Reckless was a Mongolian-breed horse who served with distinction with the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. Her original name was Ah Chim Hai, which translated to “Morning Flame” and was also the name of her dam, a thoroughbred racehorse. She was purchased on October 26, 1952 for $250 by Marines of the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division from a stable boy in Seoul who needed money to purchase a prosthetic leg for his sister. She would then undergo pack animal training, becoming desensitized to gunfire and learning how to carry 75mm recoilless rifle rounds for use in the M20 recoilless rifle. Her moment of glory would come in March of 1953 during the Battle of Outpost Vegas, where she made 51 supply runs up and down the hill, carrying recoilless rifle rounds up and wounded Marines down. It is often said that without Reckless, the Marine Corps would have lost the Battle of Outpost Vegas. For her bravery, Reckless would be awarded a battlefield promotion to Corporal in 1953, and would later be promoted to Sergeant in 1954 and Staff Sergeant in 1959. Reckless would receive two Purple Hearts, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, inclusion in her unit's Presidential Unit Citations from two countries, as well as other military honors.

Reckless was known to be a literal party animal. She would roam her base freely, sleep in the Marines’ tents on cold nights, drink beer and Coca-Cola, and eat whatever the Marines gave her, including $30 worth of poker chips and cake from the Marine Corps Ball. She was also the first horse in Marine Corps history to take part in an amphibious landing.

In 1953, Reckless’ unit put out a challenge to the Preakness and Belmont Stakes-winning racehorse Native Dancer- beat Reckless at her own game and win $25,000. The Gray Ghost’s owners never responded to the challenge.

Once stateside, Reckless found a new home at Camp Pendleton where she foaled four horses- Three colts named Fearless, Dauntless, and Chesty (Chesty Puller was the only Marine authorized to ride Reckless), and an unnamed filly who unfortunately passed a month after her foaling. Reckless herself lived until May 13, 1968, when she fell on a barbed wire fence and passed away while her wounds were being treated. Reckless was thought to be around 19-20 years old when she died.

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