War Horse

While everyone has been excitedly watching the movie War Horse, we should all be aware of a very important story about a true War Horse Hero that has been lost in the pages of history, until now.

This is a story about Reckless the War Horse.

In the 1997 Collector's Addition of Life Magazine listing America's 100 greatest heroes there was one hero listed that was not human, but a horse. She was included alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and John Wayne as one of our all-time heroes.

Her name was Reckless.

Most people have never heard of this very special Unsung Hero, a little 14.1hh, 5 yr old mare whose incredible story began when she was bought for $250.00 at a Korean Race Track to help haul ammunition in the Korean War. Reckless was named for and by the 5th Marines Recoilless Rifle Platoon Corp.

In 1953 she made 51 trips ON HER OWN, without ANYONE leading her, through the firing sites at Outpost Vegas, and carried over 9,000lbs of ammunition. And then on the way down from the top of that hill, she would carry wounded soldiers. So, how bad was the battle for Outpost Vegas? Well, artillery rounds fell at the rate of 500 per hour, and only two men made it out alive without wounds.  Just two.

Now I bet you all can imagine a horse carrying a wounded soldier, after being smacked on the rump at the top of the hill to head back down to "safety", but just imagine the same horse, loaded with ammunition, and trudging back up that steep hill to the battle where artillery is going off, without anyone leading her!

 

Just think. She made over 50 of those types of trips during that battle! How many horses would make it back to safety, and then return to a raging battle one single time?

And that’s not all.

This incredible mare walked more than 35 miles through rice paddies and up steep hills among artillery that was exploding at the rate of 500lbs per minute. She shielded Marines who were moving up to the front lines, and she was wounded twice in battle, but ever brave and loyal, that never stopped her.

And due to her loyal service, the marines honored her with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

She was retired at the Marine Corps Base in Camp Pendleton where a General issued the following order: She was never to carry any more weight on her back except her own blankets.

During her retirement at Camp Pendleton, she was promoted to Sergeant and then in 1959 to Staff Sergeant. And her last Promotion Ceremony included a 19 Gun Salute!! In her honor she was presented with a parade of 1,700 Troops from her old outfit, the 5th Marines.

She died in May 1968 at the age of 20, and was buried with full Military Honors, but there will never be another horse like Reckless and her story deserves to be told!

Please go to

www.sgtreckless.com for more information, and join the Official Sgt Reckless Fan Club on Facebook.

Don’t let this true War Hero’s story disappear between the pages of time and memory!!