Radio sets were too heavy to carry into battle, and field telephone lines snapped easily.
Two Swiss Army soldiers prepare a homing pigeon for dispatching.
Photo: Swiss Federal Archives/Wikimedia Commons
Being a carrier pigeon was risky.
Some of these pigeons became quite famous for their service.
President Wilsons mortal remains in the Pentagon.
She spent several months on the front lines delivering 12 messages in total.
Her last delivery was the most important mission she ever flew.
Cher Amis taxidermied body.
Major Whittlesey tried dispatching runners, but they kept getting killed or captured.
In the end, Whittlesey began dispatching messages by pigeon.
The first pigeon, carrying the first message, Many wounded.
We cannot evacuate was shot down.
A second bird with the message, Men are suffering.
Can support be sent?
also got killed before it could deliver its message.
Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us.
For heavens sake stop it.
As soon as Cher Ami rose out of the brush, the Germans opened fire on her.
Bullets zipped through the air all around her.
Inevitably, Cher Ami was struck, but the brave bird spread her wings again and continued to fly.
Although army medics managed to save her life, the wounds she received was too deep to heal completely.
She died a year later.
Close up of Cher Amis taxidermied body showing the missing leg.
Cher Ami became the hero of the 77th Infantry Division.
She was later inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931.
Cher Amis message from Captain Whittlesey to the commanding officer of the 308th Infantry.
Photo: National Archives.
Now they were in danger of getting caught up in friendly fire if the attack went ahead.
A homing pigeon named G. I. Joe was released with the message.
G. I. Joe saved the lives of at least 100 men.
G. I. Joe receiving the Dickin Medal.
A pigeon Loft at Rampont, France.
2nd Lt. Milne pictured in 1918 with carrier pigeons he is raising for the Army during World War I.
Photo: Department of Defense
The German Army also used carrier pigeons.
Here two German soldiers on the Western Front are seen with their pigeons.
Photo: German War Department
