Fun Fact #332 Dear Friend

 Fun Fact #332

Dear Friend

October 2nd 1918 In the Argonne Forest, nine companies of the US 77th battalion were trapped behind German lines. They were running out of Food, ammo and to make matters worse they had even started being shelled by their own allies who were trying to clear the Germans so they could search for “The Lost Battalion”.  

Their only hope lay with a handful of carrier pigeons. If they could get just one through then their allies could send help to clear a way to save them. Yet as the pigeons were released, they were all shot down until the last pigeon “Cher Ami” was released. Cher took off and before he was shot, but took off again shortly afterwards, flying a total of 25 miles to deliver the call for rescue. The US Army responded by sending their most veteran unit of the war : “The 1st Infantry Division” to liberate them. They soon clashed with “The Prussian Guards Division” and an entire division of Stormtroopers (Infantry Specialists).  Fighting was fierce but by the end the Battalion was saved and the Prussians lost their most experienced unit in World War 1 helping to turn the tide for that area of the Trenches.  

As for Cher Ami, he lost a leg and went blind from his injuries. He was taken to The US with General John J. Pershing personally seeing him off. After his death on July 13th 1919, Cher would be taxidermized and is now on display at The National Museum of Natural History (run by The Smithsonian). His name meant “dear friend” in French, and he is seen as a hero by both France and The US. July 13th is seen as an unofficial holiday in France today for animals injured or killed while saving lives.

Picture of Cher Ami by the Smithsonian