It is at the pacific views event center near the oceanside entrance to the base. Also receiving awards were bass, a belgian malinois war dog with the. Staff sergeant reckless monument dedication ceremony. The little mixed breed horse known as reckless transported ammunition and carried wounded marines to safety under enemy fire during the korean war, and on wednesday, the 64th anniversary of reckless joining the marine corps, camp pendleton unveiled a large bronze statue in her memory. Jocelyn russell was born and raised in the san luis valley in beautiful colorado. A second monument is at camp pendleton where reckless lived out her days and is buried. We are raising money through our 501 c 3 california corporation, angels without wings, inc. Kevin killea, commanding general, marine corps installations west marine corps base camp pendleton, as well as many marines who served in the korean war with. This is the complete and captivating account of how a wouldbe korean racehorse became one of the greatest marine corps wartime heroes. This bronze maquette is the small version of the life size monuments that have been installed at the national museum of the marine corps, camp pendleton, and the kentucky horse park. Reckless memorial foundation, to educate people about horses and the korean war.
Reckless made 24 trips by herself, carrying a total 3,500lbs of ammunition over 20 miles. Reckless usually learned the route after one or two trips, often traveling alone to deliver supplies on the way up, and evacuate wounded on the way down. Statue of korean war horse reckless to be unveiled at. Kevin killea, commanding general, marine corps installations west marine corps base camp pendleton, as well as many marines who served in the korean war with reckless, attended the ceremony. This bronze maquette is the small version of the life size monuments that have been installed at the national museum of the marine corps. Reckless wasnt just a horse, she was a marine who served in korean war. Cnn takes a closer look at the life of sergeant reckless, a small racehorse with an appetite for beer and coffee who would become americas greatest war horse during the korean war. Hutton has now written a fascinating full biography of sergeant reckless, who earned two purple hearts for her heroic efforts, among other military decorations.
Reckless was recently honored during the eight belles race at the kentucky derby as part of an ongoing effort by robin hutton, founder of the sgt. Camp pendleton unveils staff sgt reckless monument marine. A hero horse, a forgotten war, both revisited the san. Aug 20, 2014 col mary reinwald, usmcret, editor of leatherneck magazine, interviews author robin hutton about her book sgt reckless. When a statue of reckless was unveiled at the marines corps museum in quantico, virginia in 20, the audience included marines who had served with her. It is an honor and a privilege for her to be there, and the. Reckless, the famous korean war pack horse, at the pacific views event center, oct. The little mixed breed horse known as reckless transported ammunition and carried wounded marines to safety under enemy fire during the korean war, and on wednesday, the 64th anniversary of reckless joining the marine corps, camp pendleton unveiled a large. A 10foot bronze statue of the courageous and insatiable horse, staff sgt. Sergeant reckless was first known as flame of the morning. Reckless was given two purple hearts along with many other military decorations for her service.
Sgt reckless sculpture entitled an uphill battle by jocelyn russell measures 11h x 4w x 12l, edition of 100. California, where reckless lived out the rest of her days and is buried. Dvids news camp pendleton unveils staff sgt reckless monument. Reckless, will be unveiled friday at the marine corps museum in quantico, va. Americas war horse at the marine corps associations offices in. Monuments sgt reckless monument jocelyn russell life.
After her death, reckless was buried at the camp pendleton stables with full military. She passed away in 1968 at the age of 20 and was buried with full military honors. But during the 195053 korean war, one mare would run towards it. Reckless at the pacific views event center, camp pendleton, calif. The red mare with white blaze was a racehorse in seoul when a young korean boy, kim huk moon, saw her at the track and began dreaming in earnest of one day owning a horse just like her. Donations war dog lucca monument sgt reckless mug our price. She died of natural causes in may 1968 and was buried with full military honors with a bronze plaque on her grave at the camp pendleton stables. Due to the coronavirus public health emergency, the museum will be closed to the public until further notice. Reckless died in may of 1968 and was buried with full military honors at camp pendleton. Reckless to be erected at her retirement home and final resting place, camp pendleton in san diego, ca.
Camp pendleton unveils staff sgt reckless monument dvids. Marine warhorse reckless honored at camp pendleton san. After her death, reckless was buried at the camp pendleton stables with full military honors. I never expected to see a horse in the middle of the chaos in korea, said harold wadley, a korean war veteran who served with reckless. Reckless, an equine soldier of the korean war, in a ceremony at marine base in oceanside. A memorial to americas greatest war hero horse, ssgt. Sgt reckless legendary for her heroics during the korean war was buried with full military honors at camp pentelton in sergeant reckless was a symbol of the heroic actions that took place throughout the korean war, and her impact can be seen in. The other will be at camp pendleton, ca where she lived out her days and was buried. Marine horse reckless received two purple hearts and was.
Oct 26, 2016 camp pendleton, ca camp pendleton, calif. The story of the mongolian mare, who, despite only measuring about thirteen hands high, became an american hero for her actions during the korean war, being awarded two purple hearts for her valor and being officially promoted to staff sergeant twice, a distinction never bestowed upon an animal before or since. Reckless statue unveiled at camp pendleton youtube. A second monument is planned for marine corps base camp pendleton in california, where recklesslived out her days and is buried. Reckless honored at camp pendleton with monument unveiling. Sgt reckless sculpture in bronze by jocelyn russell. On thursday, july 25, camp pendleton marines honored staff sgt. Reckless appeared on the art linkletter show and made many other public appearances after the war, ms. Robin hutton did not want recklesss story to be forgotten, so she wrote a book about her titled, sgt. Aug 29, 2018 the fourlegged marine who became a korean war hero. In february 1953, captain dick kurth and his fox company were fighting for a hill called detroit.
Heroic korean war horse honored by marines with bronze. Camp pendleton erected a bronze statue in honor of war horse sgt. Camp pendleton unveils staff sgt reckless monument u. If you want to read a wonderful, book about a true war hero then ive got one for you. The onetime racehorseturnedmarine whose heroism earned her the purple heart with gold star and a spot in. Camp pendleton unveils staff sgt reckless monument. Raising money for two national monuments to sgt reckless, the great korean war horse one will be at the national museum of the marine corps in quantico, va to be dedicated on july 26, 20. When she died on may, 1968, she was buried at camp pendleton with full military honors. Camp pendleton hosts a ceremony unveiling a statue dedicated to staff sgt. Reckless, americas war horse, views the horses military prowess from the perspective of her subject.
Reckless, is unveiled overlooking the pacific ocean at camp pendleton, calif. A second monument is planned for marine corps base camp pendleton in california, where reckless lived out her days and is buried. Reckless honored with monument on 60th anniversary. Reckless hawaii state public library system overdrive. Ssgt reckless monument camp pendleton historical society. Sgt reckless americas war horse by robin hutton is a true gem. Heroic korean war horse honored by marines with bronze statue. The event is a fund raiser to help raise money to create a 2nd monument of sgt. When she died, she was buried with full military honors on base at stepp stables. Staff sergeant reckless, the only horse in us history to have been. On thursday july 25, 20, the us marines honored staff sergeant reckless an equine soldier of the korean war in a ceremony at marine corps base camp pendleton, oceanside. Reckless wasnt just a horse, she was a marine who served in.
Americas war horse, robin hutton has masterfully crafted the definitive story of reckless, the great little korean mare who so boldly served alongside marines of the recoilless rifle platoon, 5th marine regiment, in the korean war carrying ammunition under enemy fire. Reckless, a camp pendleton veteran, to be memorialized at kentucky horse park. Reckless honored at camp pendleton cowboys and indians. After serving in the korean war, reckless final duty station was camp pendleton where she stayed until her death in 1968. In the 1950s, reckless was as popular as rin tin tin and lassie, said robin hutton, an author from ventura, calif. During the battle of outpost vegas march 1953, she made 51 trips in one day from the ammunition supply point to the firing sites, most of the time by herself. After her death reckless was buried at the base stables with full military honors. She is buried at the stepp stables at camp pendleton. Reckless was famous during the korean war era, equal to lassie or rin tin tin. It fills in all of the gaps from previous books about this marvelous, courageous little redhaired mongolian mare. Americas war horse is a beautiful story about an amazing horse and the meaning of the marine corps motto, semper fi. Camp pendleton hosted a ceremony to honor staff sgt. Statue of korean war horse reckless to be unveiled at marine. Sergeant reckless collections marine corps museum store.
Reckless was a little sorrel mare who got our boys out of a desperate. This site is dedicated to a remarkable hero a small mongolian mare named reckless who became a national hero in 1954 when an article ran in the saturday evening post about her heroics during several battles in the korean war. Reckless was wounded twice and was later awarded two purple hearts. The fourlegged marine who became a korean war hero history. Reckless arrived in the united states in november 1954 and was stationed at californias camp pendleton where she was twice promoted to staff sergeant and bore three colts and a filly. Hutton has now written a fascinating full biography ofsergeant reckless, who earned two purple hearts for her heroic efforts, amongother military decorations. Reckless is the only horse to be buried with full military honors at the stepp stables on the base. Amid an inferno of explosives on a deadly minefield in the korean war, a fourlegged marine proved to be a heroic force of nature. Reckless navy general library program downloadable. Reckless audiobook, written by robin hutton audio editions. Engraved bricks national museum of marine corps our price. Reckless was a small mare who served in the korean war and rose to the ranks of staff sgt. She was buried at the base stables with full military.
Life magazine ran a special collectors edition in 1997 entitled celebrating our heroes, and theres reckless listed alongside the likes of. Jul 15, 2011 so, when reckless went on her daily jog at camp pendleton, the marine accompanying her went on foot. Kevin killea, commanding general, marine corps installations west marine corps base camp pendleton, as well as many. When in place, it will look very much like one installed at the national museum of the marine corps in july 20. From life magazines top 100 all time heros remastered, slightly altered from original video, and lyrics added sgt.
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