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Sgt. Reckless: A Horse of a Different Breed

Defense Media Activity - Marines

March 1, 1953 | 3:05

This is the story of Sgt. Reckless - a Mongolian mare purchased by a Marine Corps lieutenant for $250 during the Korean War.

One of Reckless' finest hours came during the Battle of Outpost Vegas in March of 1953. During this five-day battle, 28 tons of bombs and hundreds of the largest shells turned the crest of Vegas into a smoking, death-pocked rubble. And Reckless was in the middle of all of it.

On one day alone she made 51 trips from the Ammunition Supply Point to the firing sites, 95% of the time by herself. She carried almost five tons, walked over 35 miles through open rice paddies and up steep mountains with enemy fire coming in at the rate of 500 rounds per minute. And as she so often did, she would carry wounded Marines down the mountain to safety, unload them, get reloaded with ammo, and off she would go back up to the guns. She also provided a shield for several Marines who were trapped trying to make their way up to the front line. Wounded twice, she didn't let that stop or slow her down.