PREV ARTICLE
NEXT ARTICLE
FULL ISSUE
PREV FULL ISSUE
KOREAN WAR U.S. MARINE HORSE WINS DICKIN MEDAL
I have a soft spot for Dickin Medals, awarded to animals for their brave service to humans in battle. Only 67 have ever been awarded,
making it not only the most unusual medal but also one of the rarest. I've never seen one in person but some have crossed the auction
block. Here's an excerpt from a BBC News story about the latest awardee, a Korean War U.S. Marine horse. -Editor
Now she's been honoured with the PDSA's Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. Reckless was wounded twice, but lived until she was 20 years old and died in 1968. Bred as a racehorse, Reckless' journey with the US Marine Corps began in October 1952 after she was bought for $250 - around £190 in today's money. Soldiers nicknamed her Reckless because the gun she carried ammunition for - the Recoilless Rifle - was so dangerous it was coined the "reckless" rifle. In the five-day fight, 28 tons of bombs were reportedly dropped. The terrain was described by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Geer as a "smoking, death-pocked rubble". On one day alone, Sergeant Reckless made 51 trips during the 1953 Outpost Vegas battle, carrying more than 9,000lb of supplies and walking more than 35 miles. The Mongolian mare was nominated for the bravery award by author Robin Hutton who spent six years researching and writing her biography. He said: "She was loved by the marines, they took care of her better than they took care of themselves, throwing their flak jackets over her when incoming fire was heavy." At the ceremony in Victoria Embankment Gardens on Wednesday, Haldalgo the horse received the PDSA Dickin Medal on behalf of Reckless. Maria Dickin, founder of animal charity the PDSA, established the Dickin Medal in 1943 for outstanding acts of bravery in war. Most have gone to homing pigeons. 
To read the complete article, see:
To read an International Business Times article, see:
The Marine Corps dedicated a statue of Sergeant Reckless in 2013. See this article for videos of the unveiling and interviews and an
interview with author Robin Hutton. -Editor
To read the complete article, see:
From the book's web site:
Her incredible story is inside - you are in for real treat! For more information, see:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
|
