Reckless

The Racehorse Who Became a Marine Corps Hero

By: Tom Clavin

Narrated by: Jim Manchester

From the racetracks of Seoul to the battlegrounds of the Korean War, Reckless was a horse whose strength, tenacity, and relentless spirit made her a hero among a regiment of US Marines fighting for their lives on the front lines.

Her Korean name was Ah-Chim-Hai, meaning Flame-of-the-Morning. Af our-year-old chestnut-colored Mongolian racehorse with a white blaze down her face and three white stockings, she once amazed the crowds in Seoul with her remarkable speed. But the star racer was soon sold to an American marine and trained to carry heavy loads of artillery shells up and down steep hills under a barrage of bullets and bombs. The marines renamed her Reckless.

Reckless soon proved fearless under fire, boldly trekking alone through the fiery gauntlet, exposed to explosions and shrapnel. For months, her drive and determination kept the marines' guns blazing, while inspiring them with her singular charm. During one day of battle alone, she made 51 trips up and down a crucial hill, covering at least 25 miles in the heat of combat. On some of her uphill treks, Reckless shielded human reinforcements. The Chinese, soon discovering the unique bravery of this magnificent animal, made a special effort to kill her. But Reckless never slowed. As months passed and the enemy grew bolder, the men came to appreciate her not just as a horse but as a weapon and, eventually, as a fellow marine.

In Reckless, Tom Clavin, national best-selling coauthor of Halsey's Typhoon, tells the unlikely story of a racehorse who truly became a war hero, beloved by the US Marine Corps and decorated for bravery. A moving reminder of the unbreakable bond between people and animals, Reckless is a powerful tale of courage,survival, and even love in the face of overwhelming odds.

©2014 Tom Clavin (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

What a wonderful story.

This is a great story Tom Clavin and Jim Manchester did a wonderful job.I truly would have liked to meet Reckless. What an awesome horse.

Well, written, poorly narrated

I really wanted to like this book but the narrator makes it so incredibly tedious. His monotone style is bad, but what gets me is that he puts emphasis on the wrong words and pauses in the middle of a sentence as though there is no grammar or punctuation. It’s very distracting and makes for a hard listen.

Reckless, a Korean/American Marine Heroine

I have read articles and stories about Reckless over the years and having had my own horses I appreciate how each one has its own personality. Reckless had amazing strength, courage and intelligence as well as her own sense of humor brought to life by Tom Clavin's storytelling.

l learned more about the Korean War and what the men who fought it endured as well as the intense loyalty these US Marines have for each other even for their four legged comrades. I certainly enjoyed this book from start to finish.

Hero's are not always people!

What made the experience of listening to Reckless the most enjoyable?

The fact that this is a real horse, real people and a deadly war sobers one to understand how special this horse was under the most difficult conditions - what a hero Reckless was!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Reckless - a heart of gold and the courage only few of our greatest military heros possess.

Which scene was your favorite?

Battle scenes where Reckless transports ammunition without a handler.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The awards Reckless received and the review of her accomplishments.

Any additional comments?

Thank you - wonderful story, a must for any military reader and equine lover!

a great horse, a terrible war.

I knew of some of the horrors of this war and this story gives a close look at some of the battles. The heroics of the Marines are beyond reproach! Would like to have found out something about this brave little mare's foals.

Factually fun book

I really enjoyed this one. @ times you're rooting for Reckless! Yet it also meets my requirements for learning something new.

Part What?

Someone didn’t do their research. A mare cannot be “part stallion.” A mare is a female. A stallion is a male. Maybe she was “part Thoroughbred?” (As is known). This is getting a ding for editing and research. What else did they get wrong? Otherwise this story pulls at the heart for the horse and the humans. While I have a problem with “part stallion,” I would believe the bacon and eggs thing. My horse loved hot dogs.

Not really about the horse.

If you're like me and got this to learn about SSgt. Reckless, you will ...eventually. 95% of the story is about the war. I do very much appreciate our military but weapons, war names and locations, etc just aren't what I like to read or listen to. I stuck it out though. Out of the many hours listening about 1 and 1/2 hours are about the horse. And that's not in row. If you're into military details you will enjoy this much more than I did.

Korean War historical novel Mostly

Jabg ranch. This is a novel about the Korean War with a side episode about a horse. This is a historical book about the Korean War. Truly factual and educational.