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Triangle in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
 

'Staff Sergeant Reckless'

 
 
'Staff Sergeant Reckless' Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 12, 2021
1. 'Staff Sergeant Reckless' Marker
Inscription.
"The spirit of her loneliness and her loyalty, in spite of the danger, was something else to behold. Hurting. Determined. And alone. That's the image I have imprinted in my head and heart forever." — Sgt Harold Wadley, USMC

SSgt Reckless served valiantly with the United States Marine Corps in the Korean War. During the pivotal five-day Battle of Outpost Vegas in late March 1953, she made 51 round-trips in a single day—most of them solo—from the Ammunition Supply Point to the firing sites. She carried 386 rounds of ammunition totaling more than 9,000 pounds, and walked over 35 miles, through open rice paddies and up steep mountains, as enemy fire exploded at the rate of 500 rounds per minute.

Reckless provided a shield for front-line Marines, carried the wounded to safety, and herself was wounded twice. But she never quit until the mission was complete.

SSgt Reckless is buried at Camp Pendleton, California, where she spent her final years before her death in 1968.

Military Decorations:
Two Purple Hearts * Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal * Presidential Unit Citation * Navy Unit Commendation * National Defense Service Medal * United Nations Service Medal—Korea * Korean Service Medal w/ 3 Stars * Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

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Erected by Angels Without Wings, Inc & Sgt Reckless Memorial Fund.
 
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: AnimalsWar, Korean. In addition, it is included in the Military Order of the Purple Heart series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1953.
 
Location. 38° 32.465′ N, 77° 20.616′ W. Memorial is in Triangle, Virginia, in Prince William County. It can be reached from Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1) 0.1 miles south of Joplin Road (Virginia Route 619), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Quantico VA 22134, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the Washington Metropolitan Area, in Northern Virginia, and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Lieutenants of The Base School Class 3-67 and 41st OCC (within shouting distance of this marker); Dedicated to Force Reconnaissance and Special Operations Marines, Corpsmen and Their Families (within shouting distance of this marker); Marines of the 1st 155 Gun Battery SP (within shouting distance of this marker); The Tank Infantry Team (within shouting distance of this marker); 2nd Bn 4th Marines Memorial Trail Segment (within shouting distance of this marker); Golf Company 2/7 (within shouting distance
'Staff Sergeant Reckless' Memorial image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 12, 2021
2. 'Staff Sergeant Reckless' Memorial
of this marker); Firefighter Marines 9/11 Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); No Sacrifice Forgotten (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Triangle.
 
Additional keywords. War horses; 🐎
 
Dedication plaque on the back of the memorial image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 12, 2021
3. Dedication plaque on the back of the memorial
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 487 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on March 13, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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Jun. 19, 2026