The non-mechanical firearm stretched to nearly two meters and tipped the scales at more than 45 kilograms. Oftentimes, a crew of three or four Marines was essential to move it across the battle zones of the Korean conflict. This carrying process posed considerable risks, yet it was indispensable. The firearm, affectionately dubbed “reckless” by the soldiers, possessed the capability to launch a 75mm projectile with remarkable accuracy across vast distances. It stood out as one of the U.S. Marine Corps’ most esteemed pieces of weaponry. Nevertheless, Eric Pedersen, the commanding officer of the Recoilless Rifle Platoon, was convinced that a more effective deployment strategy existed for this tool in the Korean battlegrounds.
That enhanced method materialized for Lieutenant Pedersen through an offering from a young individual who worked in the stables at the Seoul racetrack. This youth’s sister had unfortunately lost a limb to a landmine, and the family lacked the resources for a prosthetic replacement. The youth proposed giving Pedersen a horse that he owned and was preparing for racing. The horse was named “Ah Chim Hai,” translating to “Morning Flame.” Pedersen invested $250 of his personal funds to acquire the small, chestnut-colored mare. His intentions were not for racing purposes. He intended to instruct her in the transportation of that formidable firearm.
Pedersen’s unit included several men with equestrian knowledge, and together they embarked on a training regimen to prepare the horse to bear the weight of the gun and nine of the heavy, approximately 11-kilogram shells. Furthermore, they taught her to lie low when under assault, navigate around barbed barriers, take shelter in foxholes, and seek refuge upon hearing approaching fire. The soldiers christened their horse “Sergeant Reckless.” Although she was not officially a sergeant, following two years of service, the commander of the 1st Marine Division was deeply impressed by and appreciative of the horse’s contributions, leading to her official promotion to the rank of sergeant on the battlefield. Her fellow soldiers held this rank in such high regard that they even threatened disciplinary action against anyone who showed disrespect. A firm directive was issued prohibiting any soldier from riding her, not solely out of reverence for her position but also due to her immense value as an asset, making any risk of injury unacceptable.
Sergeant Reckless played a part in numerous engagements during the Korean War. Her duties extended beyond just transporting the weighty recoilless rifle. She was instrumental in delivering provisions and ammunition to dangerous forward posts and in evacuating wounded soldiers from combat zones to safety. In 1953, she was involved in one of the most chronicled battles of the Korean conflict, the Battle for Outpost Vegas, a brutal three-day clash that resulted in the deaths of more than a thousand American soldiers and double that number of Chinese soldiers. During a single day of this battle, Sergeant Reckless completed over 50 trips across rice fields and up treacherous mountain paths, shuttling between the front lines and the rear. Initially, she was guided on these journeys by a Marine, but as casualties mounted and Marines became too scarce to spare, Reckless started making these runs independently, carrying the occasional wounded soldier across her back, without any Marine leading her. She sustained injuries on two occasions, once above her eye and once in her left side. Despite these wounds, she persisted in making the trips back and forth, enduring gunfire and without any human encouragement.
Sergeant Reckless was the subject of an article in the Saturday Evening Post, capturing the hearts of the American public. At the end of the war, her admirers in America campaigned to bring her back to the United States. Moved by her story, an executive at Pacific Transport Lines offered to transport her to San Francisco at no cost on one of his ships. Once in America, she was stationed at Camp Pendleton and celebrated as a hero. Beyond being the only horse ever to achieve the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, she was also the recipient of two Purple Hearts, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation with bronze star, the National Defense Service Medal, a Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Medal, a Navy Unit Commendation, and a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. She proudly displayed these honors on her horse blanket, along with a French Fourragere awarded to the 5th Marines during World War I. She passed away at Camp Pendleton in 1968.
James E. “Ted” Bassett III was an infantry officer in the Fourth Marine Regiment, Sixth Division during World War II, and was honored with the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation Medal himself. In the year of Sergeant Reckless’s passing, Bassett began his career at the Keeneland Association, rapidly ascending to the presidency in 1969. He steered Keeneland for numerous years, serving both as President and Chairman of the Board (Bassett passed away in January 2025 at the age of 103).
At the 2016 26th Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky annual breakfast, which commemorates the Marine Corps’ founding, Bassett was captivated by the event’s invited speaker. Robin Hutton, the author of “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse,” shared tales of the horse’s daring escapades with the assembled Marines. Bassett was astonished to be hearing this narrative for the first time. This horse symbolized the two major themes of his life – the Marines and horses. The fact that Reckless was originally trained to be a racehorse made it even more remarkable to him. “The fusion of these elements, along with Reckless’s compelling bravery and resolve, sparked my interest and determination to contribute in some way,” Bassett stated.
Having previously served as the inaugural chairman of the Kentucky Horse Park, he felt strongly that the park’s International Museum of the Horse should pay tribute to Sergeant Reckless. “It should encompass more than just Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Quarter-Horses,” Bassett commented. “There should be recognition for a military horse.” He proposed the idea to the park, and it was agreed that Reckless merited a place on their grounds. The location selected, a knoll overlooking the park, was deemed “irresistible” by Bassett, fueling his commitment to raise the necessary funds to erect a monument to Reckless in Kentucky.
Two sculptures of Sergeant Reckless already stand in the United States. One resides at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va., and the other is at Camp Pendleton. While the Marines have twice recognized Reckless, the American horse industry has not. The cost of commissioning the bronze statue was substantial, amounting to a quarter of a million dollars. Consequently, Bassett collaborated with Hutton to garner the resources needed to realize the monument.
Their efforts extended beyond mere fundraising; they also boosted awareness of Sergeant Reckless. Paralleling the impact of the Saturday Evening Post article in 1954, Hutton’s book and the ensuing drive to construct a memorial at the Kentucky Horse Park garnered Sergeant Reckless a new wave of admirers across the nation. Among these supporters were veterans, including executives at UPS who were former Marines. They contacted Bassett to explore how they could contribute. History repeated itself when UPS offered to transport the Reckless statue from Colorado to Kentucky without charge, mirroring the complimentary voyage provided to the real Reckless across the Pacific Ocean by Pacific Transport Lines.
The statue was unveiled at the Kentucky Horse Park in May 2018. It was created by Jocelyn Russell, a California native whose affinity for animals began in childhood. She worked with a veterinarian for 14 years, starting in her early teens, before pursuing her career as a full-time artist.
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2018 and has been updated.
