FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT!

On October 4th, 1918, trapped behind enemy lines in Charlevaux, France, and surrounded by hundreds of German troops, the few hundred surviving members of the Lost Battalion soon had another serious problem. Friendly fire was turning into deadly fire, when American artillery were lobbing shells right into their midst. It was horrendous and many men were lost.

Major Charles Whittlesey's men rapidly succumbing to the onslaught and with two birds already shot down, he dispatched a frantic message by way of their last surviving homing pigeon, 'Cher Ami.'

The message read:
WE ARE ALONG THE ROAD PARALLEL 276.4. OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT!

When the pigeon miraculously arrived at the division headquarters 25 miles away he had been shot in the leg, breast and eye. Thanks to Cher Ami, his efforts saved the lives of 194 men of the 308th. They were able to escape through of the pocket of the Argonne Forest.

My grandfather Pvt. 1st Class Frank G. S. Erickson of Company H was one of those fortunate men. He never forgot that week in the Argonne for the rest of his life.

Cher Ami died from his injuries six months later, but not before being awarded the 'Croix de Guerre' for heroic service.

Below is the full transcription of the message Major Whittlesey sent via the carrier pigeon Cher Ami.

PIGEON MESSAGE

RECEIVED AT MESSAGE CENTER 4:22PM

TO C. O. 308th INFANTRY

FROM 1st BN 308th INFANTRY

WE ARE ALONG THE ROAD PARALLEL 276.4. OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT!

Major WHITTLESEY
308th Infantry

BIRD RELEASED 3 P.M.
RECEIVED AT LOFT 4:05 PM.
152 FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE