Sgt. Reckless – An Amazing Mare

Because I’m a horse lover in the first degree, our own Mary Ricksen shared the video link with me, and I was inspired to share these two links about Sgt. Reckless, a sorrel mare who carried ammunition in the Korean War. This horse of Mongolian breeding was honored as one of 100 American Heroes, along with Washington and Lincoln, and promoted by the Marine Corps every time they had a chance to give her tribute for her service in the battlefield.

Her dam was a race horse.  In October 1952, she was purchased for $250 (the video says $350) from a Korean stableboy at the Seoul racetrack. He needed money to buy an artificial leg for his sister. Members of the US Marine Corps bought Reckless and trained to be a pack horse for the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, Anti-Tank Company, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

The article below tells her story, and I encourage you to go to the links to learn about this remarkable horse. I saw the movie War Horse and wonder if Reckless was the inspiration for that film. War Horse is a 2011 American war drama directed by Steven Spielberg, and is an adaptation of British author Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 children’s novel by the same title, which is set before and during the WWI.  If you haven’t seen it, it’s a great movie, but bring a box of tissues!

http://www.sgtreckless.com/Reckless/About_Reckless.html

http://biggeekdad.com/2011/07/sgt-reckless/

Reckless’ legend has been lost in the chronicles of history, as the video says. I wanted everyone to remember her.

Enjoy your weekend! Linda