by Robin Hutton
With a team like this, no wonder it’s been such a great ride.
I especially want to thank:
Nancy Latham Parkin for trusting me with the Reckless memorabilia collected by her late father, Joe Latham;
Both the late Bill Riley for sharing his memories, and his daughter, Mary Alice Gehrdes, for being his messenger and sharing her father’s priceless letters home from Korea;
Eric Pedersen Jr. for sharing his father’s stories and his own memories;
Faye Jonason of the Camp Pendleton Archives and Museum, for so much hard work in helping me and for her dedication to building the Reckless archives;
Boots Reynolds for allowing me to reprint part of his wonderful story, the tale that started me on this incredible adventure;
The late George Putnam and his partner, Sallilee Conlon, for sharing his experiences and eulogy;
So many others . . .
Nancy Hoffman and Walt Ford of Leatherneck Magazine. Walt, thanks so much for giving this civilian a crash course in the Marine Corps protocol and lingo. But most especially for personally proof reading my manuscript and making sure it was by the book and accurate for Marine Corps standards. I am forever indebted to you for this incredible act of kindness and support—and making me look good! Ooh rah! You rock!
To Ray Berry, Chuck Batherson; Chuck Dacus; Nick D’Ambra; Art DiGrazia; Milton Drummond; Paul Hammersley; William Janzen; Ken Latham; Ken Lunt; Lynn Mattocks; John Meyers; Bob Purcell; Bud Ralls; Ken Riley; Quentin Seidel; Ralph Sherman, Art Sickler; Ronald Stowers; Guy Wagoner; Fred “Dutch” White; and J. R. Willcut—just some of the many Marines who enlightened me about this horse and the horrors of the Korean War.
I am eternally grateful to you—you all are such heroes to me!
If there’s anything I missed, anyone who knew Reckless that I didn’t reach or pictures that people would like to share with the world, I will be posting updates on her website: www.SgtReckless.com. You can also join us on Facebook at the Official Sergeant Reckless Fan Club page.
I also have a special thanks to my family, especially my mom, Alda Vandling, and my sister, Layne Wilson—who read draft after draft and kept me on the right path, especially at the end; as well as my dear friend, Suzanne Finstad, whose never-ending support included the recommendation of my two great editors.
They are Melissa Blazek, who made sure my i’s were dotted and my t’s crossed; and Barry Grey—especially Barry—who made this book what it is and did an outstanding job in making my prose pop in a way I never could have imagined. God bless you, Barry, for making my manuscript sing! I am eternally grateful—you are an amazing editor!
Thanks also go out to the late Jim Taggart, Andrew Geer’s nephew, for permission to use his uncle’s book on Reckless, as well as Geer’s articles and pictures from the Saturday Evening Post, and the wonderful pictures and stories about Andy that he shared;
Tom and Mary Geer, for sharing biographical materials about their Uncle Andy;
And to Linda Sword Johnson, the great niece of Kay Pedersen, who so generously shared her amazing research and old newspaper clippings—I should be so organized!
Without any of you, I don’t know where this book would be. Or if this book would be.
Very special thanks to Elizabeth Kaye McCall, whose wonderful article in the July 2011 issue of Cowboys & Indians kick-started the restoration of Reckless’s place in history in a way I never could have imagined. Elizabeth also helped restructure the manuscript. Reckless and I can never repay you for your generous efforts. And to my gifted cartographer, Jay Karamales, whose gorgeous maps let us see where everyone was going—great job! Thank you so much!
A big thank you goes to TEAM REGNERY—my incredible publishing house! First to Cheryl Shaw Barnes, my oldest friend who sent me to Alex Novak, my fantastic publisher, in the first place! Life comes full circle my dear friend! To Marjory Ross; my editors, Harry Crocker and Maria Ruhl; and the wonderfully creative promotion and sales force of Mark Bloomfield, Patricia Jackson, Lindsey Reinstrom, and Nicole Yeatman, who had my back and fought for Reckless beyond the pale to make this the amazing book that it is . . . you all will never know the bounds of my gratitude.
I want to take a moment here to acknowledge the huge debt owed to Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Geer. Were it not for his breathtaking perseverance in bringing Reckless to America, who knows what would have happened to this one-of-a-kind heroine? Andy Geer was there every step of the way, acting purely out of love and respect for Reckless. I hope, somehow, Andy knows that I say thank you, sir. Thank you for all that you did for this incredible, heroic horse. I am eternally grateful.
•••
And lastly, a special thanks to everyone who made the dedication ceremony of the monument at the National Museum of the Marine Corps such an amazing success with their hard work and dedication to our very special event, especially Gen. James and Bonnie Amos and Sgt. Maj. Micheal Barrett; Maj. Billy Canedo at the DOD 60th Commemorative Committee; Joe Bles and the Young Marines; Rick Burroughs and Kline Memorials; and everyone at the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation and National Museum of the Marine Corps, especially Lt. Gen. Robert Blackman, Lin Ezell, Mark Joyce, Jennifer Vanderveld, Sarah Maguire, Gwen Adams, Dennis Hofstetter, Mary Carpenter, Pam Dodson, Susan Hodges, and Gretchen Campbell. You guys were awesome!
•••
I also dedicate this book to my dearest friend, the late Tom “Billy Jack” Laughlin, who not only taught me the nine ingredients in writing but also believed in me and this project every step of the way. He saw the writer in me long before I ever knew she was in there. For that, I always will be grateful. I miss you, my dear friend.
In closing, I want to thank God for allowing me to be His instrument in getting this incredible story told. I am so very blessed—and lucky.
And, last but not least, as I said in my closing remarks at the dedication ceremony, “Finally, I need to thank Reckless, for just being Reckless … Reckless, as you look down upon us here today, I hope you know how grateful we are for the comfort you have given us, the love of friendship you have led us to, and the journey you have taken us on. For me, personally, you have forever changed my life. There are no words to adequately express the emotions and gratitude that I feel. I’m sure everyone here feels the same. I love you. Semper Fidelis—Always Faithful—Staff Sergeant Reckless.”
—Robin L. Hutton
FACTS AND FIGURES AT A GLANCE
BORN: Unknown, but believed to be 1948
DIED: May 13, 1968, at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, from injuries suffered in a fall through a barbed wire fence; buried there with full military honors.
HEIGHT: About 13 hands high1
WEIGHT: About 700 lbs., although other reports range as high as 900 lbs.
RANK: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marines 1st Marine Division, 5th Marines
MILITARY DECORATIONS:
Two Purple Hearts;
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal;
Presidential Unit Citation with Star;
Navy Unit Citation;
National Defense Service Medal;
MILITARY DECORATIONS: (CONT.)
United Nations Service Medal;
Korean Service Medal;
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation;
French fourragère;
Staff Sergeant chevrons, all displayed proudly on her red and gold blanket
OFFSPRING: Fearless (male, 1957); Dauntless (male, 1959); Chesty (male, 1964); unnamed (female, 1966, died at one month of undetermined causes)
LIKES: Beer, coke, cake, flowers, candy, peanut butter, scrambled eggs (with salt, no pepper), milk, and coffee—in fact, almost anything edible, except the chow of a stock-feed company seeking her endorsement
DISLIKES: Dogs and goats—the latter because they reminded her of dogs
NOTES
PART ONE: KOREA
CHAPTER ONE
1.Andrew Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1955), 13.
2.Ibid., 14.
3.According to the International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds, these ponies resemble both the Arabian and Mongolian breeds. Their predominant colors are chestnut, bay, and black, but occasionally could be gray, black, white, cream-colored (cremello), or even spotted like a pinto.
Cheju ponies, reports the International Encyclopedia, possess a “nicely shaped head with a straight profile, large eyes and small ears. The jaw is deep, tapering to a small muzzle. The neck is short and well muscled; the back short and straight; the croup (highest point of the hindquarters to the top of the tail) is gently sloped but the tail is set fairly high; the shoulder is often quite straight; the legs are strong and well muscled with clearly defined joints and tendons.”
In an effort to save the breed, in 1987 South Korea declared the Cheju pony the country’s 347th National Treasure. To maintain the status, the South Koreans race them at Jeju Racecourse Park, where as many as five hundred ponies are stabled at any one time. Unlike thoroughbreds and quarter horses, there is no registry for Cheju ponies. But all the ponies registered to race at the Jeju Racecourse are pure domestic. The top race of the year for the Cheju pony is the Hallaibo Cup. Cheju Island also is home to the majority of Korean thoroughbred horse breeders.
CHAPTER TWO
1.Andrew Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1955), 122.
2.Personal letter Lieutentant Bill Riley wrote to his then sweetheart, Patty O’Leary, on May 17, 1953, after he joined the platoon in March 1953.
3.A private interview with Private John Newsom.
4.Personal interview with Sgt. Ray Berry.
5.Ibid.
6.Ibid.
7.Personal correspondence with Colonel Walt Ford.
8.Personal interview with Sgt. Ray Berry.
9.Ibid.
10.Personal letter to Lt. J. C. McCamic from J. H. Rinyak.
11.Personal interview and correspondence with Lt. J. C. McCamic.
12.Personal interview with Sgt. Ray Berry.
13.Ibid.
14.Pedersen buys his horse at the racetrack, Kim says goodbye. Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 119, 132–33.
CHAPTER THREE
1.Personal interview with Scout Sgt. Ray Berry.
2.Personal interview with Sgt. Chuck Batherson.
3.Personal interview with Sgt. Ralph Sherman.
4.Personal interview with Sgt. Ray Berry.
5.Andrew Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1955), 134.
6.Personal interview with Julian Kitral.
7.Personal interview with Sgt. Chuck Batherson.
8.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 138.
9.Sgt. Tom Griggs, “The Little Sorrel Mare,” (n. p.). A similar article, “One Lady Who Saw Lots of Combat,” in Navy Times (June 28, 1976), 28, referenced the line but did not quote Latham.
10.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 138.
11.Personal interview with Sgt. Harold Wadley.
12.Personal interview with Sgt. Ray Berry.
13.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 139.
14.Personal interview with Sgt. Ray Berry.
15.Personal interview with Dr. Robert M. Miller, DVM, Thousand Oaks, CA.
16.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 139.
17.Notes from Nancy Hoffman’s interview with Joe Latham for Leatherneck Magazine article, 1992.
18.Personal interview with Sgt. Ray Berry.
19.Nancy Lee White Hoffman, “Sgt Reckless: Combat Veteran,” Leatherneck (November 1992), 78.
20.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 139.
21.Interview notes, Nancy Hoffman.
22.Ibid.
23.Sgt. Tom Griggs, “The Little Sorrel Mare.” (n. p.). A similar article, “One Lady Who Saw Lots of Combat,” in Navy Times (June 28, 1976).
24.Hoffman, “Sgt Reckless: Combat Veteran,” Leatherneck, 78.
25.Personal interview with Sgt. Ray Berry.
26.Personal interview with Sgt. Ralph Sherman.
27.Interview notes, Nancy Hoffman.
28.Hoffman, “Sgt Reckless: Combat Veteran,” Leatherneck, 79.
29.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 140–41.
30.Ibid., plus an article by John Springer, “San Diegan Figures in Story of Korean War’s Hero Horse,” San Diego Union (October 31, 1954), 21. See also Nancy Hoffman’s interview with Kay Pedersen for a Leatherneck Magazine article, 1992.
31.Personal interview with Sgt. Harold Wadley.
32.Ibid.
33.From the personal papers of Joe Latham.
34.Andrew Geer, “Reckless, Pride of the Marines,” Saturday Evening Post (April 17, 1954), 185–86 (SEP #1).
35.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 145.
36.Personal interview with Sgt. Harold Wadley.
37.Personal interview with Sgt. Ralph Sherman.
38.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 144–47.
CHAPTER FOUR
1.Andrew Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1955), 148.
2.Ibid., 152–53.
3.Ibid.
4.Ibid., 10.
5.Personal interview with Sgt. Ralph Sherman.
6.David Dempsey, “The Horse Marine,” New York Times Book Review (October 16, 1955).
7.Interview notes, Nancy Hoffman.
8.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 156–58.
9.Ibid., 159.
10.Poker game summarized. Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 159–60.
11.Ibid., 160.
CHAPTER FIVE
1.Personal letter from Sergeant Ken Lunt.
2.James J. Fisher, “In Harsh Winter, War Lives,” Kansas City Times, December 25, 1989.
3.Andrew Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1955), 166.
4.Command Diary for Anti-Tank Company, Recoilless Rifle Platoon, January 1953, 1–3.
5.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 164.
6.Command Diary for Anti-Tank Company, 3.
7.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 168; Command Diary for Anti-Tank Company, Recoilless Rifle Platoon, February 1953, and March 2, 1953, 6.
8.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 168.
9.Ballenger, The Final Crucible: U.S. Marines in Korea, Vol. 2: 1953, 84.
10.“Special Action Report of 25 February 1953, Raid on Enemy Hill,” Command Diaries, 3.
11.Personal interview with Sgt. Ken Latham.
12.Personal letter from Lt. Bill Riley to Patty O’Leary, March 21, 1953, Mary Alice Gehrdes Collection.
13.Personal interview with Bill Riley.
14.Riley personal letter home, March 21, 1953.
15.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 170.
CHAPTER SIX
1.Andrew Geer, “Reckless, Pride of the Marines,” Saturday Evening Post, April 17, 1954, 186.
2.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines (New York: E. P. Duttton, 1955), 171.
3.Taken from Sergeant William Janzen’s paper, “The Reno Block,” 1–2, given to author and published in Herbert G. Renner, Letters of War: An Anthology of the Korean War Era (n.p.: Publish America, 2007), 180.
4.Personal interview with George Johannes.
5.Personal interview with Harold Wadley.
6.Personal papers and interview with George Johannes.
7.Ballenger, The Final Crucible, 126.
8.Ibid.
9.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 172.
10.Personal interview with John Melvin.
11.Personal interview with Harold Wadley.
12.Bill Daum, Pendleton Fetes “Reckless,” Old Korea Pal of Local Pair, Mascots, Historical Reference Branch, Marine Corps History Division (Quantico, VA: USMC, 1954).
13.Personal interview with Harold Wadley.
14.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 178.
15.John Burrus, “A Little Brown Mare: Marines to Note ‘Reckless’ Deeds,” San Diego Union, November 16, 1971.
16.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 180–81.
17.Personal interview with Chuck Batherson.
18.Personal interview with JC McCamic.
19.Personal interview with Harold Wadley.
20.Ibid.
21.Ibid.
22.Elizabeth Kaye McCall, “Sgt Reckless,” Cowboys & Indians, July 2011, 94. Plus personal interview with Wadley.
23.Boots Reynolds, “Sgt Reckless, Mighty Marine,” Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul (Cos Cob, CT: Chicken Soup for the Soul, 2012), 104.
24.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines, 182.
25.Operations in West Korea: U.S. Marine Operations in Korea, Vol. 5: 1950–1953 (Quantico, VA: USMC Historical Branch, 1972), 292–93.
26.Personal correspondence and interview with Harold Wadley. Also includes comments from Canadian radio interview with Harold Wadley, The Drive with Karen Black, CJOB/680, January 13, 2012.
27.George Johannes interview.
28.“Marines Recapture Vegas Hill,” Leatherneck, March 28, 1953.
29.Geer, Reckless: Pride of the Marines,” 184.
30.Ibid., 185.
31.Ibid.
32.Beaven, The Battle of Vegas, 59.
33.Because China was (and remains) the world’s largest garlic producer—garlic is a staple of most Chinese recipes—the pungent herb can bring a powerful “garlicky” smell to human perspiration. As such, Chinese soldiers were said to “smell like garlic.” This is caused by allyl methyl sulfide, a gas absorbed into the bloodstream when garlic is metabolized in the body. From there it enters the lungs, then the mouth (creating bad breath), and to the skin, where it emanates from the pores.
34.Beaven, The Battle of Vegas, 59.
35.Ibid.
36.Personal interview with Bill Riley.
37.Personal interview with Harold Wadley.
38.Personal interview Harold Wadley. For a more complete account of Sergeant Wadley’s experience on Vegas, see Appendix 2.
39.Ed Sullivan, “Reckless: Pony is Marines’ Mascot and Hero,” Omaha World Herald, November 14, 1954, 92.
40.1st Marine Division Command Diaries, March 1953, 3.
41.Meid and Yingling, Operations in West Korea, 307.
42.Bill Riley personal letter, dated April 5, 1953.
43.Riley personal letter, dated April 20, 1953.
