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I was feeding the pidgeons today and a Korean lady started to talk to me about them, wondering what they were.  I happened to remember a story about a hero pidgeon during World War 2 that was awarded a medal for flying on with it's wartime message, even though severely wounded.  I just found these other stories about hero pidgeons on the internet.

Subject: pidgeon heroes

The Dickins Medal is awarded to animals of the Commonwealth (formerly British Empire) and is the equivalent of the VC - Dickins winners

English pigeon: Mary of Exeter: In 5 yrs war service received 22 stitches (a lot for a small animal) Attacked by hawk in 1942 while carrying a message - got home needing 7 stitches. Five months later was shot under wing while carrying message - shotgun pellets remove and stitched up again. During blitz of Exeter a bomb exploded near her loft blowing her basket to bits but she stayed waiting for her owner.Missing in action for 10 days she was picked p from a field nearly dead wounded from top of her head to her back. The muscles were so torn she had to have a collar to hold her head up. She did another two years on active service.

Australia - two pigeons in Bouganville carrried messages requesting artillery fire to repel attack. Two hours through tropical storm and heavy gunfire

English/US - Cher Ami carried message that saved the Lost Battalion in France. Fired on he lost his leg to shrapnel which also passed through his breast but flew the 40 km home in 25 mins (No medal but idolised by his handlers)

GI Joe - only non British bird to win the Dickens (but he was attached to English 10 Corps HQ in Italy) The 56th Infantry asked for air support to soften up Colvi Vecchia when they suddenly broke through. All communications were down so GI Joe was released with a message to stop the bombers taking off. He flew the 20 miles in 20 minutes through gunfire and is credited with saving the lives of the 1000 troops who had got into the town.

That's neat. I had heard sometime ago about pidgeons being helpful during the war but I didn't know there were any awards given to any of them.

Several years ago I read a book called Animal Heroes....in it was the story of a hero pidgeon...I think it might have been Cher Ami.  That is the only way I knew about these wonderful birds and their part in saving lives during wartime, even when wounded.  Amazing!