Volume 18 , Issue 6

Walking With Sweet Silly Sadie Dawg

Woof! Woof! This week NW Okie has me researching "Pigeons In War Time." What do I know of pigeons, though. Just another bird that I could chase and try to catch. But ... did you know it was illegal to shot and kill pigeons of war or carrier pigeons?

Did you know there was a Pigeon of World War I, named Cher Ami, who was shot through the chest by the Germans but continued to fly home. With the American “Lost Battalion’s” co-ordinates. The Americans launched a rescue and the 194 men were saved. Cher Ami was awarded the "Croix de Guerre" with Palm for its astonishing flight.

It was in October 1918, as the war neared its end, 194 American soldiers found themselves trapped by German soldiers. They were cut off from other Allied soldiers and had no working radios. The only chance they had of alerting anybody about their desperate situation was to send a pigeon with their co-ordinates attacked to its leg. The pigeon’s name was Cher Ami. When released it flew 25 miles from behind German lines to the Americans headquarters. Cher Ami covered the 25 miles in just 25 minutes. The pigeon was, in fact, shot through the chest by the Germans but continued to fly home. With the “Lost Battalion’s” co-ordinates, the Americans launched a rescue and the 194 men were saved. Cher Ami was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm for its astonishing flight. As with other pigeons, it would not have known where the American’s nearest headquarters was – its natural homing instincts took over.

Carrier Pigeon Hero, Praised By Pershing, To Be Awarded D.S.C.

Found on Newspapers.com

In The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, dated 17 April 1919, Thursday, page 17, you might read more about this infamous carrier pigeon hero, who was praised by Pershing, and awarded D.S.C. Camp Mills, NY, April 17 (1919) -- While awaiting orders to entrain for Camp Upton, where he and his 20 men of Pigeon Co. No. 1 would be demobilized, Capt. John L. Carney talked of his favorite messenger pigeon, Cher Ami. Cher Ami was one of the pigeons sent out by the famous 'lost battalion' of the seventy-seventh division, and it was partly through the message he brought that we were able to get help through to the beleaguered forces.

But his greatest feat was in getting through to Rembrandt with an important message from a commanding officer at Grand Pre, about November 1. When Cher Ami came to the coop at Rembrandt his leg was off, but the message tube was hanging to the stump. There was a wicked crease across his breast. But he came in. And the message he brought was of vast importance. Sent. Kockler, who was in charge of the coop when the stricken rescuer dropped into it, stood by and was running a stubby forefinger over the back of the pigeon's neck as the C. O. talked. He just had to break in.

"Black Jack, he came on - beg pardon for. Gen. Pershing - he came on inspection and he asked to see this bird." he said, "and he fooled with his neck just the way I am now. And he says to the captain, 'There isn't anything the Untied States can do too much for this bird.' he says. 'I want him to go back to Washington the best cared for bird that ever was. Keep him in your stateroom if it is necessary for his proper care.'"

That was the orders. But the only place for a homing pigeon of Cher Ami's fine training was in the home coop. The pigeon pined so in the stateroom that Capt. Carney was obliged to put the honor bird back in the coop and content himself with visits of inspection two or three times a day. Cher Ami was to go to Washington to be attached for life to the office of the chief of the signal corps with unlimited rations and only voluntary duty. The honors paid to Cher Ami were ordered by Gen. Pershing, speaking for the American army in France. Back of them was a recommendation on file with the war department at Washington signed by Gen. E. E. Russell, chief signal officer, A. E. F., that the carrier pigeon Cher Ami, Pigeon Co. No. 1, A. E. F., be awarded the distinguished service cross for valorous services far in excess of the call of duty.

Woof! Woof! I have a dream! That all humans no matter their race, culture, religion, gender, etc... has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as they see fit.
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