This is Angela Odell, and you are listening to Real Cool History for Kids, a podcast show featuring history told from a distinctly biblical worldview perspective.

Welcome to an adventure.

Welcome to episode 169 of Real Cool History for Kids. This episode is for Alexei de Coupicrank, who wanted to hear the incredible true story of Cher Ami, a very brave pigeon from World War I, who helped save the lives of 200 soldiers.

You guys, I hope you are ready for an almost unbelievable adventure, because today's story

has all of the elements of the best stories in history, courage, bravery, and the undeniable

evidence of God's involvement in the outcome. Our story takes us back to the year

1918 during the end of World War I. I've told you guys other stories that take place during this war.

For example, the adventures of Sergeant Stubby in episode 139 also took place during World War I.

Well, America had joined the fighting in 1917, and by 1918, the American soldiers were fighting hard in France against the German army.

One of the largest battles America fought in was called the Muse Argon offense.

It was a massive, months-long push to break through the German lines.

The fighting was, well, it was really rough.

The forest was thick and the soldiers were absolutely exhausted.

Deep inside the Argonne Forest, a group of about 550 American soldiers became known as

the Lost Battalion. Even though they weren't really lost, they were trapped and cut off from the rest of

the Allied troops. They had advanced further into the forest than everyone had realized, and suddenly

German soldiers surrounded them on all sides. Their commander, Major Charles Whittlesey, realized immediately that they

were in serious trouble. His men had very little food and no water and no way to get help.

To make things even worse, they had no radio and no telephone.

The only way to send messages was by using carrier pigeons.

These birds were trained to fly through dangerous skies to deliver notes.

The Lost Battalion had only a few pigeons left, and each one was very precious.

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