- Cher Ami
-
Cher Ami
Cher Ami on displayDied June 13, 1919
Fort Monmouth, New JerseyPlace of display Smithsonian Institution Allegiance United States of America Service/branch United States Army Years of service 1918 Unit 77th Division Battles/wars World War I Awards Croix de Guerre Medal Other work Department of Service mascot Cher Ami (French for "dear friend", in the masculine) 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. It helped save the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division in the battle of the Argonne, October 1918.[1]
Contents
World War I service
On October 3, 1918, Charles Whittlesey and more than 500 men were trapped in a small depression on the side of the hill behind enemy lines without food or ammunition. They were also beginning to receive friendly fire from allied troops who did not know their location. Surrounded by the Germans, many were killed and wounded in the first day and by the second day, just more than 200[verification needed] men were still alive. Whittlesey dispatched messages by pigeon.[2] The pigeon carrying the first message ("Many wounded. We cannot evacuate.") was shot down. A second bird was sent with the message, "Men are suffering. Can support be sent?" That pigeon also was shot down. Only one homing pigeon was left: 'Cher Ami'. He was dispatched with a note in a canister on his left leg,
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. For several moments, Cher Ami flew with bullets zipping through the air all around him.[3] Cher Ami was eventually shot down but miraculously managed to take flight again. He arrived back at his loft at division headquarters 25 miles to the rear in just 65 minutes, helping to save the lives of the 194 survivors. In this last mission, Cher Ami delivered the message despite having been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, covered in blood and with a leg hanging only by a tendon.
Cher Ami became the hero of the 77th Infantry Division. Army medics worked long and hard to save his life. They were unable to save his leg, so they carved a small wooden one 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.
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.[4]
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 enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution. He is currently on display with Sergeant Stubby in the National Museum of American History's "Price of Freedom" exhibit.[5]
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
References
- ^ "Cher Ami "Dear Friend" WWI". Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/marotta47/256588828/. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
- ^ "The 'Stop It' Telegram". www.lettersofnote.com. http://www.lettersofnote.com/2010/05/for-heavens-sake-stop-it.html. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
- ^ Jim Greelis. "Pigeons in Military History". World of Wings. http://www.pigeoncenter.org/militarypigeons.html. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
- ^ National Pigeon Day. "History of Cher Ami". http://nationalpigeonday.blogspot.com/2008/03/history-of-cher-ami.html. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
- ^ "Cher Ami - World War I Carrier Pigeon". Smithsonian Institution. http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmah/cherami.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
External links
- Cher Ami (the movie)
- Cher Ami, World War I carrier pigeon - Image
- "Crois de Guerre" medal and message holder - Image
- Lost Battalion Survivors Immediately After the Event - Image
- Pet tribute to Cher Ami
Croix de guerre recipients of World War I Cher AmiDickin Medal recipients of World War II Commando · G.I. Joe · Gustav · Mary of Exeter · Paddy · Royal Blue · White Vision · William of Orange · WinkieOthers John SilverIn fiction Institutions Categories:- Domestic pigeons
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)
- Individual birds
- Military animals
- World War I military equipment of the United States
- 1919 animal deaths
- Collection of the Smithsonian Institution
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.