Synopses & Reviews
"Tom Clavin's Reckless reads like a wonderful and inspiring combination of Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit and Unbroken."Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
From the racetracks of Seoul to the battlegrounds of the Korean War, Reckless was a horse whose strength, tenacity, and relentless spirit made her a hero amongst a regiment of U.S. Marines fighting for their lives on the front lines.
Her Korean name was Ah-Chim-HaiFlame-of-the-Morning. A four-year-old chestnut-colored Mongolian racehorse with a white blaze down her face and three white stockings, she once amazed the crowds in Seoul with her remarkable speed. But when war shut down the tracks, the star racer was soon sold to an American Marine and trained to carry heavy loads of artillery shells up and down steep hills under a barrage of bullets and bombs. The Marines renamed her Reckless.
Reckless soon proved fearless under fire, boldly marching alone through the fiery gauntlet, exposed to explosions and shrapnel. For months, her drive and determination kept the Marines guns blazing, while inspiring them with her singular charm. During one day of battle alone, she made fifty-one trips up and down a crucial hill, covering at least thirty-five miles in the heat of combat. On some of her uphill treks, Reckless shielded human reinforcements. The Chinese, soon discovering the unique bravery of this magnificent animal, made a special effort to kill her. But Reckless never slowed. As months passed and the enemy grew bolder, the men came to appreciate her not just as a horse but as a weapon, and eventually, as a fellow Marine.
In Reckless, Tom Clavin, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Heart of Everything That Is, tells the unlikely story of a racehorse who truly became a war hero, beloved by the Marine Corps and decorated for bravery. A moving reminder of the unbreakable bond between people and animals, Reckless is a powerful tale of courage, survival, and even love in the face of overwhelming odds.
Review
“Tom Clavins
Reckless reads like a wonderful and inspiring combination of Laura Hillenbrands
Seabiscuit and
Unbroken. The star of this book might be a Mongolian mare, but she was an American war hero, and her amazing story deserves to be told, which Clavin so ably does. This would make a hell of a movie.”
—Nelson DeMille, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Quest
“War can often make unlikely heroes, and in this book Tom Clavin introduces us to the unlikeliest hero of all. Reckless is an inspiring tale of courage and endurance by a brave horse who unflinchingly risked death to help the men she loved, winning for herself a role in Marine Corps history."—Larry Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of Biggest Brother and co-author of A Higher Call
“Who ever thought such a story could exist? A heroic horse fighting with the Marines in the Korean War? But it emphatically does. It is dramatic and poignant—both the human and the equine parts—and comes completely alive in Tom Clavin's narrative.”—S.C. Gwynne, New York Times bestselling author of Empire of the Summer Moon
“Within the relentless account of the bravery of many men, the featured character is a Mongolian racehorse, recruited to carry the heavy ammunition for a recoilless rifle platoon…. Reckless certainly possessed fortitude; what she did one day in 1953 was remarkable. Under heavy enemy fire, she made countless trips up steep terrain carrying heavy shells to supply her platoon. On the way back, she often carried the wounded to safety. It was estimated that she carried more than four tons of ammunition in trips covering more than 30 miles, mostly alone, without guidance or prompting. The fame of the stalwart horse, who gave added resonance to the idea of Semper Fi, grew both within the Corps and among the folks at home…. a blood-soaked war story about a courageous horse.”—Kirkus
Review
“A moving portrait of the loyal, courageous, furry warriors who are truly an enlisted Man’s Best Friend.”—
People “
Soldier Dogs is a fascinating book about the valiant things that military dogs do as told through the words of the soldiers who fight beside them. It also shows you how military service dogs are created, told through the words of the trainers and scientists who know the process. It is written in an easy and entertaining style and will acquaint you with dozens of canine heroes ranging from Stubby, who fought in WWI, to Cairo, who was a member of the raiding party that took down Osama bin Laden. It is a great read for anyone who appreciates dogs and heroes.”—Stanley Coren, author of
The Intelligence of Dogs "Goodavage's revealing and engaging book exposes the unexpected trust and affection that flows both ways between dog and handler."—John Bradshaw, author of Dog Sense
“A well-deserved salute to the military’s ‘paws-on-the-ground heroes.’”—Kirkus Reviews
Review
“A wonderful and inspiring combination of Laura Hillenbrands
Seabiscuit and
Unbroken.” —Nelson DeMille
“Clavin introduces us to the unlikeliest hero of all…an inspiring tale of courage and endurance.”—New York Times Bestselling Author Larry Alexander
“Dramatic and poignant…and comes completely alive in Tom Clavins narrative.”—New York Times Bestselling Author S. C. Gwynne
Synopsis
A leading reporter offers a tour of military working dogs' extraordinary training, heroic accomplishments, and the lasting impacts they have on those who work with them. People all over the world have been riveted by the story of Cairo, the Belgian Malinois who was a part of the Navy SEAL team that led the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. A dog's natural intelligence, physical abilities, and pure loyalty contribute more to our military efforts than ever before. You don't have to be a dog lover to be fascinated by the idea that a dog-the cousin of that furry guy begging for scraps under your table-could be one of the heroes who helped execute the most vital and high-tech military mission of the new millennium.
Now Maria Goodavage, editor and featured writer for one of the world's most widely read dog blogs, tells heartwarming stories of modern soldier dogs and the amazing bonds that develop between them and their handlers. Beyond tales of training, operations, retirement, and adoption into the families of fallen soldiers, Goodavage talks to leading dog-cognition experts about why dogs like nothing more than to be on a mission with a handler they trust, no matter how deadly the IEDs they are sniffing, nor how far they must parachute or rappel from aircraft into enemy territory.
"Military working dogs live for love and praise from their handlers," says Ron Aiello, president of the United States War Dogs Association and a former marine scout dog handler. "The work is all a big game, and then they get that pet, that praise. They would do anything for their handler." This is an unprecedented window into the world of these adventurous, loving warriors.
Synopsis
From the New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Heart of Everything That Is, comes the unlikely story of a racehorse who truly became a war hero, beloved by the Marine Corps and decorated for bravery.
Her Korean name was Ah-Chim-HaiFlame-of-the-Morning. A four-year-old chestnut-colored Mongolian racehorse, she once amazed the crowds in Seoul with her remarkable speed. But when war shut down the tracks, the star racer was sold to an American Marine and trained to carry heavy loads of artillery shells across steep hills under a barrage of bullets and bombs. The Marines renamed her Reckless.
Reckless soon proved fearless under fire, boldly marching alone through the fiery gauntlet, exposed to explosions and shrapnel. On some of her uphill treks, Reckless shielded human reinforcements. The Chinese, soon discovering the bravery of this magnificent animal, made a special effort to kill her. But Reckless never slowed. As months passed, the men came to appreciate her not just as a horse but as a fellow Marine.
Synopsis
Due to his achievements as a player and manager, as well as his sterling character, Gil Hodges deserves to be in the Hall of Fame as much as any player honored by the institution. A towering figure during the Golden Era of the 1950s, Hodges was the Brooklyn Dodgers powerful first baseman who, alongside Jackie Robinson, helped drive his team to six pennants and a thrilling World Series victory in 1955.
Dutifully following the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1958, Hodges longed to return to New York City, and in 1962, joined the original Mets. He took over the managers spot on their bench in 1968 and transformed the team from a joke to World Champions in 1969the Miracle Mets. Yet behind his stoic demeanor lay a man prone to anxiety and scarred by combat during World War II. His sudden death in 1972 shocked his friends and family and left a void in the hearts of baseball fans everywhere.
Acclaimed authors Tom Clavin and Danny Peary delve into one of baseballs most overlooked stars, shedding light on a fascinating life and career that even his most ardent fans never knew.
About the Author
Tom Clavins books include the national bestselling titles
Halseys Typhoon,
The Last Stand of Fox Company,
Last Men Out, and
The Heart of Everything That Is (all written with Bob Drury); as well as sports titles
Roger Maris,
Gil Hodges (both written with Danny Peary), and
The DiMaggios. His work has appeared in the
New York Times,
Mens Journal,
Readers Digest,
Smithsonian Magazine, and
Parade. He resides in Sag Harbor, New York.