A HERO NAMED RECKLESS

This story starts with four key words: United States Marine Corps. The hero in our story is not just any marine. This hero… strike that, heroine… is the special marine who also happens to be a horse.

Sergeant Reckless was bor in Korean in 1948 and was a chestnut colored mongolian mare standing 14 hands and weighing about 900 pounds. Originally bred and trained as a race horse, as a result of the Korean War and the owner needing money for a family member who had medical need, she was purchased in 1952 by Lt. Eric Peterson for $250.

Reckless became a trained packhorse and part of the 5th Marine Regisment, 1st Marine Division within the Recoilless Rifle Platoon and Anti-Tank Company. Her main role? She carried supplies and ammunition.

Her fellow marines named her Reckless after the rifle for which she carried ammunition. The rifle was known to be so dangerous that the marines nicknamed it the Reckless Rifle.

Fun facts about Reckless. She loved Coca-Cola. She would sneak into the tents of her fellow marines and steal their food. She also would walk into the middle of a conversation circle to let folks know she wanted to be included. She became very attached to her comrades.

Reckless’s is known for her smarts and after training around the Reckless Rifle, her bravery - she didn’t run or jump during combat situations.

In a single day, during the Battle for Outpost Vegas, Sgt. Reckless made 51 trips to replenish the ammunition on the front lines. And she made these trips all on her own. She was wounded twice on this day by shrapnel. But she kept going until they gave the order for her to stop.

Sgt. Reckless was featured in newspapers and became so popular while she was still in Korea that the Amercian people campaigned to have her brought to the United States. She stepped hooves on American soil for the very first time on the USMC 179th birthday, November 10, 1954.

She retired 6 years later and remained in retirement at Camp Pendleton until her death in May of 1968. Visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Park to pay respects at the monument in her honor. There is a lock of hair from her tail in the base.