Cher Ami

Continuing on the recent theme of animals serving in wars, a homing pigeon in WW1 saved an American division which was being shelled by its own artillery in France.  The Americans had been trapped behind enemy lines by the Germans and were targeted by American artillery, who did not realize their position.  The first two birds they attempted to send were shot down, but the third, Cher Ami, made it and saved the division.  She was shot in the breast, blinded in one eye, and had one leg blown off.

She survived the war and was sent back to the US as a hero, but later died of her wounds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cher_Ami