Reckless Korean War Horse Marine Hero

 Janet Barrett has written a wonderful account of a Jeju pony "drafted" by the U.S. Marines Fifth Regiment's Recoilless Rifle Platoon. From the racetrack of Korea, Reckless grew into a real-life hero of the Korean War.  On today's show, Janet joins us to share some of the stories about this amazing little horse. We get to know about the background of the men who took a chance on Reckless.  We also gain some insight into how Reckless returned that trust.

Janet's has written the book, They Called Her Reckless - A True Story of War, Love and One Extraordinary Horse.  It is a fascinating true story of how a horse bonded with her Marine "herd" to become an integral part in the Battle of Outpost Vegas of the Korean War.

Janet not only tells the story of Reckless' war heroics, but she also paints a wonderful portrait of her personality that endeared her to generals, officers,  and enlisted men alike.  The book covers the life of Reckless based on extensive interviews with over 60 Korean War veterans.  The book is a wonderful read.  Janet is a great storyteller and wonderful interview.  More importantly, Janet offers background on the Korean War, sometimes referred to as The Forgotten War.

Returning home to Camp Pendleton in California, Reckless attended ceremonies for the Marine Corp.  She continued receiving promotions and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant before her retirement.  A statue of Reckless charging up a hill stands at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Virginia.

If you have a soft spot for heartwarming horse stories, you will love the story of Reckless Korean war horse Marine hero.

Links for this show:

Janet Barrett