Free Republic

A casual favor turned into a lifelong fascination for Glenrock’s Mike Cushman, owner of the much-in-demand Powder River Percherons, who have become a regular sight at many of the state’s largest and most popular parades. “I used to lease a ranch back in the late '80s, and the guy who owned it had a hitch of Belgians,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “And one day he just asked me if, in my free time, I could help him with that.” Once he’d learned how to handle Belgians, he started his own team, but the popularity of the large draft horse...

Some 60 years after carrying wounded soldiers and ammunition during heavy firefights, a decorated war horse praised as America’s greatest equine soldier during the Korean War is finally being immortalized. Staff Sgt. Reckless, a Mongolian mare that served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, made 51 solo trips during a five-day battle in March 1953, carrying nearly 10,000 pounds of ammunition and explosives from a supply depot to the front lines. She was wounded twice and later received two Purple Hearts for her service, as well as several other military decorations. On Friday, a 10-foot bronze statue...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Oct. 11, 2005) -- In the final weeks of their deployment, the “Warhorse” lifted the “Blue Devils” into Al Anbar province in support of security and stabilization operations. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, were flown to a forward location by the rotors and Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Sept. 21. The squadron officially ended it's deployment with a transfer of authority ceremony Sept. 30. The squadron was relieved by HMH-466. The Blue Devils of 3/504 PIR were deployed to the area to assist with security and stabilization efforts in...