BRAVE LITTLE CHER AMI THE WAR PIGEON WHO SAVED THE ‘LOST BATTALION’
Long before the invention
raining down on the 77th, Major Charles White Whittlesey felt he had no choice but to send the last pigeon, Cher Ami. The pigeon’s desperate note read:
of radios and cellphones, homing pigeons were used to send messages as early as the sixth century. During World War I, war pigeons carried lifesaving messages past enemy lines for the American and French armies, often being wounded in the
“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.”
can be more crucial for motorcyclists than automobile drivers, but allowing your body to fully heal after an injury will give you a solid foundation for the future. Get permission from your doctor before jumping back into driving, and start slow. Finally, take time to practice. Following your accident, driving may feel abnormal or strange. Your muscle memory may not kick in right away, so you need to pay close attention to the road and re-familiarize yourself with your ride. Before you set off on big adventures, spend a few weeks taking short and slow rides, practice in a parking lot, and ask your friends for guidance. If you’re nervous about your skills, contact a local driving or motorcycle school to revamp your skills. At Don Turner Legal Team, our experts have seen the tremendous toll the aftermath of an accident can take on our clients, but we know there is relief. If you have a question about your case or would like more information about our legal offerings, visit DonTurnerLegalTeam.com or call 770-594-1777. As Cher Ami rose from the brush, she was shot down, to the despair of the watching soldiers. However, after a few seconds, she fought her way back into the air, flew through a torrent of gunfire, and made it to division headquarters 25 miles away. She had been shot in the breast, the eye, and the leg. Because of Cher Ami’s brave flight, 194 of the original 554 men of the 77th Infantry Division survived the battle. One month later, World War I came to an end. Cher Ami survived the war as well, thanks to the surgeons who performed emergency surgery on her. One soldier even carved her a little wooden leg. She became a well-known hero to both soldiers and children in the States. For her service in Verdun, the French Army awarded her the Croix de Guerre, and she was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame. Cher Ami finally succumbed to her wounds in June of 1919 and is now on display in the Smithsonian alongside Sergeant Stubby, a terrier who served 18 months on the Western Front.
process. In 1918, Cher Ami, a black check hen used by the U.S. Signal Corps, became the most famous of them all.
On Oct. 2, the United States 77th Infantry Division was trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest during the Meuse- Argonne Offensive, a three-month push by the Allies during the final throes of World War I to force the Germans to surrender. It became the bloodiest battle in U.S. history. For six days, the encircled division endured relentless attacks and suffered heavy casualties, but their orders were clear: Don’t retreat and don’t surrender.
The division dispatched two homing pigeons with requests for help, but both birds were shot down. When friendly fire began
Whether it’s a motorcycle accident or a collision in an automobile, accidents can throw a wrench into your life. Seeking legal help and surrounding yourself with a support system are some of the best ways to reclaim your life after an accident, but what happens when it’s time to hop on the motorcycle or drive your car again? For some, driving again is easier said than done. An accident can leave you mentally exhausted, and some people struggle with post-traumatic stress symptoms in the aftermath of an accident. This can appear in the form of nightmares, fear of the location where the accident happened, and panic attacks at the thought of getting into a vehicle or onto your motorcycle again. It’s important to remember that this fear and anxiety is normal for anyone after an accident, and there are resources to help. Call your doctor, a local riding club, or local mental health professionals for resources to support your well-being. HOW YOU CAN DRIVE AGAIN AFTER A MOTORCYCLE OR AUTO ACCIDENT GET BACK IN THE SADDLE
Once you’ve taken stock of your mental health, examine if you are physically ready to get back in the driver’s seat again. This
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