Cher Ami

I love historical events that I can relate to the Word of God and I am often intrigued by the lesser known stories that have impacted peoples lives. The following article has been copied in full from the web along with an image of Cher Ami from the Smithsonian.

Cher Ami, carrier pigeon used by Major Charles White Whittseley during WW1. Cher Ami (French for "dear friend", in the masculine) was a female homing pigeon who 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 pigeoners. She is famous for delivering a message from an encircled battalion despite serious injuries during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, October 1918.

On October 3, 1918, Major Charles White Whittlesey and more than 550 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 and only 194 men were still alive and not captured or wounded by the end of the engagement. Because his runners were consistently intercepted or killed by the Germans, Whittlesey began dispatching messages by pigeon. 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. The artillery batteries supporting Whittlesey's men attempted to provide a "barrage of protection" for Whittlesey's men on the northern slope of the Charlevaux Ravine, but believed Whittlesey was on the southern slope of the ravine, resulting in a barrage inadvertently targeting the battalion, "Cher Ami" was dispatched with a note, written on onion paper, in a canister on her left leg,

We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heavens sake stop it.

As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, the Germans saw her rising out of the brush and opened fire. After several seconds, she was shot down but managed to take flight again. She arrived back at her loft at division headquarters 25 miles (40 km) to the rear in just 25 minutes, helping to save the lives of the 194 survivors. She had been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, and had a leg hanging only by a tendon.

Cher Ami became the hero of the 77th Infantry Division. Army medics worked to save her life. They were unable to save her leg, so they carved a small wooden one for her. When she recovered enough to travel, the now one-legged bird was put on a boat to the United States, with General John J. Pershing seeing her off.

To American school children of the 1920s and 1930s, Cher Ami was as well known as any human World War I heroes. Cher Ami's body was later mounted by a taxidermist, who discovered that the "male" pigeon was actually a female, and enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution. She is currently on display with that of Sergeant Stubby in the National Museum of American History's "Price of Freedom" exhibit.

Having read the above article,I am personally reminded of Psalm 124. What would they have done if the Lord had not been there for them. Blessed be God who did not give them over to their enemies. Their soul escaped as a bird our of the snare of the fowlers. The snare was broken and they escaped. God saved the bird Cher Ami and them.

Oh that we would realize that our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Cher Ami – dear friend. I am so glad that Jesus is a friend of mine. John 15:15