The spirit of her loneliness
and her loyalty in spite of the danger
was something else to behold.
Hurting
Determined
and Alone.
That's the image I have imprinted
in my head and heart forever.
...Sgt Harold Wadley USMC
Staff Sergeant Reckless
1948-1968
5th Marine Regiment - 1st Marine Division
SSgt Reckless served valiantly with the United States Marine Corps in the Korean War. During the pivotal five day Battle of Outpost Vegas, in late March 1953, she made 51 round trips in a single day, most of them solo, from the Ammunition Supply Point to the firing sites. She carried 386 rounds of ammunition totaling more than 9,000 pounds and walked over 35 miles, through open rice paddies and up steep mountains, as enemy fire exploded at the rate of 500 rounds per minute.
Reckless provided a shield for front line Marines, carried the wounded to safety and was wounded twice. But she never quit until the mission was complete. She wasn't a horse...She was a Marine.
SSgt Reckless is buried at the Stepp Stables, MCB Camp Pendleton, where she spent her final years before her death in 1968.
Military Decorations:
Two Purple Hearts
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with bronze star
Navy Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal-Korea
Korean Service Medal with 3 Stars
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
PDSA Dickin Medal
Reckless was America's greatest war horse. Horses run from chaos but Reckless ran towards the chaos. The marines called her Reckless after the recoilless rifle for which she carried ammunition. The cannon was often dubbed the "reckless" rifle because it was so dangerous to handle. Because horses are "herd" animals, the marines became her herd. She bonded so deeply with them that Reckless would go anywhere and do anything to help her adopted family. After unloading the ammunition, Reckless would carry the wounded soldiers back down to safety, despite getting injured herself. Astonishingly, Reckless did all of this by herself whilst being under heavy enemy fire which cost the lives of 1,000 American and 2,000 Chinese soldiers. Reckless was trained to lie down, when under fire, and to avoid obstacles such as barbed wire.
In recent years the legend of Reckless has been resurrected with a number of books being published and statues being unveiled at Virginia's National Museum of the Marine Corps and Heritage Center in 2013 and Camp Pendleton in 2016. On the 50th anniversary of her death, a 1,000 pound bronze statue of Reckless was unveiled at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington by four Korean War veterans, including Wadley, who served with her. What an incredible horse and amazing story!
There is talk of making a movie about her heroics which I hope they do make. But, I would be quietly sobbing through the entire movie (and looking down at my lap) just like I did in War Horse.
More information and videos below:
https://www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/korean-war/sgt-reckless-korean-war-horse-hero/2748461639001
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Reckless
https://www.americasbestracing.net/lifestyle/2019-the-story-sergeant-reckless-korean-war-horse-served-valor
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/15/sport/sergeant-reckless-warhorse-spt/index.html
http://www.horsestarhalloffame.org/inductees/64/staff_sergeant_reckless.aspx
