In Rare Mongolia Stop, U.S. Defense Secretary Gets an Unusual Gift

Nearly a century ago, a young U.S. Army officer named George Marshall traveled halfway around the world to Mongolia to secure the very best horses for his infantry regiment.

During a rare stop here on Thursday, another former Army officer-turned-U.S. defense secretary got his own Mongolian steed. Newly confirmed Pentagon chief Mark Esper named the tiny caramel horse, a gift from his Mongolian counterpart, “Marshall,” in honor of the Army general who shares his hometown.