and reporters all giving her a hero’s welcome. That particular day was the 179th birthday of the Marine Corp and she was the honored guest. She rode up to the party in the hotel elevator and indeed ate cake with the rest of her Marine unit. During her military service and following the war, this mare was awarded:
2 Purple Hearts A Gold Conduct Medal Presidential Unit Citation With Star National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal United Nations Service Medal Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation In 1960 she was officially retired to Camp Pendleton, and awarded the fi-
Pendleton. The Marine Corps was also careful not to allow her to be ex- ploited by commercial interests. She produced four foals there: colts Fear- less (1957), Dauntless (1959), and Chesty (1964); her last foal, a filly born circa 1965–1966, died a month after birth and was unnamed. Reckless retired from active service with full military honors at Camp
Pendleton on November 10, 1960 with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Divi- sion in attendence. She was provided free board and feed in lieu of her retirement pay, per Marine Corps documents. Her life in retirement was good and she was surrounded by the troops she had gone to war with and spent her military life protecting. Reckless developed arthritis in her back as she aged and injured herself
on May 13, 1968, by falling into a barbed wire fence. She died under seda- tion while her wounds were being treated. At the time of her death, she was estimated to be 19 or 20 years old. There is a plaque and photo com- memorating her at the Camp Pendleton stables. The first race at Aqueduct racetrack, New York, was designated "The Sgt Reckless" on November 10, 1989 and in 1997, Reckless was listed by LIFE magazine as one of America's 100 all-time heroes. A statue by sculptor Jocelyn Russell of Reckless carrying ammunition
shells and other combat equipment was unveiled on Friday, July 26, 2013, in Semper Fidelis Memorial Park at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, one day before the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. There is a lock of her tail hair in the base of the statue. Robin Hutton has taken on the heartfelt task of being sure this mare is
memorialized at Camp Pendleton also. Visit her website at
www.sgtreck-
less.com for more information.
nal rank of Staff Sergeant by then Commander of the Marine Corps, Gen. Randolph McPate. It doesn’t get any higher than Commandant in the Marines to be honored by and is a select privilege saved for few…
..and certainly not horses!!!!. Reckless retired with full Military Honors covered by a red and
gold blanket with all her awards pinned to it. She was granted full quarters status for life at Camp Pendleton, never to have anything beside a blanket on her again. When exercised, her caretaker had to just run alongside her till she got tired! She became a sort of publicity “spokesman” for the Marine Corp and was well cared for and treated as a VIP during her time at Camp
Reckless retired from active service
with full military honors at Camp Pendleton on November 10, 1960 with the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division in attendence. She was provided free board and feed in lieu of her retirement pay, per Marine Corps documents.
62 |
iJumpSports.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72