The Pigeon that saved American Army in WW1

Image credit - Army.mil

October 02, 1918 in the midst of world war! From the US Army's, 77th division 550 soldiers were stuck in a small pit behind a hill. These American soldiers were surrounded by the German army. There communication with the army was disrupted and lost and all supplies were exhausted. They were stuck there for two days. The rest of the army had no idea where they had disappeared. They were called "THE LOST BATTALION".

The situation worsened when on 4th October, heavy American artillery mistakenly starts attacking on them. On one hand, the German army was firing at them and on the other hand, there own army was also attacking them. These was only one hope for survival. PIGEONS, you read it right. Messenger pigeons. They had pigeons thorough which they could send massage to their army and communicate. But in the midst of the German bullets, these pigeon were killed one by one. In the End, only one pigeon was left, CHER AMI. Cher ami given a note in which they wrote, 

"we are along the road parallel 276.4. our illery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake, Stop it." 

With this note, Cher ami starts flying but in the blink of an eye a German bullet hits the Pigeon. The last hope of these soldiers falls to the ground. But then a miracle happens. The pigeon suddenly starts flying again. Through the bullets it takes a new flight. Within an hour. 25 miles away, this wounded Bird reach the American base to deliver the massage. When the army spots this pigeon flying towards them, they notice that on of its legs was almost detached from its body. One of it's eyes was completely damaged. But the massage was delivered. 

The artilleries dropped on the 77th battalion, was stopped. They started firing at German army positions. This one move turned world war 1 in America's favour. But doctors tried to save the pigeon's life but unfortunately, it wasn't possible. Cher Ami sacrifice, enable 194 Americans soldiers to return the lines. For this bravery, Cher ami is given one of the highest french military honours (THE CROIX DE GUERRE). After it's death, the pigeon's body was actually preserved. You can see it in America's SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY. 

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