When you think of those who serve their countries in the military, you don’t usually think of pigeons. And yet, thousands of carrier pigeons did their patriotic duty (that is, were used by various countries’ militaries) during World War I and World War II. They played a vital role in getting messages through battlefields and into the trenches.

As the National Museum of the United States Army shares:

“In the Great War, pigeons proved essential in trench warfare. Massed artillery fire caused more casualties than any other weapon, and communication between the forces in the trenches and those in the rear areas was essential to avoiding friendly casualties. Artillery fire could cut communication wires and prevent human runners from bringing messages to the rear echelons, but homing pigeons were a low-technology solution, operating swiftly despite bombardments, dust, smoke, and bad weather.”

Kaiser was no ordinary war pigeon

One particular pigeon not only helped out in both World Wars, but also unwittingly switched sides. “Kaiser” the homing pigeon started carrying messages for Kaiser Wilhelm II’s army in April of 1917,........

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