two history questions...at least

[old mule]

Hello everyone.
I'm the mule and donkey columnist for a little West Texas newspaer, the Marathon News-Leader.
I joined this group because of a specific interest in an obscure area of military history...you guessed it.
First question- I an trying to find information and a photo of a famous Korean War Marine...a female...four legged. Her name was "Reckless", and what I know about her was this: during a battle at Panmumjon, she became famous for making 51 trips under intense fire, carrying 386 24-pound cannon shells (a 9000 pound total load) to surrounded Marines at the front. The enemy was only 80 yards away and the little mule behaved so steadily and bravely that she got her picture in Life magazine and a fat retirement at a Marine base in California.
Anyone tell me, or lead me to, any more information about this mule? Details of the battle, what outfit she was with, technical details on the weapons?
I would love to feature Reckless in my column, in connection with...
my next question.
It is all over the internet that the Mountain Warfare Training Training Center in California is traing donkeys and mules again. My readers are real interested in this. Any news or comments? I believe the USMC stopped using mules in 1956, at the samee time the Army did. Is this correct?
I sure do appreciate being able to ask here, especially since I am not a veteran- just a civilian with an interest in this small part of Marine history

Thank you

Zach

[Ed Palmer]

By Lillian Cox
UNION-TRIBUNE
November 14, 2004

CAMP PENDLETON – Few stories better illustrate the military's promise to leave no one behind than that of Staff Sgt. Reckless, a horse who became a decorated Marine during the Korean War.

Plans have begun to honor the horse, once left behind in Korea.

A Marine officer purchased Reckless from a Korean boy who needed money to buy his sister an artificial leg, according to Marine Lt. Col. Andrew Geer, who commanded the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment of the 1st Division in Korea. Geer wrote two articles about the horse for The Saturday Evening Post in the 1950s and later wrote a book, "Reckless, the Pride of the Marines."

The horse served at the bloody Battle of Vegas after training as an ammunitions carrier, according to Geer.

He wrote: "Every yard she advanced was showered with explosives. Fifty-one times she marched through the fiery gantlet of the Red barrage – and she saved the day for the Leathernecks."

Bob Rogers, a former Navy corpsman who now lives in Kansas, remembers Reckless wandering around a military camp in Korea wearing a blanket bearing stripes and her Purple Heart. Rogers said in a recent interview that he is planning a statue to honor the horse. The location has yet to be decided.

Rogers said Reckless had a weakness for rations.

"We'd go out for the day and return to a wrecked tent," he said. "Reckless could smell any goodies, especially cookies, and would find them – guaranteed!

"A lieutenant, myself and others were in a circle talking. Reckless came up behind one fellow and nuzzled the back of his neck. It scared the guy, and he cussed Reckless, calling her a 'blanking nag.' The lieutenant sternly let him know Reckless was a hero and had done more for the Marine Corps than he ever would. And since Reckless outranked him, any further verbal abuse would be cause for disciplinary action.

"I had the honor of being in formation when Cpl. Reckless was promoted to sergeant," said Rogers, 70.

Reckless was left in South Korea as her Marine buddies returned home, but after publication of Geer's article, Post readers and friends of the horse arranged to bring her to the United States.

In preparation for her transfer to Camp Pendleton, Geer wrote the Commandant of the Marine Corps in Washington, D.C.:

"The undersigned is in hearty agreement that Reckless should be stationed at Camp Pendleton. . . . It should be kept in mind, however, that this is no ordinary horse and she should have special care and attention. . . . It is suggested her court be in the vicinity of the Commanding General's quarters and properly marked with appropriate sign, so that all will know this to be the home of Sergeant Reckless, Pride of the Marines.

"... Her shoes should be removed and she should be allowed to go barefoot for a period of six weeks," Geer continued. "At that time, her feet should be trimmed and new shoes fitted. Only the most knowing and patient horseshoer should be employed. Sergeant Reckless is extremely proud of her feet and will not stand for inexpert attention. Several Korean horseshoers will painfully attest to this statement."

The memo continued, "During the extreme heat of Korea, when potable water was scarce or non-existent, Reckless came to know and like certain liquids other than water. She is fond of coca cola and milk. Under the stress of battle she has been known to drink beer."

Geer cautioned the commandant about a producer with plans to portray Reckless as a chatty horse modeled after the 1950 movie, "Francis, the Talking Mule."

"One is a Hollywood clown and the other a gallant Marine who won honors in one of the bloodiest battles fought by American troops," he wrote.

In 1959, five years after arriving at Camp Pendleton, Reckless was promoted to a staff sergeant, according to a November 1992 article in Leatherneck magazine.

Reckless died in 1968 and was survived by three offspring.



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For information about plans for the statue honoring Reckless, e-mail rogers-bc@terraworld.net.

[old mule]

Well that is quite the story- I had some of the details right.
But Reckless was a HORSE? In the authoritative book War Horse, about the Army remount service, the author states that Reckless was "a small mule".
This sure calls for more research.
Well, the Army had Hambone and the most famous military mule of all, OK80. Surely the Marines have more and better mule stories?

Thanks again

Zach