When wars are fought, heros are
made, but it's unusual for a hero to come in the form of a horse!
In a time when the war horse had almost been forgotten, this little
mare brought history back to life. It all began in Korea when a
race horse named Flame of the Morning was born sometime in the late
1940's. Flame's owner, Kim Huk Moon (a young jockey), loved her
very much but times were hard and his sister needed an artificial
leg when she lost her leg in a land-mine accident. Faced with the
hard decision of selling the beloved race mare, Kim sold Flame to
a United States Marine gun crew who purchased her for $250 of their
own money to be used as an ammunition carrier at the front lines
of the Korean War.
When
Flame was brought back to camp by the young lieutenant who found
her, she was given a new name. The name "Reckless" was
bestowed upon her, named after the weapon she would serve. Reckless's
temperment was level-headed and willing. It was as if she just knew
what she was supposed to do. In fact, she got along so well in her
new surroundings and job that she was given free-run of the place
and would find herself sticking her head into tents to doze with
the men by the stove at night. She was fitting right in with the
Marines and her normal diet consisted of barley,sorghum, hay, and
rice, although sometimes a chocolate bar and candy found it's way
to her as well. Apparently, the chestnut mare had also developed
a weakness for her rations and often-times the men would return
to a wrecked tent which she had torn apart looking for any goodies
that might be found.
When her preliminary training
for the battle field was over, Reckless was taken out for the first
time into combat in February of 1953. When the first loud cracks
of the recoilless reifles sounded off, the little mare became only
slightly unnerved but regained her composure in quick order. It
wasn't long until Reckless went along as if the guns weren't even
there. She was then packing six rounds of ammunition per trip and
working her way carefully through the rough terrain to reach her
destination from firing position to firing position as the Marines
moved to take the hill called Detroit. Reckless had made twenty-four
trips total that day which was about twenty miles total. She had
carried a total of about 3,500 pounds of ammunition, which was way
more than the men would have been able to carry had they been without
her help.
Then, in March, Reckless proved
how invaluable she was to her men at Vegas Hill. Early in the morning
before the sun had even come up, she was loaded up with eight rounds
of ammunition. After a few trips led by her handler up the steep
45 degree inclines and rough path, she soon learned her way on her
own. The men went up with her by her side, carrying three rounds
of ammunition as well. On and on the little mare went until after
she had made a total of twenty-one trips of carrying the heavy load.
She was then given a meal, water, and a good rub-down. Just a little
while later though, she went back into duty willingly.
At times Reckless went up the
hard path alone and made her way to the men's firing position on
her own. She was able to make two trips for every one the men could
make. During these trips, Reckless took a hit above her eye and
flanks where shrapnel had hit her. As the day got later, her load
was lightened to just six rounds vs. the eight she had been carrying
and by the time it was dark, she had logged up to fifty-one trips
that day which was a total of thirty-five miles over the rough and
steep terrain. She had carried a total of 9,000 pounds that day.
She continued to haul ammunition for two more days until the men
had won the battle for Vegas Hill.
After her heroic efforts at Vegas
Hill, Reckless had won the hearts and the respect of the entire
1st Marine Division. By the end of the Korean War, she was as much
a part of the men as any of them were. The question was brought
up though as to what would happen to the little chestnut mare when
they left? Would they have to leave her behind? Surely not! The
Marine's motto is "leave no man behind" isn't it? Yet,
it seemed impossible to bring her home with them as there was no
military funding to transport a horse to the United States. After
a story was published in the Saturday Evening Post, a cargo
line offered to help ship Reckless home at no charge.
On
November 10, 1954, Reckless set foot on American soil for the first
time in her life in San Fransisco. She was greeted enthusiastically
by large crowds of people who gave her a hero's welcome. In fact,
she was greeted by more people at her arrival than the Vice President,
Richard M. Nixon, had just a week earlier. Reporters swarmed around
her to get pictures as she posed for the camera and she was just
as poised then as she was in battle. Her arrival also marked the
179th birthday of the Marine Corps. She was an honored guest at
the birthday celebration where she rode an elevator to the tenth
floor of a hotel to enjoy cake with the rest of her men.
Reckless then went on to Camp
Pendleton in California, which was to become her new home. While
there, she performed a few publicity duties and gave birth to four
foals, two of which were colts who were named Dauntless and Fearless.
She was given a gold and crimson sheet for special occassions on
which she hung her purple hearts and Service Medals. She was officially
retired in 1960 at the rank of staff sergeant with full military
honors and many awards. She was granted full quarters at the base's
stable for life. She was never to have anything other than a blanket
on her back ever again. In order to give her exercise, her caretaker
was to run along side her as she trotted until she was tired.
In 1968, Reckless said her final
farewell to the men she served with after suffering from a serious
injury and had to be euthanized at the age of 19 pr 20. A plaque
now hangs on the wall of the stable she lived in to commemorate
the courage of the little mare who fought so bravely with the Marines
in the Korean War.
Reckless Facts:
Color: Chestnut
Markings: Blaze and three white socks Awards:
2 Purple Hearts
Gold Conduct Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with star
National Defense Medal
Korean Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Read more about Reckless in this Great book about her:
When
Flame was brought back to camp by the young lieutenant who found
her, she was given a new name. The name "Reckless" was
bestowed upon her, named after the weapon she would serve. Reckless's
temperment was level-headed and willing. It was as if she just knew
what she was supposed to do. In fact, she got along so well in her
new surroundings and job that she was given free-run of the place
and would find herself sticking her head into tents to doze with
the men by the stove at night. She was fitting right in with the
Marines and her normal diet consisted of barley,sorghum, hay, and
rice, although sometimes a chocolate bar and candy found it's way
to her as well. Apparently, the chestnut mare had also developed
a weakness for her rations and often-times the men would return
to a wrecked tent which she had torn apart looking for any goodies
that might be found. 
On
November 10, 1954, Reckless set foot on American soil for the first
time in her life in San Fransisco. She was greeted enthusiastically
by large crowds of people who gave her a hero's welcome. In fact,
she was greeted by more people at her arrival than the Vice President,
Richard M. Nixon, had just a week earlier. Reporters swarmed around
her to get pictures as she posed for the camera and she was just
as poised then as she was in battle. Her arrival also marked the
179th birthday of the Marine Corps. She was an honored guest at
the birthday celebration where she rode an elevator to the tenth
floor of a hotel to enjoy cake with the rest of her men. 
