It's 63 years since Sergeant Reckless, a chestnut mare, served the US in the Korean War.

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:
War horse Sergeant Reckless has finally been honoured for her bravery (www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36905817/war-horse-sergeant-reckless-has-finally-been-honoured-for-her-bravery)

To read an International Business Times article, see:
US Marine Corps horse Sergeant Reckless honoured for bravery during Korean War (http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-marine-corps-horse-sergeant-reckless-honoured-bravery-during-korean-war-1572920)

To read the complete article, see:
U.S. Marine Horse 'Sgt Reckless' Awarded Posthumous Medal Of Valor Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/3358373/u-s-marine-horse-sgt-reckless-awarded-posthumous-medal-of-valor/#kopQHvqGSRpIDpxM.99 (www.inquisitr.com/3358373/u-s-marine-horse-sgt-reckless-awarded-posthumous-medal-of-valor/)

From the book's web site:

For more information, see:
www.sgtreckless.com