Sergeant Reckless


Hoofed Heroine Sergeant Reckless was one of the most courageous soldiers in her battalion. She carried heavy loads, dodged bullets, and won two Purple Hearts for bravery on the battlefields of the Korean War. But Sergeant Reckless wasn’t a human. She was a horse.


Lieutenant Eric Pedersen, commander of the Recoilless Rifle Platoon of the 5th Marines, was in desperate need of a strong and dependable soldier to haul heavy guns and ammunition over Korea’s steep, rugged terrain, where even trucks couldn’t travel. When Pedersen caught sight of the trained racehorse, he knew she had the potential to make a supreme soldier.


Pedersen bought Reckless and put her into intensive training. The horse learned how to ride in a trailer, carry a 115-pound (52-kg) recoilless rifle and its ammunition, and even kneel on command in case she needed to crawl into a shallow bunker to avoid enemy fire.


Reckless was an invaluable member of her own unit. On one day of the fight, she made 51 trips, carrying more than 9,000 pounds (4,082 kg) of explosives in total. She walked more than 35 miles (56 km) through enemy fire, trudging through soggy rice paddies and up steep mountains. Once she learned the route, Reckless made the trips by herself. She never faltered, even when flying shrapnel wounded her.


Reckless survived the war and came to America as a celebrity. On 10 April 1954, she was promoted to the rank of sergeant.


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