“The small red mare whinnied for her supper. But Korea was at war. Towns were shattered. Fields were scorched. And the racetrack was abandoned. No one paid attention to the hungry little horse.” – Sergeant Reckless by Patricia McCormick

The “scrawny sorrel mare with a white blaze and three matching socks” was abandoned and not much to look at. But when Lt. Pedersen of the U.S. Marines found her, she reminded him of a pony he’d had as a child, and he decided that maybe she could help them carry shells for the powerful new cannon, the “reckless” rifle. Not only was the little mare in sorry shape, but she was a spirited racehorse, not a steady mule who could be trained to do its duty in battle. 

When they got the little horse to the camp, they realized that she would need extensive training and conditioning if she were going to be helpful in battle. They decided to enlist her in the Marines. Private Reckless had to learn to duck incoming fire, to retreat on command, and to carry heavy loads through battlefields. Her trainer, Sgt. Joseph Latham, worked with the mare, and she quickly became a member of the unit. 

When the time came for real fighting, Pvt. Reckless proved herself to be incredibly loyal and brave. Despite being hit above the eye and in her left flank with pieces of shrapnel, she made fifty-one trips up to the cannon, going a distance of thirty-five miles up and down steep terrain fully loaded, and carrying nine thousand pounds of ammunition. The impressive little mare helped to change the entire course of the war.

This picture book biography of the little mare who is the only animal to hold military rank and be awarded two purple hearts officially is heartwarming and fascinating. The writing is perfect for a book like this, and the illustration is a work of art. Sherry Early of Meriadoc Homeschool Library recommended this one to me when she knew that I was working on a unit of the U.S. Military for our history club at our Plumfield Library. This book is worth tracking down!