U.S. Marine Sgt. Reckless.....

Discussion in 'Korean War' started by preacherbob50, Nov 13, 2014.

  1. preacherbob50

    preacherbob50 Active Member

    Diptangshu likes this.
  2. Diptangshu

    Diptangshu Active Member

    How many of you gonna like animals in their military role? I've not found many but I'm gonna like it here.
     
  3. Kate

    Kate Active Member

    Mornin' @Diptangshu ! Animals in military roles... there are a few stories about dog "soldiers" in the Civil War, and Gettysburg in particular.

    One such story is from the 1st Maryland CSA. They were at Culp's Hill, and their mascot, a dog named Grace, ran ahead of the men when they charged through the field. When they found her afterwards, Grace had been shot multiple times, but they still found her licking the hands of the wounded soldiers... from BOTH sides.

    One of the commanders stated that she should have a proper burial after she died because she was the most "Christian minded being" on the field.
     
  4. DancingLady

    DancingLady Member

    Hmm, animal soldiers is interesting, but since you can't give them very complex orders, they are pretty limited, not to mention not being able to shoot a gun.

    That's a sweet story about the dog though.
     
  5. preacherbob50

    preacherbob50 Active Member

    Animals of several types have been used by different militaries since B.C.
    Dogs, pigeons, horses, mules, elephants, dolphins, porposes, just to name a few were and are still used in military action. I am not sure, but I think about the only family of other than humans not being used is the cat family. But again, I am not sure since I think the neighbors cat tried to take a shot at me the other night. (The last sentence was obviously toro poopoo.) ooopps...I just saw your avatar....no harm intended concerning cats. They just aren't military material. I could be wrong.

    I think what you might have missed, DL, is somthing in the link which told the story about how Reckless (the horse) transported much needed ammo and medical supplies through territory that jeeps and other vehicles could not traverse. The horse had been wounded in the line of duty may times. Many of our human soldiers do not use weapons that shoot bullets, such as surgeons, medics, Remington (or whatever they call them today) Rangers, ect. Their best weapons are their hands and brains. Just as the horses back and strength, not to mention his agility and night vision were his best weapons. And by the by, just for a little other info........Soldiers shoot weapons.....not guns. Guns, to a soldier, are for other purposes which you might ask a close friend about.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2014
  6. Diptangshu

    Diptangshu Active Member

    Requesting all of you to recall for Sgt Stubby, the most decorated war dog of WW1, first time ever nominated as well as promoted to sergeant!
    An American Bull terrier cross dog who survied many times from shrapnel and gas attacks (worst condition for dogs due to their sensitive smelling ability) at Chateau-Thierry and St Mihiel. Red Cross hospitals treated him several times alongwith wounded human soldiers there at France. I heard that women of the town Chateau-Thierry made him a special chamois blanket for which his many medals and service chevrons were displayed.
    Sgt Stubby was even awarded lifetime membership of the American Legion and participated in every march and convention untill death (1916-1926).
    N Y Times submitted an obituary on his death. BBC School too, made a lot of programmes upon his dedicated service life.
    Sgt Stubby knew to give a salute in his version.
    @Kate, it was nice to read you shared here with us!
    We must recall Sgt Stubby one more time for he outranked His trainer Corp Conroy, who not only chose the name 'Stubby', hid the dog onto the France bound troop ship, when he saw that Stubby was supposed to be embark on vessel out to the Western Front!
    Sgt Stubby//military service war dog ~ 102nd Infantry/Yankee Division (26th Division), the most decorative war dog in the military history of WW1 other than human soldier.
     
  7. Kate

    Kate Active Member

    What a totally neat story, @Diptangshu ! Sgt Stubby has quite a military record there! Do you think he ever used his Legion membership? :p JUST kidding... my brain is freezing this morning and we're expecting snow and ice tonight... makes me kind of loopy in the head when it's this cold!

    For anyone who has a further interest in this (it's fascinating!) here's a pic of of the handsome Sgt. with his medals!
    http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/sergeant_stubby.htm
     
  8. Diptangshu

    Diptangshu Active Member

    We must be grateful to the Smithsonian Inst and Hartford State Armory for preserving the body of Sgt Stubby and his Uniform with rank and medals.
    For your kind info @Kate , met guys are all in vacation alongwith their local met-charts and the infos you gonna read next may freez you, that I warn ... Ha ha .. Yeah, pls be seated with a hot coffee mug, I'm no kidding!
    Let's look at a glance for his decorations :
    3 service strips/Yankee Divi YD Patch/1st & 6th Annual American Legion Convention Medal/New Heaven WW1 Vets Medal/Rep of France Grande War Medal/St Mihiel Campaign Medal/Purple Heart/Chateau-Thierry Campaign Medal.
    The German Iron Cross, which he 'seized' from a German soldier once in France, unfortunately has fallen victim to time!
    Kate, your post did a very authentic add to this thread!
    Military decors of Sgt Reckless :
    Two Purple Hearts/Presidential Unit citation with bronze str/Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal/N D Service Medal/Korean Service Medal/UN's Korea Medal/Rep of Korea Presi Unit Citation in the Battle of Punmujon-Vegas.
    Sgt Reckless was purchased by USMCs for $250, from a Local boy there who required that amount to purchase an artific Leg for his Sister..!
    ''.... no, women no cry ...''
    Sgt Reckless suffered badly from her back bone arthritis before she died, circa 1968.
     
    Kate likes this.
  9. DancingLady

    DancingLady Member

    Cat's definitely would not work out. They are not usually trainable, they are too independent. A cat would be likely to give you a "you have got to be kidding...no" kind of look if you tried to get one to do something for you that didn't suit the cat's fancy at that time.
     
  10. Diptangshu

    Diptangshu Active Member

    It is true. Cats were mostly used in the trenches to hunt rats and mice. Some 500,000 cats were sent to the trenches. For ships, rats and mice could overrun the vessel, these creatures are prone to spreading diseases, exparts for cutting ropes, wooden boxes etc. Deploying of cats might have been controlled the situations, I believe!
    Cats were also embraced as mascots and pets by the soldiers of many units.
    'Soldiers in fur and feathers'-The animals that served in WW1, by Susan Bulanda, MA, CABC, a very good book for collection.
    ISSBN 978-1-57779-154-6.
     

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