Sgt. Reckless, Robin Hutton
Sgt. Reckless, Robin Hutton
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Sgt. Reckless
America’s War Horse

Author: Robin Hutton

Narrator: Susan Boyce

Unabridged: 7 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/28/2014


Synopsis

This is the complete and captivating account of how a would-be Korean racehorse became one of the greatest Marine Corps wartime heroes.Amid an inferno of explosives on a deadly minefield in the Korean War, a four-legged marine proved to be a heroic force of nature. She moved headstrong up and down steep, smoky terrain that no man could travail confidently. In a single day, this small Mongolian mare made fifty-one round-trips carrying nearly five tons of explosives to various gun sites. Sergeant Reckless was her name, and she was the horse renowned for carrying wounded soldiers off the battlefield and making solo trips across combat zones to deliver supplies.A widely celebrated national hero, Reckless was first featured in 1954 in the Saturday Evening Post and in 1997 when Life magazine published an edition lauding history's one hundred all-time heroes. Equine enthusiast Robin Hutton learned about Sergeant Reckless and spearheaded the effort to commission a monument at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia, near the Marine Corps Base Quantico. In July of 2013, the statue was unveiled. A second monument is planned for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, where Reckless lived out her days and is buried.Hutton has now written a fascinating full biography of Sergeant Reckless, who earned two Purple Hearts for her heroic efforts, among other military decorations. Hutton has spoken with the marines who fought alongside Reckless and tells the complete and captivating tale of how a would-be Korean racehorse became one of the greatest Marine Corps wartime heroes. Sgt. Reckless brings the legend back to life more than half a century later.

About Robin Hutton

Robin Hutton has spent her adult life working in major event productions and the motion picture business. She has been the writing partner of Tom Laughlin for the last thirty years and is coauthor of The 9 Indispensable Ingredients in Every Hit Film, TV Show, Play, and Novel. Currently she is president of Angels without Wings, Inc., a nonprofit organization that spearheaded the development and dedication of a national memorial to Sergeant Reckless. The monument was dedicated at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on July 26, 2013, and an exhibit inside the museum was also opened at that time. For her charitable work, she was named “Patriotic Citizen of the Year” for 2014 by the local chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

About Susan Boyce

Susan Boyce is the award-winning narrator of over 140 audiobooks. She performs in variety theater, is one half of the song-and-dance team of Jones & Boyce, and holds a degree in theater and biology. She can be heard in phone trees, in computer games, and as the voice of the pink “Care Bear.” She lives in St. Augustine, Florida, and summers in Greenville, Maine.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Ted

Lucky me, I was able to get an advance copy of this all-American war horse story...and then I got to meet the author! I was up half the night my first day in this book. It is that good. The author does a great job of portraying the character of a Noble animal during terrible circumstances.......more

Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death     Rode the six hundred. "Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!" he said: Into the valley of Death     Rode the six hundred. The days of the horse cavalry were long past by the time of Reckless. But the valley of......more

Goodreads review by Clare

I had read Andrew Geer's Sgt. Reckless Pride of the Marines and thought I had the inside scoop on the story of this little red Mongolian mare. I was sadly mistaken. Robin Hutton's Sgt. Reckless America's War Horse truly brings Reckless to life and fills in the huge gaps about her life, personality a......more

Goodreads review by Lizzy

Don't get me wrong - the story behind this book is truly amazing. Sgt. Reckless was a charismatic and idiosyncratic horse who's acts of amazing bravery earned her the title of a marine. Great true story, but I have to say I wasn't in love with the writing. The author obviously pored so much devotion......more


Quotes

“Robin Hutton has written the preeminent book on Reckless and her heroics.” General Walter E. Boomer, USMC (ret.), Marine commanding general in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

“Animals have been used in war for thousands of years, but few US military animals attained the notoriety of Reckless, a sorrel mare small for her size that joined the Marines during the Korean War and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant…Once home, news of her promotion to Staff Sergeant quickly spread, though that notoriety has since faded. Author Hutton aims to correct that, having spent over eight years researching the remarkable story of Reckless…Stories of fellow soldiers litter the book, backing up claims of her bravery and playful personality (not to mention her love of food and beer). Hutton’s passion and admiration for her subject (she also heads an effort to create a monument to Reckless) shines through in this sparkling and engaging portrait of a most remarkable and courageous animal.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)