“I can reach the end of the universe so fast!
The reach of my power is so vast!
Only the mind can hold me right!
Cause imagination can always take a flight!”
Have you heard about Cher ami, the one who saved over 194 men!?
Cher was mentioned in a book called ‘Nexus’, by Yuval Noah who tries to tell a brief history of information and tries to define data!
Oh, yeah by the way…Cher was a pigeon!
Intrigued?
read on!
Cher Ami, which means “dear friend” in French, was born in 1918. Cher Ami was one of the 600 Army Signal Corps pigeons sent to France to assist with communication on the battlefield.
Homing pigeons are known for their ability to find their way home, even from across terrains the pigeon does not know. Short notes were placed in a tiny canister attached to the pigeon’s leg that they would carry to their destination.
Cher Ami had 12 successful missions — a high success rate among homing pigeons! So what great thing did you achieve today!?
Unfortunately when the Germans became aware of the Army’s use of pigeons in carrying important information, they began training to shoot them down.
Cher Ami had his most dangerous mission during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918. Cher Ami was stationed with the 77th Division, referred to as the “Lost Battalion,” in the Argonne Forest. They found themselves cut off from the rest of the American troops, under heavy bombardment. The battalion was trapped behind German lines and unable to make their position known. Soon, American bombs began falling on the Lost Battalion on October 4, making the situation dire. Since they were out of the reach of the radio signal, using a homing pigeon was their only choice!
American Maj. Charles Whittlesey and his men watched as almost all of their pigeons were shot down by the Germans until they were left with only one pigeon, Cher Ami.
Whittlesey attached a note to Cher Ami’s leg, writing, “We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it!.”
Cher Ami dodged German bullets, giving the Soldiers hope until he was shot through the chest and fell to the ground. Against all odds, he returned to the sky to deliver the message. He flew at record speeds, covering 25 miles in a little less than a half an hour. He arrived at the American base with the message, alive but badly wounded!
Army medics were able to save Cher Ami, but he lost his right leg and was permanently blinded. Due to Cher Ami’s trip, the bombardment on the Lost Battalion stopped and 194 men safely returned to American lines. Cher Ami was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government to honor bravery on the battlefield.
General John Pershing honored him by saying, “There isn’t anything the United States can do too much for this bird.”
Under the care of his trainer, Capt. John Carney, Cher Ami returned to the United States where he spent the rest of his life. Cher Ami died due to his war wounds on June 13, 1919, in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. His body was preserved and presented to the Smithsonian Institution with honor in 1921.
So nice and wonderful right? Well, Yuval actually tries to burst this story! Apparently the American Bombers actually got the message on the position of the troops before Cher! Another version actually says how it was not even Cher who did the message carrying but some other Pigeon! Another says his wounds were severe but not that severe!
Now, now! Do not feel bad! That is the power of inspirational stories! Cher is not simply a Pigeon who did all that work! He is a symbol of hope when morale is low! He is an inspiration and an idea! An idea with wings! Literally!
In the quest of accuracy do not become a cynic! Also the thought of nation is a feeling and inspiration! Inspirational also are great stories of freedom fighters such as the birthday celebrity Vinayak Narahari Bhave!
Now start the ebook Nexus to have a good sleep!
Shubh ratri!
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