Cher Ami (French 'male form' for "Dear Friend") was a registered Black Check Cock homing pigeon which had been donated by the pigeon fanciers of Britain for use by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during World War I and had been trained by American pigeoneers. He helped save the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division in the battle of the Argonne, October 1918. Homing pigeon The homing pigeon is a variety of domesticated Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) that has been selectively bred to be able to find its way home over extremely long distances. ... The U.S. Army Signal Corps was founded in 1861 by United States Army Major Albert J. Myer, a physician by training. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The 77th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I and World War II. // Activated: 18 August 1917 Overseas: March 1918 Major Operations: Meuse-Argonne Offensive, Oise-Aisne. ... Combatants United States German Empire Commanders John J. Pershing Georg von der Marwitz Strength American Expeditionary Force German Fifth Army Casualties 26,277 killed 95,786 wounded 122,066 total 28,000 killed 92,250 wounded 120,250 total The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the final offensive of World War... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ...

World War 1 Service

On October 3, 1918 Major Whittlesey and more than 500 men were trapped in a small depression on the side of the hill. The American troops had been isolated behind German enemy lines without food and ammunition and they were beginning to receive fire from allied troops who didn’t know their location. Surrounded by the enemy soldiers, many were killed and wounded in the first day and by the second day only a little more than 200 men were still alive or unwounded. Major Charles Whittlesey ordered the sending of messages to their fellow troops by pigeon. The first message sent, "Many wounded. We cannot evacuate.", the pigeon carrying the message was shot down. A second bird was sent with the message, "Men are suffering. Can support be sent?" and that pigeon also was shot down. Only one homing pigeon was left and that was 'Cher Ami'. He was dispatched with a note that was put in the canister on his left leg with the message,

"We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake, stop it!"

As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, the Germans saw him rising out of the brush and opened fire and for several minutes, bullets zipped through the air all around him. The men of the Lost Battalion saw Cher Ami fly up but then saw him shot down, it looked like the little pigeon was going to fall, that he wasn't going to make it but he was soon became airborne again. Cher Ami's leg was shot off and he was hit by another bullet yet the pigeon kept flying. He finally managed to reach them by arriving back at his loft at division headquarters 25 miles to the rear in just 25 minutes. Thus saving the lives of the 194 survivors of the battalion who were then able to safely return to the American line. In this last mission, Cher Ami had delivered the message despite having been shot through the breast, being blinded in one eye, covered in blood, and having a leg hanging only by a tendon.

Cher Ami had became the hero of the 77th Infantry Division, so army medics worked long and hard to save his life, but were unable to save his leg so they carved a small wooden leg for him. When he recovered enough to travel, the little one-legged hero was put on a boat to the United States with General John J. Pershing, personally seeing Cher Ami off as he departed France. John Joseph Black Jack Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. ...

Awards

Upon return to America, Cher Ami became the mascot of the Department of Service. The pigeon was awarded the Croix de Guerre Medal with a palm Oak Leaf Cluster for his heroic service in delivering 12 important messages in Verdun. He died at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, on June 13, 1919 from the wounds he received in battle and was later inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931. He also received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of his extraordinary service during World War I. The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ... Capital Verdun Government Republic Historical era Middle Ages  - Established Uncertain  - Three Bishoprics     annexed by France   1552  - Treaty of Westphalia     recognises annexation   1648 For other uses see Verdun (disambiguation) Verdun (medieval German: Wirten, official name before 1970 Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city and commune in the Lorraine région, northeast...

Remembered

To American school children of the 1920s and '30s, Cher Ami was as well known as any human World War I heroes. Cher Ami was later mounted by a taxidermist and donated to the Smithsonian where he is enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution, and is currently on display with Sergeant Stubby in the National Museum of American History's "Price of Freedom" exhibit. The Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle on the National Mall serves as the Institutions headquarters. ... Stubby, as the Georgetown mascot Sergeant Stubby (1916 or 1917 – 16 March 1926), was the most decorated war dog of World War I, and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat. ... The National Museum of American History is a museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution and located in Washington, D.C., on the National Mall. ...

Books

• Cher Ami by Marion Cothren
• Cher Ami a poem by Harry Webb Farrington
• Finding the Lost Battalion - Beyond the rumors, myths and legends of America's famous WWI Epic by Robert J. Laplander

See also

• Lost Battalion (World War I)
• War pigeon
• G.I. Joe (pigeon)

Pigeons have played an important role in wars for a long time. ... G.I. Joe (March 24, 1943 in Algiers - June 3, 1961 in Detroit) is possibly one of the most famous pigeons in world history, serving much of its life in the United States Army Pigeon Service as one of over 54,000 pigeons in the force. ...

References

• Cher Ami - World War I Carrier Pigeon. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
• Cher Ami - Americans at War: The Price of Freedom. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.
• Jim Greelis. Pigeons in Military History. World of Wings. Retrieved on 2007-09-13.
• The Story of Cher Ami. Project PigeonWatch. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
• Pigeons used during wars. Pigeon Paradise. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
• "Cher Ami," WW I Carrier Pigeon - Hero of the skies. History Wired. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
• Ed Spaeth. Cher Ami, Heroic Bird of World War I. Waterman Bird Club. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
• NYC's Pigeon War Targets Unsung War Hero. abc News. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
• Carrier Pigeons: A real American Hero. faculty.millikin.edu. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.
• Cher Ami "Dear Friend" WWI. Flickr. Retrieved on 2008-04-26.

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Cher Ami, World War I carrier pigeon - Image
• "Crois de Guerre" medal and message holder - Image
• Lost Battalion Survivors Immediately After the Event - Image