United States Army Pigeon Service

Joe was a pigeon who saved the lives of the inhabitants of the village of Calvi Vecchia, Italy, and of the British troops of 56th (London) Infantry Division occupying it.

Air support had been requested against German positions at Calvi Vecchia on 18 October 1943, but the message that the 169th (London) Infantry Brigade had captured the village, delivered by G.I.

Joe was presented the Dickin Medal for "the most outstanding flight made by a United States Army pigeon in World War II.

President Wilson was released to deliver a request for artillery support, flying back to his loft at Rampont forty kilometers away; he drew the attention of the German soldiers who fired a nearly impenetrable wall of lead blocking his path.

However, the most important mission he flew was on 4 October 1918, (merely one day before President Wilson's key flight) and he ultimately ended up saving the lives of 194 men.

As these birds became more frequently used over the course of the war, the U.S. Army Veterinary Service had to dedicate a unit to "the protection of pigeon health, the preservation of their physical efficiency, and the safeguard against introducing or disseminating pigeon-borne diseases affecting other animals and the human being.

Although there were a number of factors of interest to the Army Veterinary Service bearing on the health of signal pigeons, the more common ones included their feed supply and housing.

The feed was procured by the Signal Corps; unfortunately, large quantities of it, packed in burlap bags, were found deteriorated or unusable after arrival in the oversea theaters.