Table of Contents

1. Birth and Origin pg.3
2. Training pg. 4
3. Cher Ami meets a friend pg. 5
4. First look at war pg. 6
5. Trench Conditions pg.7
6. Daily Life pg. 8
7. Famous Mission pg. 9
8. Injury pg.10
9. Rehabilitation pg.11
10. Awards pg.12

On May 10,1910 a little baby pigeon was born in England. She was given the name "Cher Ami". "Cher Ami" means "Dear Friend" in French. After her birth, England donated her and lots of other pigeons to the United States for use in France as World War 1 approached.

After arriving in France she began her training as a homing carrier pigeon. She was trained by being taken to a destination and then having to find her way back to the military base. Training was important for pigeons because pigeons were an integral part of communication during the war.

While on the military base, Cher Ami became friends with a horse. But Cher Ami was sad when visiting her friend as she was always tired after training all day with the soldiers. Cher Ami even saw her horse friend pull a whole cannon up a hill, by herself! She was proud of how strong her friend was, but realized how important a horses job is in the war.

Cher Ami and other birds were transported to the trenches and tanks for missions. Tanks were the most common place for carrier pigeons to be sent. Usually, a hole would be made on the side of a tank to be able to send a pigeon through to deliver a note!

Then the day came when the pigeons were transported to the trenches. The trenches were a dangerous, murky, and disaster area filled with disease and death. Some trenches were even filled with dirty water the soldiers had to walk, eat, and sleep in.