Cher Ami the Carrier Pigeon

Cher Ami while alive

Carrier pigeons served as a speedy way of delivering urgent messages in WWI. They were hard to shoot down due to their speed, and there was an abundant supply of them. The carrier pigeon was so vital that over 100,000 of them were used in the war with a success rate of 95%.

One of the most famous animals in WWI was a carrier pigeon named Cher Ami. Cher Ami was given to the american signal corp in France by the pigeon fanciers of Britain.

On October 3, 1918 the American 77th infantry division was trapped on all sides by the Germans. They sent out two pigeons with messages requesting help, but both pigeons were shot down. The only pigeon that was left was Cher Ami. She was sent out with the division’s last request for help. On her way out of the 77th’s position she was shot by German riflemen. Even with this injury Cher Ami was able to carry on. She covered 25 miles in 25 minutes and was able to deliver the message to the American command.

Cher Ami Taxidermied 

The Americans were then able to send reinforcements in time to save the 77th. The army doctors worked long and hard to save Cher Ami. She survived, but she lost one of her legs. To replace it the soldiers carved her a little wooden one.

Cher Ami was awarded the Croix de Guerre Medal with a Palm Oak Leaf Cluster for her heroic actions. She died at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, on June 13, 1919 from the wounds she received in battle and was later inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931. She also received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of her extraordinary service during World War I. Her taxidermied body is now on display at the National Museum of American History’s "Price of Freedom" exhibit.