Find Out More About The Horse That Was a Marine…

By: Brittany Bevis

We received such an incredible response to yesterday’s Memorial Day article entitled, The Horse That Was a Marine, that we decided to do a brief Q&A with the author of a new book about Sergeant Reckless that will be coming out August 25th, 2014. Author Robin Hutton was able to take a few moments out of her busy touring schedule to answer our questions about the incredible horse that inspired her book, Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse.

EC: How did you first find out about Reckless, and what made you want to write a book about this extraordinary animal?

Hutton: “I discovered her story in Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul, and I couldn’t believe I never heard about this incredible horse. When I did preliminary research, Google only had four listings, when you typed in her name. I’ve made it my mission to get the world to rediscover this incredible equine hero.”

EC: What were some of the most interesting things you learned about Reckless during the course of your research?

Hutton: “Her incredible bravery under the worst of conditions. The mortars were ‘falling like raindrops,’ as one Marine told me, and she never balked. She stayed true to her mission out of the love she had for her marines. They became her herd. She would follow them anywhere, and she knew what her job was. Also, she was an incredible character — she loved to drink beer, eat cherry pie, and sleep in the tents of her comrades. She was a true marine!”

EC: What is the one thing you’d like people to remember about Reckless and animals used in wartime, in general?

Hutton: “These animals perform these duties out of the love and devotion they have to their fellow comrades. It amazes me how they will go to extreme lengths, most of the time at their own possible peril, to perform the job they know they must perform. I like to say about Reckless, ‘She wasnt’ a horse. She was a marine!” Honestly, no truer words have ever been spoken about this incredible horse.”

EC: In your opinion, do you think it’s fitting to honor fallen animals on Memorial Day as we do fallen soldiers and why?

Hutton: “Yes I do, because they gave their all as every soldier did as well. But more importantly, animals give us a way to teach the younger generation about these wars. I know for Reckless, I’ve been able to speak about the Korean War and the incredible people who served in that war to first graders on up, because they love the horse and want to learn more about her story. They become a safe and incredible teaching tool to teach these youngsters about the wars. They love learning her story, and, in doing so, they learn about the incredible battles that Reckless was a part of. That’s an invaluable teaching tool!”

If you’d like to find out more about Reckless or Hutton’s upcoming book, click here.

Sidebar- Fun Facts and Stats about Reckless

• Her Korean name was Ah-Chim-Hai or “Flame-in-the-Morning.”
• She stood 13-14 hands high and weighed 900 lbs.
• She became a marine on October 26, 1952.
• She was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant and received two Purple Hearts, Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service medal, and numerous other awards.
• She loved drinking beer with her marine buddies and eating scrambled eggs, cherry pie, Hershey’s bars, and candy.