The remaining pigeons were sold at auction, with a select few being donated to zoos around the nation. When the pigeon service disbanded in 1957, the Army contended that advances in electronic communications rendered the peacetime maintenance of pigeon breeding and training facilities unnecessary. From 1917 to 1957, the Signal Corps maintained pigeon breeding and training facilities, and birds saw service in World War II and Korea. The story, although the records are uncertain if Cher Ami or another pigeon delivered WhittleseyвЂ™s message, often obscures the purposes underlying the use of homing pigeons by the U.S. Cher Ami survived her injuries and WhittleseyвЂ™s message provided the exact position of his force back to the regimental and divisional headquarters, information which contributed to the eventual relief of the men.Д¬her AmiвЂ™s story remains legendary to this day, a testament to the bravery of animals in war. Whittlesey, albeit minus a right leg and with a wound clear across the chest cutting through the breast bone. As Carney told the story, it was Cher Ami who on Octobraved shot and shell to deliver a message from the besieged men of a composite force surrounded in the Charlevaux Ravine of the Argonne Forest, forever known as вЂњThe Lost Battalion.вЂќ Cher Ami arrived at her loft with the intact message from the forceвЂ™s commander, Maj. Foremost among the latter was an English-bred blue check hen named Cher Ami. Carney, to ask about the exploits of the distinguished hero pigeons the Army chose to bring home. Pier-side newspaper reporters flocked around the officer in charge, Capt. Army Signal CorpвЂ™s Pigeon Service Company No. Among the various disembarking members of the American Expeditionary Forces was a small detachment of 21 men of the U.S. On April 16, 1919, the troop transport Ohioan docked at Hoboken, New Jersey.

Homing pigeon