Fine, feathered friends!

[Pigeons In Combat]

Dear Pigeon Fanciers,

 

 

I received the following email from Richard Baker, MA (Msgt, USAF ret.), Chief, Research Center Branch, Army Heritage and Education Center and thought you may find it of interest.

 

 

Good Morning Mr. Croseri,

 

 

Your message was forwarded to me by our Director, Dr. Crane. I will place a copy of the details about " Gimpy" in our reference file on "Pigeons." I've also noted and saved your excellent website for future reference and referral to those who may be seeking information on the "Soldiers Fine Feathered Friends."

 

 

The link here is to our most recent article on the Army.mil website and the weekly feature series "This Week in Army History" that focused upon the subject of "combat" pigeons. I hope you enjoy it.

 

 

Thank you for your efforts to maintain and present the history and story of military pigeons to the world. You are invited to visit the Institute to see and study more about the history of the U.S. Army. Thank you.

 

 

Richard L. Baker, MA (MSgt, USAF ret.)

Chief, Research Center Branch

Army Heritage and Education Center

U.S. Army Military History Institute (PSD)

950 Soldiers Drive

Carlisle, PA 17013

 

 

FINE, FEATHERED FRIENDS!

 

November 22, 2009

 

By Stewart Beattie, Special Guest Contributor, Student and Intern from Shippensburg University, PA

 

 

In November, 1944, G.I. Joe, a member of the United States Army, saved the lives of at least 100 Allied soldiers. In just twenty minutes G.I. Joe traveled over 20 miles to deliver a message of grave importance. With only minutes to spare he stopped an air raid from bombing a newly occupied village filled with Allied soldiers. G.I. Joe was not a super soldier; he was a Blue Chock splashed pigeon. One rarely thinks of their flying over the battle-worn trenches of World War I or through the bombarded night skies of World War II. Yet during both wars, thousands of pigeons were used.

 

 

To read the entire article and to see photographs, please visit The Pigeoneers section on the website http://www.pigeonsincombat.com or please click here http://www.pigeonsincombat.com/thepigeoneerswebpage.html and scroll down.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Al Croseri

 

http://www.pigeonsincombat.com

 

 

 

 

[Guest snookbri]

Wouldn't it be great if one of the daily National newspapers did a series of articles on each and every one of those brave Dicken Medal winners and the not so fortunate.

I'm sure they would make fascinating reading, including the pigeons themselves, their trainers, and the equally brave servicemen that our feathered friends helped to save, highlighting the fact that but for the humble racing/homing pigeon,to whom so many owe their lives to, many of their readers would not be here today.