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PIECES OF HISTORY

A HE RO P IGEO N O F W W I
Above: Upon the hero pigeon’s death, the Signal Corps

W
hen the United States entered He was transferred to I Corps Signal,
World War I in 1917, the Army’s which was engaged in the Meuse-Argonne at Fort Monmouth sent a telegram to the War
Signal Corps brought along a con- offensive. On November 5, 1918, he was Department. Signal Corps files contain an acknowl-
tingent of new messengers to carry vital released into heavy artillery action,carrying edgment of the telegram and several summaries of
information between the front and head- an important message.His record notes that the bird’s war service.
quarters—pigeons. European armies had “this game little soldier came thru fire and Below: President Wilson poses for his portrait at Fort
long had success with pigeon messengers, fog,” successfully reaching his destination Monmouth, his retirement home, in 1919.
and Gen. John J. Pershing requested that even though one of his legs was shot off and
pigeon specialists be commissioned into the his breast was pierced by a bullet.The mes-
U.S.Army. Over the course of the war, more sage tube was hanging by the ligaments of
than 15,000 birds were sent to theAmerican the torn leg. Most remarkably, the injured
Expeditionary Forces. President Wilson reached his destination 40
The bird pictured here, named President kilometers (25 miles) away in 25 minutes.
Wilson, was one of the hero pigeons of the President Wilson returned to the United
war. His file in Signal Corps records notes States after the war and spent his retire-
that he was “a powerful bird, of remarkable ment in the pigeon lofts at Fort Mon-
vitality and rapidity of flight.” President Wil- mouth, New Jersey.He lived to be 11 years
son was bred in France and began his Army old and died on June 8, 1929.The feathery
career with the Tank Corps. During the St. war veteran bird was stuffed and mounted
Mihiel operation he distinguished himself for display in the museum at Fort Mon-
“because of splendid work when all other mouth and was later donated to the Smith-
communcations failed.” sonian Institution. P

72 Prologue Winter 2009

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