Story Time

            We have had some really good talks and lessons at church this week.  One of the stories that was told was about a carrier pigeon in WW I.  The pigeon’s name was “Cher Ami” meaning “Dear Friend”. 

"Cher Ami" was a registered Black Check Cock carrier pigeon, one of 600 birds owned and flown by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during World War I.           

He delivered 12 important messages within the American sector at Verdun, France. On his last mission, "Cher Ami," shot through the breast by enemy fire, managed to return to his loft. A message capsule was found dangling from the ligaments of one of his legs that also had been shattered by enemy fire. The message he carried was from Major Whittlesey's "Lost Battalion" of the 77th Infantry Division that had been isolated from other American forces. Just a few hours after the message was received, 194 survivors of the battalion were safe behind American lines .

 On October 3, 1918, Charles Whittlesey and more than 500 men were trapped in a small depression on the side of the hill behind enemy lines without food or ammunition. They were also beginning to receive friendly fire from allied troops who did not know their location. Surrounded by the Germans, many were killed and wounded in the first day and by the second day, just more than 194 men were still alive. Whittlesey dispatched messages by pigeon.^[2] The pigeon carrying the first message ("Many wounded. We cannot evacuate.") was shot down. A second bird was sent with the message, "Men are suffering. Can support be sent?" That pigeon also was shot down. Only one homing pigeon was left: "Cher Ami". She was dispatched with a note in a canister on her left leg,

We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake, stop it.

As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, the Germans saw her rising out of the brush and opened fire. For several moments, Cher Ami flew with bullets zipping through the air all around her.^[3] Cher Ami was eventually shot down but managed to take flight again. She arrived back at her loft at division headquarters 25 miles to the rear in just 65 minutes, helping to save the lives of the 194 survivors. In this last mission, Cher Ami delivered the message despite having been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, covered in blood and with a leg hanging only by a tendon.

Cher Ami became the hero of the 77th Infantry Division. Army medics worked long and hard to save her life. They were unable to save her leg, so they carved a small wooden one for her. When she recovered enough to travel, the now one-legged bird was put on a boat to the United States, with General John J. Pershing personally seeing Cher Ami off as she departed France.

"Cher Ami" was awarded the French "Croix de Guerre" with Palm for his heroic service between the forts of Verdun. He died in 1919 as a result of his battle wounds. "Cher Ami" was later inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931 and received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of his extraordinary service during World War I.

"Cher Ami" is on display at the National Museum of American History, Behring Center, in the exhibition "The Price of Freedom: Americans At War."

Another person mentioned a quote from Mother Teresa -- “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” 

Today’s Sunday School lesson was about saving those in need of help. They shared the story about Nellie Pucell Unthank who came across the plains with the Martin Handcart Company.  She lost both of her feet and lower legs to frostbite. While reading the lesson I remembered seeing a statue of a lady on the Southern Utah University campus who had her legs amputated.  Lo and behold it was the lady from the lesson.

ELLEN (NELLIE) PUCELL UNTHANK Ellen (Nellie) Purcell was born November 6, 1846 in

Tintwhistle, England. At 9 she, with her parents and sister Margaret (Maggie), 14, began the trek from Iowa to Salt Lake Valley in 1856 with the Edward Martin Handcart Company. Early snows overtook the company, both Nellie's parents died on the trail. Nellie's feet were frozen. On arrival in Salt Lake Valley, she was strapped to a board. No anesthetics were available. Both her legs were amputated just below the knee with a buthcher's knife and carpenter's saw. For the rest of her life she moved about on the painful stubs of her legs. At 24 in Cedar City she became the plural wife of William Unthank. His income was small. Beginning as a wife in a one-room log house with a dirt floor, she kept her home spotless. Nellie took in washing, she knitted stockings to sell. She gave birth to 6 children. Her Bishop and Relief Society occasionally brought food to her family. To even the score, once a year she and her children cleaned the meeting house throughout. Nellie died at 68 in Cedar City -- A noble representative of the rank and file of Mormon Pioneers.

Last Sunday, a Young Women’s group from Kanosh held their Young Women in Excellence in the program in the evening.  It was so great seeing the fort all lit up at night.  Their advisors had made these nice window blocks with a vinyl cut-out of the Manti Temple and lights for each of the girls. I’m thinking that this might be a good project for this fall after we get home. It was a nice evening.

Stephen convinced me to go to St. George for the day so that he could visit the doctor. It was a long drive, but at least he had his mind reassured that all was well. We were a little early for the doctor so we stopped

in Silver Reef (a silver ghost town), Leeds (site of a CCC site), and at the Brigham Young home. All three of those places were interesting and nice places to get out and stretch awhile. 

We were supposed to go hiking the waterfalls in Kanarra Canyon but they had a “flash flood warning” posted so we decided against that. I’m still hoping that we can do that before we leave but who knows if that will happen or not.

We are closing in on our goal of having all the missionaries over for a meal or activity. Only four more to go. 

We were able to get two Shutterfly books finished and sent off this week.  Stephen made a cute one for the grandkids about Cove Fort. The surprise was how quickly they can produce them since they said they would be to us next week.  I can hardly wait to see them. Luckily they are not too large so we should have room to bring them home with us.

It has been very rainy this week with lots of afternoon thunderstorms. Our site directors were allowing the missionaries to use their cabin up at Fish Lake, but everyone backed out because of the weather reports. It was supposed to rain all day, but Sis. C encouraged us to go anyway so we did. We had such a great time up there and not a drop of rain. We were able to go out on the lake with their blow-up kayaks and get a close-up view of a beaver lodge.  The next morning we were able to hike up to see three beaver dams.  It was nice to open the windows and watch the sun come up over the lake and see deer walking in front of the porch.  I am SO glad that we went. 

Friday night we hosted a Bad Luck Pot Luck for the missionaries at the Twig. We stole the idea from Cory’s ward. We had a lot of good food, but I think the activities for the evening were the best part. We had asked the FM missionaries to move things around in the fort and then the rest of us had to take flashlights and try to see if we could find what had changed.  It was great fun to be in the fort at night. Then two rounds of Jeopardy – this is probably the only place that we will ever be able to play Cove Fort

Jeopardy.

Time is becoming more and more precious here at the fort. We are all starting to fight (not really) to be able to take the visitors out on tours. We hope all is well with all of you.