Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Feb 4, 2015 12:42:12 GMT
Sergeant Reckless, a horse that held official rank in the United States military,was a mare of Mongolian horse breeding. Out of a race horse dam, she was purchased in October 1952 for $250 from a Korean stableboy at the Seoul racetrack who needed money to buy an artificial leg for his sister. Reckless was bought by members of the United States Marine Corps and trained to be a pack horse for the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, Anti-Tank Company, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
She served in numerous combat actions during the Korean War, carrying supplies and ammunition, and was also used to evacuate wounded. Learning each supply route after only a couple of trips, she often traveled to deliver supplies to the troops on her own, without benefit of a handler.
The highlight of her nine-month military career came in late March 1953 during fighting around Vegas Hill when, in a single day, she made 51 solo trips to resupply multiple front line units. She was wounded in combat twice, given the battlefield rank of corporal in 1953, and then a battlefield promotion to sergeant in 1954, several months after the war ended. She also became the first horse in the Marine Corps known to have participated in an amphibious landing, and following the war was awarded two Purple Hearts, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and several other military honors.
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mingiz
Junior Member
Los Lunas, NM
Posts: 3,320
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Post by mingiz on Feb 4, 2015 13:42:04 GMT
Fantastic!! More service animals should be awarded!!!
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Feb 4, 2015 13:52:27 GMT
Thanks for sharing. I wonder what happened to her after the war though. Was she left in Korea? What was her fate?
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Feb 4, 2015 13:53:34 GMT
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Lipizzan
Junior Member
Europe, Croatia
Posts: 2,572
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Post by Lipizzan on Feb 4, 2015 14:44:15 GMT
Yes she was back to states and had 4 foals before she died. She was retired.
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Post by horselady on Feb 4, 2015 20:13:17 GMT
An awesome horse doing what she knew was her job.and was please to do it. and thankfully she was awarded the awards she so deserved. now for all the animals that are still participating . they deserve recognition also,
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Post by Shelly on Feb 5, 2015 2:15:15 GMT
I believe she has a memorial statue somewhere, could have sworn it was in the states. She has her own Facebook page too that I definitely liked thanks for the share
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