35. Cher Ami, a messenger pigeon, saved 194 American soldiers in 1918
600 messenger pigeons accompanied the US Army Signal Corps in World War I. One pigeon, in particular, named Cher Ami, excelled herself. On October, 3, 1918, Major Charles White Whittlesey found himself trapped behind enemy lines without food or ammunition. Friendly fire and German soldiers picked off hundreds of White’s men, and soon only 194 of 550 troops were alive. When human messengers failed, Whittlesey sent pigeons. Cher Ami survived being shot through the breast and leg to reach her destination. A rescue party saved Whittlesey and his men, and Cher Ami got the French Croix de Guerre for heroism.