Cher Ami (dear friend) The Little Bird That Saved 200 American Lives in WWI
We think of our war hero's to be humans, showing incredible courage.
Over the years our animal friends, have show great courage, suffering serious wounds, dying in action to help their human friends.
This is the true story of one little feathered friend, that 200 men owe their lives to.
Meet Cher Ami (dear friend). http://homeofheroes.com/wings/part1/3b_cherami.html
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Badly wounded, a bullet hole in her breast the size of a quarter, one leg hanging by a tendon, and blinded in one eye. This little hero flew 25 miles, in 25 minutes, to save 200 American Soldiers lives.
At first I was doubtful about the speed at which she flew. Sixty miles an hour seems pretty fast for a bird. So, I checked on Wikipedia, and, sure enough, specially bred racing homing pigeons can sustain that speed for several hours and some can fly as fast as 110 mph. Even though Cher Ami wasn't specially bred for speed, she would have been capable of going that fast for a half hour or so, even though badly injured. She had incredible courage and endurance. I can not imagine a human soldier that badly wounded moving 25 feet, much less 25 miles.
Gunny,
Not just the military dogs either. Perhaps the most famous was Balto, one of the sled dogs that moved diphtheria serum to Nome, Alaska in 1925.
Dogs were the most widely recognized of our animal friends, but, if you talk to a soldier who served attacking the Gustav Line in Italy during the winter of 1943-44, they would probably choose a mule as their favorite animal. A battalion of Army mules was used in that mountain battle to carry supplies up the very steep and icy mountains and wounded soldiers down. In order to avoid attracting artillery fire, almost all of those trips were done at night, in pitch darkness, over extremely rough terrain. It was said at the time that the mules were smarter than the teamsters who led them (which may very well have been true).
That is about the coolest dang story I have ever heard!
I wonder sometimes if the other species on planet earth don't look at us and say to themselves and each other "they gotta be the dumbest damn animal on this planet, but, we love and are loyal to them far above what they deserve anyways".
Probably a grazing hit to the chest, Randy. That means it would have been wide but shallow; bloody, and it may have cracked the breast bone and certainly broken the leg, but a direct hit from a 7X57 Mauser round would have left nothing but a few feathers.
I know what ya mean Randy but I gotta tell ya, I took care of a wounded Robin a couple of years ago that had half it's ass end missing and she lived for almost two months. I tried getting her back up, and she tried her hardest to, but it just wouldn't happen. Frickin' animals are amazing when in survival mode. So..., who knows!
:~)
Wow, what an emotional tribute to this little bird. Thank you Kav. I see I highlighted some of the story as you:
The determination was amazing. "Cher Ami"... oh yes, and then some. (you, too, are a cher ami)
A really inspiring story. Thanks for posting it.
Justice, as TTGA said a grazing hit. Now, think of a tiny bird, taking a grazing hit from a 7x57 Mauser round and still flying. It would be like you taking a grazing hit from a 155mm RF.
Add to that, blinded in one eye and a leg held on my a tendon. Courage my friend.
Your correct Larry, birds my look delicate, but they are tough creatures, as Cher Ami proved.
That is true Gunny, many animals have served and given their live to do their duty and protect us.
They are all amazing.
Great stories TTGA. Another to add, is at the Battle of Gallipoli WWI. John Simpson and his donkey, went out into the battlefield to rescue the wounded. They did this for over 3 weeks. Simpsom was KIA, he and he donkey are part of the ''Anzac Legend''.
There is a statue dedicated to them at the Australian War Memorial in Camberra Australia.
Larry, I couldn't have said it better.
It really was a story of courage and dedication Chloe. One that will live on in time.
Thank you my friend.
Your most welcome Buzz. Kind of reminds one of the quote, ''one tough little bird''...
What an interesting story and what a steadfast little bird. Thanks for the link.
Your welcome Grump, it thought that is an inspirational story. The little bird deserves to be recognized.
I really don't mind pigeons. Most folks hate them for some reason or other - flying rats and all that, you know. But, they are exceptional athletes and tough little creatures.
Yes, most folks don't like them. I wonder how they would feel if they knew the story of the messenger pigeons of WWI, and the numerous lives that they saved.
I've seen documentaries that establish what JFT just said about birds being the ancestors of dinosaurs, or at least the flying ones. Peredactyls? (not sure about the spelling)
I always thought that about Raptors, the various Hawks and Eagles, which I am highly suspicious took my cat.
''The birds are obviously smarter than the badfish''...LMAO. Plus they don't live in a glass bowl.
Thanks for stopping by BF. It's always fun waiting for you ''one liners''...
Thank you for this story. True valor in theheat of battle is also depicted in the movie war horse
Your welcome retired. I love the movie, ''War Horse''.