Horses, Donkeys, and Mules in the Marines
In the Korean War, a horse named Reckless worked alongside U.S. Marines to carry heavy ammunition to the front lines. During one battle, Reckless made 51 trips to the front lines in a single day, and even brought wounded soldiers back to the base camp. Today, horses, donkeys, and mules help Marines who are fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan. These animals can move across rough, rocky terrain that trucks and Humvees cannot negotiate. In this book, young readers will meet the pack animals that help the U.S. Marines by carrying weapons and supplies. They'll also discover the history, training, and care of these brave working animals. Full-color photos and dramatic true tales capture the stories of these animals and their critical military missions.
| Interest Level | Grade 1 - Grade 6 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 4 |
| BISACS | JNF003000 |
| Genre | Narrative Nonfiction |
| Copyright | 2012 |
| Publisher | Bearport Publishing |
| Series | America's Animal Soldiers |
| Language | English |
| ISBN | 9781617724534 |
|---|---|
| Title Format | Reinforced book |
| Dewey | 359.9'6 |
| ATOS Reading Level | 5.7 |
| Guided Reading Level | N |
| Lexile Reading Level | 920 |
| AR Quiz Number | 149938 |
| Author | Meish Goldish |
Horses, Donkeys, and Mules
Really? Horses, donkeys, and mules in the U.S. Marines? But this slim title in the America’s Animal Soldiers series, with its many color photographs, makes it clear that these animals are—and have been since 1915—a valued part of the service. The book begins with a vignette about Purple Heart–winner Reckless, a horse who carried both rockets and injured soldiers during the Korean War. It goes on to discuss why animals are better than helicopters for carrying loads (not so easily seen); the extraordinary weights these animals can carry; present missions in places like Afghanistan; and the training school in California, where soldiers learn to pack their animals and find the best ways to make them carry out assignments. Some of the information is repeated (like how much weight they can pack), but that’s a quibble in a book that tells a lot about a fresh topic—one that will especially attract reluctant readers and boys. Sidebars (some in dog-tag shapes) complement the friendly design.
Horses, Donkeys, and Mules
Really? Horses, donkeys, and mules in the U.S. Marines? But this slim title in the America’s Animal Soldiers series, with its many color photographs, makes it clear that these animals are—and have been since 1915—a valued part of the service. The book begins with a vignette about Purple Heart–winner Reckless, a horse who carried both rockets and injured soldiers during the Korean War. It goes on to discuss why animals are better than helicopters for carrying loads (not so easily seen); the extraordinary weights these animals can carry; present missions in places like Afghanistan; and the training school in California, where soldiers learn to pack their animals and find the best ways to make them carry out assignments. Some of the information is repeated (like how much weight they can pack), but that’s a quibble in a book that tells a lot about a fresh topic—one that will especially attract reluctant readers and boys. Sidebars (some in dog-tag shapes) complement the friendly design.
| Author/Illustrator biography |
| Detailed maps |
| Glossary of key words |
| Index |
| Table of contents |
| Full-color photographs, Historical photographs |
