Sergeant Reckless: The Ture Story of the Little Horse Who Became a Hero / Patricia McCormick ~ 4 Stars

[Joni]

During the Korean War, a group of Marines was in need of a pack mule to carry heavy ammunition. What they found instead was a pack horse. A young malnourished mare that they named "Reckless" came to be that horse. She went through training to learn how to be around the Marines but most importantly to handle the loud noises of bombs and gun fire. Reckless loved to eat.....she ate whatever the Marines were eating each day. But her favorite was chocolate bars and Coca-Cola. During one of the key times of the battle, Reckless worked without urging. The Marines gave her chocolate bars to keep up her strength. She was injured by shrapnel but she kept on working. At the end of one day, Reckless made 51 trips, had gone a distance of 35 miles up and down steep terrain and carried 9,000 pounds of ammunition.

Reckless received two purple hearts and retired with full military honors and at the rack of staff sergeant.

This story reminded me a lot of the movie War Horse......just not the same horse.