In honor of Veteran's Day, meet Staff Sergeant Reckless of the 5th Marines. Originally released in 2012, Sergeant Reckless is a red chestnut on the Galiceno mold (a Traditional-sized pony) with three white socks and a strip. She came with a "SSgt. Reckless" blanket that includes her military assignment emblazoned on the sides.
With every purchase of Sergeant Reckless, Breyer donated a portion of the sale to the "Sergeant Reckless Memorial Fund" to help support efforts to create a permanent monument in her honor.
The real Sergeant Reckless was foaled in 1948 and died in 1968 at 20 years old; she was a mare of Mongolian breeding purchased from a racetrack in Seoul by US Marines and trained to become a pack horse.
She quickly became a beloved addition to the unit and was allowed to roam freely through camp. She would enter the Marines' tents, and she was known for her willingness to eat almost anything, which included: scrambled eggs, beer, Coca-Cola, and $30 worth of poker chips.
This monument of Reckless (which is at Camp Pendleton), was placed and dedicated this year on October 26. Here is the sculptor, Jocelyn Russell, standing with the memorial.
Sergeant Reckless has received the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Korea Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and the French Fourragere.
Here she is pictured with her primary trainer, Platoon Gunnery Sergeant Joseph Latham.
Considered one of America's 100 all-time heroes by LIFE magazine, this spunky little mare was certainly one in a million.
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