Carrying messages could be a dangerous job. Some pigeons performed with such bravery that they became famous and were even awarded medals, such as England's Dicken Medal of Gallantry. In a few cases, pigeons even became prisoners of war. In 1918 American forces captured a pigeon named The Kaiser, which had been trained to fly special missions for Germany during battle. He was taken to America. Where he lived to the age of 32.

　　The most famous pigeon of all may have been Cher Ami. Stationed in France during World War I. he carried twelve important messages for American forces. On his last mission, though wounded, he carried a message that saved the lives of 194 American soldiers. For his extraordinary service, he was awarded the French” Croix de guerre”.

　　Carrier pigeons are a slightly different breed from the kind of pigeon you see on city streets. They ate much thinner and taller, with longer legs. Many people find carrier pigeons ugly because of their big wattle, a knobby buildup of skin on the beat; however, people who raise pigeons often enjoy this odd appearance and consider carriers the best of their breeds.

　　Today, modern communication methods can carry information from one place to another hundreds of times faster than a pigeon could do it. However, few people would argue with the fact that carrier pigeons—especially those that served in the military(军队)—have earned their place in history. Stories about brave pigeons such as Cher Ami, President Wilson, and Colonel's Lady have the power to inspire us as no fax machine or high-speed Internet connection could ever do.

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