her job under harrowing conditions during the Battle of Vegas despite heavy incoming artillery fire and extreme exhaustion as she carries round after round up steep hills (without assistance) to the men waiting for reinforcements.
Sgt Reckless' ability to intuit what was needed in a situation and to react accordingly seems incredible to this reader as it did to the Marines who worked with her. They loved her, not only for what she did for them and for her courage but because of her engaging and playful personality. They eagerly gave up their free time to forage for food for her, spent their money on all things related to her care,dug her horse-sized foxholes, and cheerfully shared their pancakes, scrambled eggs, and even beer with her (all of which she was very fond of). But most telling, they covered her with their flak jackets as the shrapnel of the incoming artillery threatened all of them.
The author obviously researched the book in great detail. She interviewed servicemen and handlers and anyone who had any contact with the mare as well as those who had even a tangential connection. A good editor could have done wonders for the book by tightening up the writing, giving it better flow and especially by reworking the last part of the book (when the mare comes to the U.S.). Sgt. Reckless became a good will ambassador for the Marines but the recounting of it is fairly tedious as we learn about a parade where she stands proud, and then another parade where she knows she is the center of attention, and then another parade where she falls asleep because she is bored. Ho hum.
Bottom line.... it is a story definitely worth knowing both because it gives some insight into the Korean War, the Marines, and an incredible war hero that happened to be a horse.
Sgt Reckless' ability to intuit what was needed in a situation and to react accordingly seems incredible to this reader as it did to the Marines who worked with her. They loved her, not only for what she did for them and for her courage but because of her engaging and playful personality. They eagerly gave up their free time to forage for food for her, spent their money on all things related to her care,dug her horse-sized foxholes, and cheerfully shared their pancakes, scrambled eggs, and even beer with her (all of which she was very fond of). But most telling, they covered her with their flak jackets as the shrapnel of the incoming artillery threatened all of them.
The author obviously researched the book in great detail. She interviewed servicemen and handlers and anyone who had any contact with the mare as well as those who had even a tangential connection. A good editor could have done wonders for the book by tightening up the writing, giving it better flow and especially by reworking the last part of the book (when the mare comes to the U.S.). Sgt. Reckless became a good will ambassador for the Marines but the recounting of it is fairly tedious as we learn about a parade where she stands proud, and then another parade where she knows she is the center of attention, and then another parade where she falls asleep because she is bored. Ho hum.
Bottom line.... it is a story definitely worth knowing both because it gives some insight into the Korean War, the Marines, and an incredible war hero that happened to be a horse.
September 2, 2018
The book brings to life the actions of a horse that is now unknown to a large segment of the population. I applaud the author's efforts to bring this story to life, and create memorial monuments for this special animal. A book was already written covering Sgt. Reckless' service in the war, and this book of course takes a large amount from the original story. What differentiates this story is that it is written so many years later, so it also tells the story of Reckless' final years at Camp Pendleton, as well as the author's journey to create fitting memorials for Reckless. This book also tells the story from the viewpoints of many other people who served with Reckless.
It is nice to get the whole story and see what happened more recently, but really the best part of the book is the first third or so, that recounts the story in Korea. Everything else is interesting, but more of a postscript. What is really amazing is hearing the story of all this horse did in Korea and how she became a true Marine in heart. Everything that happened after that was just recognition of what she had already acheived, the respect she earned from working with others in many bloody battles. The point is that she became a Marine and was accorded the same honor that other Marines would have received in the same situations.
This story really brings to life the story of Reckless. Though she has been gone for a while now, the story is told through the viewpoint of so many others that it almost seems like it happened just yesterday. From a historical perspective it brings to life the reality of a war that is now mostly forgotten. It does the same for a special horse long ago laid to rest. It gives meaning to why so many people did so much to make sure this horse made it back "home" and was accorded the respect any other Marine would have enjoyed. It tells why so many would have gond to so much trouble to have multiple life-like statues of her created and deployed at places where she will serve as a reminder of dedication and service for current and future Marines.
It is nice to get the whole story and see what happened more recently, but really the best part of the book is the first third or so, that recounts the story in Korea. Everything else is interesting, but more of a postscript. What is really amazing is hearing the story of all this horse did in Korea and how she became a true Marine in heart. Everything that happened after that was just recognition of what she had already acheived, the respect she earned from working with others in many bloody battles. The point is that she became a Marine and was accorded the same honor that other Marines would have received in the same situations.
This story really brings to life the story of Reckless. Though she has been gone for a while now, the story is told through the viewpoint of so many others that it almost seems like it happened just yesterday. From a historical perspective it brings to life the reality of a war that is now mostly forgotten. It does the same for a special horse long ago laid to rest. It gives meaning to why so many people did so much to make sure this horse made it back "home" and was accorded the respect any other Marine would have enjoyed. It tells why so many would have gond to so much trouble to have multiple life-like statues of her created and deployed at places where she will serve as a reminder of dedication and service for current and future Marines.
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