[Korea Root] 'Korea's Horse' Selected as One of the 'Top 100 Heroes in the USA'

Selected as one of the Top 100 Heroes Alongside George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Mother Teresa
Reckless Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with Legendary Horses

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Our land holds history, and each season and region carries memories and culture. This publication has planned 'Korea Route' to discover lesser-known and hidden stories from across the country and to introduce the beautiful landscapes, small histories, and cultures of the Korean Peninsula, serialized every weekend.

The first story, marking the 71st anniversary of the June 25th War this year, covers the little-known aspects of Baekhak Village in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, which honors the spirit of war heroes and develops village cultural projects.

In Yeoncheon’s history preserved on the Korean Peninsula, there is a village that inherits the spirit of national defense heroes. Baekhak Village in Yeoncheon-gun holds the stories of brave heroes who played active roles during the June 25th War.

The 'Supply Hero' known as the 'Jige Unit,' who roamed the battlefield carrying loads on a traditional Korean carrying frame called a jige, and especially the racehorse 'Reckless,' born in Jeju Island, were assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps and participated in the Nevada Outpost Battle of the Korean War, earning brilliant achievements as a War Horse.

The cinematic story of 'Reckless,' selected as one of America’s top 100 heroes, unfolds. [Editor’s note]

◈ Series Order

① The Korean Horse Selected as One of America’s Top 100 Heroes

② The Born War Horse 'Reckless'

③ The Following 50 Years

Reckless during the Nevada Outpost Battle (1953, Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province)

The June 25th War was a fratricidal war triggered by North Korean leader Kim Il-sung’s miscalculation and surprise invasion. It prolonged for three years with the intervention of the United States and China.

According to historical records, the human casualties from the three-year war were enormous. South Korean forces lost 620,000, UN forces 160,000, North Korean forces 930,000, Chinese forces 1,000,000, civilians 2,500,000, displaced persons 3,700,000, war widows 300,000, war orphans 100,000, and separated families 10,000,000?far exceeding half of the combined 30 million population of North and South Korea at the time, with 19 million people affected.

Especially from October 1952, during the height of the armistice negotiations, the greatest number of casualties occurred. Fierce hill battles were fought across Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do provinces to gain even a span of land.

In March 1953, during the Nevada Outpost Battle in Yeoncheon-gun, the U.S. Marine 1st Division 5th Regiment held off the Chinese 120th Division. Amidst a hail of bullets and shrapnel, a 'war horse' carried 4 tons of recoilless rifle shells and wounded soldiers, leading the battle to victory.

The war horse, recognized for its merit and promoted to corporal after the war, was named 'Reckless.' Originally named 'Achimhae' (Morning Sun), the U.S. Marines who fought alongside her witnessed Reckless’s bravery and gave her the name meaning 'recklessly brave.'

Reckless is conducting operations with the US Marine Corps on the battlefield. (Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do)

After the Korean War, Reckless was left in Korea, but Americans who heard of her exploits campaigned to bring her to the United States. Finally, in April 1954, Reckless arrived in San Francisco. She was promoted from corporal to sergeant and then to staff sergeant in 1959.

Reckless died in May 1968 after being injured by barbed wire and receiving painkillers. She was 20 years old. Her death was widely covered by major U.S. media. Statues of Reckless were unveiled at the Virginia Marine Corps Museum and the Pendleton Marine Base.

Reckless’s achievements are detailed in the book 'American War Hero Horse, Staff Sergeant Reckless,' published in 2014 by Robin Horton, chairman of the Reckless Memorial Foundation.

Reckless received numerous awards including the Korean and U.S. Presidential Citations, two U.S. Purple Heart medals awarded to the wounded or fallen, the U.S. Department of Defense Combat Medal, the U.S. Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, two U.S. Navy Commander Citations, the United Nations Service Medal for the Korean War, and four Korean War Service Medals. The United Kingdom awarded Reckless the Dickin Medal, given to animals contributing to war or national security.

At Lexington Horse Park in Kentucky, located in the eastern United States, a statue of Reckless stands alongside legendary horses.

Reckless Statue at Lexington Horse Park (2019. U.S. Marine Corps Museum)

Lexington Horse Park features statues of legendary racehorses such as 'Secretariat,' who swept the Triple Crown in 1973 and is well known from the movie, and 'Man o’ War,' the greatest racehorse of the 1920s.

Famous U.S. magazine 'Life,' which has selected founding fathers like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Mother Maria Teresa as top 100 heroes, selected 'Reckless' as one of America’s top 100 heroes in 1997.

Annual events honoring 'Reckless' are held in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, where the Nevada Outpost Battle took place, and in the United States, where Reckless spent her later years.

Lee Sang-kyung, director of the Reckless Cooperative, said, "Since 2015, the residents’ autonomous committee has officially started the project and the village was certified as a village inheriting the spirit of national defense heroes. Chairman Joo Yoon-gi of the residents’ autonomous committee also created a statue and established a park. Every year, we hold commemorative events, promote Reckless through drawing contests, and invite war veterans and members of the Jige Unit to participate in the events."

Meanwhile, documentaries related to 'Reckless' are currently being planned and produced in both South Korea and the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.