A pigeon once saved 194 soldiers and became a war hero
Cher Ami was a brave messenger pigeon who flew through bullets and smoke to deliver a message that saved nearly 200 lost soldiers!
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Last updated: February 3, 2026 at 08:31 AMCher Ami was a brave messenger pigeon who flew through bullets and smoke to deliver a message that saved nearly 200 lost soldiers!
In the age of smartphones, we send messages in seconds. But during World War I, soldiers relied on brave birds to carry life-saving information. The most famous of these was a pigeon named Cher Ami (which means "Dear Friend" in French).
In 1918, a group of 194 American soldiers was trapped behind enemy lines. They were accidentally being shot at by their own side because their location was unknown. They were surrounded and running out of food and water. They tried sending two pigeons with messages, but both were shot down. Cher Ami was their very last hope.
When Cher Ami took off, the enemy soldiers saw him and started shooting. A bullet hit his chest, he was blinded in one eye, and one of his legs was almost shot off. But the little bird didn't give up! He flew 25 miles in just 25 minutes, landing at his home base with the message still hanging from his broken leg.
Because of Cher Ami's message, the soldiers stopped firing at their own men and sent help to rescue the survivors. Cher Ami became a national hero. Doctors saved his life, and they even carved him a tiny wooden leg so he could walk. He was awarded the "Croix de Guerre," one of France's highest military honors, for his incredible bravery.
Cher Ami was a messenger pigeon who saved 194 soldiers during WWI. Despite being badly injured by bullets, he completed his flight and delivered the location of the "Lost Battalion." He remains one of the most decorated animal heroes in history.