“G.I. JOE,” a dark checker pied white flight cock, was hatched March 24, 1943, at the Pigeon Section in Algiers, Algeria, North Africa. Later he was taken to the Tunisian front, then to Bizerte, and from there to the Italian front.  The British 56th Brigade was scheduled to attack the city of Colvi Vecchia, Italy, at 10 a.m., October 18, 1943.  The U.S. Air Support Command was scheduled to bomb the city to soften the entrance for the British Brigade.  All attempts to cancel the bombings of the city, made by radio and other means of communication, had failed. "G.I. JOE" arrived in time at the Fifth Army Headquarters.  He flew 20 miles in 20 minutes. Had the message arrived five minutes later it would have been too late to stop the planes as they were preparing to take off for the target.  "G.I. JOE" is officially credited with saving 1000 Allied soldiers lives. In 1946 he was awarded the Dicken Medal. "G.I. JOE" was the only American war pigeon to receive the Dicken Medal.  After WWII, "G.I. JOE" was retired at the U.S. Army’s “Hall of Fame,” at the Pigeon Corps in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. When the Army closed out the Pigeon Service in 1957, "G.I. JOE" was transferred to the Detroit Zoo, and died on June 3, 1961, at the age of 18.

"Cher Ami", which means Dear Friend,was given to the Army in 1917.  It was fall of October 4th, 1918, during WWI.  In the Argonne Forest of France.  The 77th infantry division was surrounded by Germans and being bombed by Americans.  Cher Ami was the last pigeon the battalion had.  Since they had no radio contact Cher Ami was their last hope.  Cher Ami was released and flew 25 miles in 25 minutes through heavy enemy fire.  Cher Ami was badly wounded, but he was determined to finish his mission.  When Cher Ami returned to his loft he had been shot in the chest, lost an eye and the leg carring the important message was badly injured.  Shortly after his arrival the bombing stopped and over 200 lives were saved.  Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, for bravery.  Cher Ami died from his wound a year after his big mission.

Janssen Brothers of Arendonk Belgium are "household words" in the international sport of racing pigeons.  Henri Janssen (1872-1947) is the originator of the Janssen strain.  Henri started with his first pigeons in 1886.  He married Pauline and together they had 9 children; Fons, Frans, Jef, Vic, Irma, Adriaan, Charel, Marie and Louis.  Henri was a star fancier and helped found the Arendonk pigeon club.  The children were all very involved in pigeon keeping.  After the death of  their father the boys continued to race and win.  The induction of key pigeons from the 60's-70's skyrocketed the brothers fame who became unbeatable when combined with their family line.  These fanciers remained at the top of the sport for over half a century.  Virtually every champion racing pigeon in the world today has some of their great racing pigeon blood running through them.  In May 2012 Louis, the last of the brothers at 99 years old sold off the last of his beloved pigeons, marking the end of an era.  Author: Ad Schaerlackens has written books about these famous fanciers.