Well Done, Cher Ami!

Being a military homing pigeon during World War I was incredibly dangerous.

One such bird, Cher Ami, completed 12 successful missions — far more than normal.

His final mission, on October 4, 1918, proved to be his most courageous. Cher Ami was stationed with the 77th Division, known as the “Lost Battalion,” in the Argonne Forest. Behind enemy lines and cut off from Allied troops, the 77th found themselves under heavy bombardment. Their only hope for salvation lay in getting a message out using one of the homing pigeons they carried, but every pigeon they released was shot down by enemy fire — except for their last pigeon, Cher Ami. 

The pigeon took off and was quickly shot through the breast and leg and fell to the ground — but, despite his injuries, the brave Cher Ami got back up and took to the skies once again, eventually reaching his loft and delivering the message that dangled from his wounded leg. (The brave bird lost the leg, but survived his injuries.)

Thanks to Cher Ami, help arrived for the battalion’s 194 men, who made it back safely to American lines. For his heroic service, Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

And General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, paid tribute to Cher Ami, saying, “There isn’t anything the United States can do too much for this bird”.

Well done, Cher Ami!