Strange Encounters at Fort Hood by Monica Acevedo

As the Cold war commenced and our nation stock piled nuclear weapons, there were strange encounters happening at Fort Hood. In 1949, over 100 service men witnessed strange sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFO’S), at Fort Hood, a U.S. military base in Killen, Texas (“Fort Hood Sightings” 1). There are several conspiracy theories that have developed about these sightings. 

1. The service men whom reported or experienced UFO encounters had merely been seeing flares. 

2. The objects being seen and described as green fireballs were Lunar Meteors. 

3. Various government and political officials covered up documented UFO sightings. 

Let’s examine the evidence in this case and its theories and uncover the truth that these service men did in fact see and experience strange encounters not of this world. 

  

After reports of mysterious objects in the sky, Josef Allen Hynek, a renowned astronomer, is the perfect candidate, recruited to work for the U.S. Air Force as their personal astronomical consultant (“Daugherty” 1). Hynek, was a respected expert in the field of astronomy with a PHD in astrophysics from Yerkes Observatory. He had previously been employed by the government developing defense technologies like the first radio-controlled fuse and had a high security clearance (“Daugherty” 1). Despite his intelligence and professional background Hynek, was pragmatic. Daugherty conveys Hynek’s candid manner by quoting Hynek as stating: 

One day I had a visit from several men from the technical center at Wright-Patterson Air Force base, which was only 60 miles away in Dayton,” Hynek later wrote. “With some obvious embarrassment, the men eventually brought up the subject of ‘flying saucers’ and asked me if I would care to serve as consultant to the Air Force on the matter… The job didn't seem as though it would take too much time, so I agreed. (“Daugherty” 1) 

Hynek, continued his work as a professor at Ohio State University while he worked for the Air Force. His first investigative assignment was Project Sign which turned into Project Grudge and ultimately Project Blue Book (“Stacy” 1). He was a skeptic who became an outspoken believer that there were some things that could not be explained by science; therefore, they were not of this world. This made him controversial. Hynek, went from debunking unidentified flying objects to publicly confirming them (1). In Hynek’s interview by Stacy, he says “I stretched far to give something a natural explanation, sometimes when it may not have really had it” (1). Hynek adds “I was so anxious to find a natural explanation because I was convinced that it had to have one that, naturally, I did in fact, it wasn't until quite some time had passed that I began to change my mind” (1). Hynek was impertinent in his investigations. The negative attitude of the Air Force officials toward needing an explanation for every single case disturbed Hynek (1). He often felt that the cases presented to him needed more investigation. He was distressed with the lack of information given to him on most cases (1). Mostly, he was astonished by the quality of the witnesses. Trained Air Force Pilots were the primary witnesses, whom had either seen or engaged with the UFOs (1). Hynek, marveled at their community strong hold and lack of motive to orchestrate a hoax (“Hynek” 1). The Air Force Honor Code states the following: We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does (“Honor Code” 1). Integrity was embedded in these service men. He found them to be honest and credible. He was persistent in his investigative research. Over the course of twenty-two years Hynek, investigated hundreds of cases and preformed numerous experiments to find the truth behind the unexplained phenomenon of UFOs (1). 

  

In the Project Blue Book Investigations of the Fort Hood service men and what they experienced, there are three conspiracy theories featured. The first theory suggests that the service men at Fort Hood were only seeing flares in the sky. The second theory suggests the objects being seen and described as green fireballs, were Lunar Meteors. The last theory states that the U.S. government colluded in a coverup to explain away what the service men at Fort Hood experienced. 

The first conspiracy theory proposes that the service men whom reported or experienced UFO encounters had only seen flares. On March 6-8, 1949, the service men at Fort Hood saw a series of unexplained aerial sightings (“Attack on Camp Hood” 1). Some reported to have seen a blue-white, oblong object and an orange-colored, teardrop-shaped object (1). One soldier said he saw a whitish light, and another GI described a lemon-shaped, yellowish-red light (1). To prove that what these men saw on March 17, 1949, were flares an Army G-2 officer readied an experiment (1). The officer’s intension was to set off a series of flares to support his hypothesis. He stationed artillery observers at key points to report by radio what the flares looked like from various distances and angles (1). But before the experiment began, the observers reported a series of white, red, and green lights that appeared to be flying in straight lines (1). The captain reported, “flares had not yet been shot” (1). He then reported the incident, which included seven separate sightings, and continued with more witness interviews (1). The captain’s failed experiment proves this theory to be unsubstantial. 

The second conspiracy theory suggests that the objects being seen and described as green fireballs were Lunar Meteors. In the spring of 1949, sightings of green fireballs in the sky were reported at Fort Hood (Clark 74). The green fire balls were described as more brilliant and bigger than a shooting star (73). The green fireballs flew parallel to the earth in a slow-moving manner with no sound (73). Lunar Meteors are fragments from the moon broken off by an asteroid or comet (“Lunar Meteorites” 1). The Lunar Meteor or rock then breaks through our atmosphere and falls onto the earth (1). In contrast, Lunar Meteors are fast moving objects much like comets and do not travel horizontally. Other Lunar Meteorite characteristics include a tail and meteorite fragments (74). La Paz confirms, “None of the green fireballs has a train of spark or a dust cloud...This contrast sharply with the behavior noted in cases of meteoritic fireballs” (74). There were no meteorite fragments found during the investigation. This theory cannot be proven. 

  

The last conspiracy theory looks at the fact that various government and political officials covered up documented UFO sightings. Thousands of formal investigations were performed by the U.S. Airforce and its subcontracted committees such as Project Blue Book. Those investigating the sightings were not always genuine with their findings. Most investigators were afraid that if they did not do what the government ordered them to do that, they would lose their jobs.  “The powers-that-be our anti-flying saucer and to stay in favor, it behooves one to follow suit,” Capt. E.J. Ruppelt (Hynek 33). Some case reports were immediately evaluated and closed without investigation (43). Other documented reports were evaluated and dismissed due to an “unreliable source” (43). However, there was no explanation of who the source was or why they were unreliable. Hynek reveals, “the findings were not publicly published” (11). Under the Freedom of Information Act, the Project Blue Book files were made available to the public (7). Project Blue Book itself was officially unclassified (7). This status should have made it easy for any individual to request and be able to examine the files (7). However, many of the reports were labeled confidential or secret (7). Citizens who tried to view the Blue Book files were given a polite runaround or outright refusal (7). In truth, the Blue Book files were not open to the public (7). A survey of twenty-five people from College of the Mainland, revealed that 84% agree that this theory best uncovers the truth about the events at Fort hood. 

  

Currently, the phenomena of UFO’s around the world go unaddressed by our governments. Although there have been thousands of sightings and close encounters, we do not yet have a definitive or authoritative “yes” to the questions many already believe to have the answer to: Is there life beyond earth and are we being visited by extraterrestrials? On June 18, 2018, president Donald Trump signed a directive asking the Pentagon to establish a sixth military branch Space Force, to go along with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard (“Trump signs directive”1). Giving rise to the question: What is there in outer space that we need military protection from? 

Over 100 service men witnessed strange sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFO’S), at Fort Hood, a U.S. military base in Killen, Texas (“Fort Hood Sightings” 1). The investigations of these sightings lead to several conspiracy theories. 

1. The service men whom reported or experienced UFO encounters had merely been seeing flares. 

2. The objects being seen and described as green fireballs were Lunar Meteors. 

3. Various government and political officials covered up documented UFO sightings. 

After examination of evidence in this case and its theories the truth is that these service men did in fact see and experience strange encounters not of this world. Long after Project Blue Book was officially closed, Josef Allen Hynek continued to devote his life to proving that the sightings and encounters investigated were real.   

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Works Cited 

"Attack on Camp Hood." All About Texas Cities, Towns, Counties, History, Legends, Syndicated Columns, Trips, Photos, Vintage Maps, www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/Bell-County-Postwar-Secrets-Part2-Attack-on-Camp-Hood.htm. 

Clark, Jerome. Unexplained!: Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena. Visible Ink P, 2012. 

Daugherty, Greg. "Meet J. Allen Hynek, the Astronomer Who First Classified UFO 'Close Encounters'." HISTORY, 19 Nov. 2018, www.history.com/news/j-allen-hynek-ufos-project-blue-book. 

"Fort Hood Sightings, 1949." RoswellBooks.com | Can You Handle the Truth? roswellbooks.com/museum/?page_id=594. 

"Honor Code." Air Force Academy, www.academyadmissions.com/the-experience/character/honor-code/. 

Hynek, J. A. The Hynek UFO Report. 1998. 

"Lunar Meteorites." Meteorite Information, meteorites.wustl.edu/lunar/moon_meteorites.htm. 

Stacy, Dennis. "Close encounter with DR. J. Allen Hynek - An Interview With The Dean, 1985." The Computer UFO Network, www.cufon.org/cufon/hynekint.htm#top. 

"Trump Signs Directive to Create a Military Space Force." Space.com, 21 Feb. 2019, www.space.com/president-trump-space-force-directive.html.

The Suicidal Queen of Egypt by Toni Wood

Did Cleopatra die at her own hand, or was she part of a sinister murder plot? Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, is revered for her beauty and her romance with Marc Antony, as depicted in the play by Shakespeare “Antony and Cleopatra.” She is also known for her untimely death at the young age of thirty-nine, as shown in multiple works of art, such as Jean Andre Rixens’1874 painting, “The Death of Cleopatra.” There are many theories surrounding her death. Some of these include: suicide by the bite of an Asp, also referred to as Naja Haje, the Egyptian Cobra, suicide by a cocktail of poison, and a murder plot by Octavian to eliminate her as a political threat or rival. Of these theories, the best conclusion is she committed suicide by drinking a cocktail of poison.

Cleopatra was a powerful queen in the Ptolemic Dynasty that ruled over Egypt, Cyprus, and Cyrene. As very few women were rulers at this time, Cleopatra not only used her intellect, but also her sexuality to rule a nation. Due to the war between Marc Antony and Octavian in 32 B.C., Cleopatra became a natural rival as she was sleeping with Octavian’s adversary. After the battle on the Ionian Sea in 31 B.C. Antony and Cleopatra’s fate was sealed as Octavian took control of the sea (Jarus 4). Antony heard that Cleopatra had committed suicide, and in response, Antony laid upon his sword. As Cleopatra had not actually committed suicide, Antony was taken to Cleopatra in her mausoleum. According to Owen Jarus, after the death of Antony, “Cleopatra tried to reason with … [Octavian]; however, it became apparent that she would be taken to Rome and paraded as a sort of war trophy, a fate she found intolerable” (4). She chose death by her own hand instead of being paraded through the city and humiliated.

Cleopatra was a notably clever and well-educated leader of that time and stood out even more so because she was a female. A lady with her type intellect was highly desirable and rare.  It wasn’t her beauty that was charming, it was her innovative ideas as in when she had herself rolled up in a carpet, so she could visit Julius Caesar. Joshua J. Mark writes, “Recognizing in Caesar her chance to regain power, she is said to have had herself rolled in a rug, ostensibly a gift for the Roman general, and carried through the enemy lines” (Mark 2). After the assassination of Caesar in 44 B.C., Cleopatra was summoned to appear before Marc Antony, who was Caesar’s right-hand man and had defeated the assassins. Jarus states that Mark Antony was also swayed by her intelligence. Additionally, Dr. William J. Maloney states that “Cleopatra was not very attractive, but she was very cultured, charming, multilingual and a beautiful singer” (2). Cleopatra became a mistress to both Caesar and Marc Antony and bore children by both men. She not only used her charm, but her sexuality, to maintain control Egypt throughout her reign.

            As per Egyptian custom, their rulers were godlike. The pharaohs would style themselves as gods and were thought to be mediators between men and the gods. Cleopatra was declared to be a goddess from the time of her birth, as other members of her family had been. According to Amy Crawford, “Highly image-conscious, Cleopatra maintained her mystique through shows of splendor, identifying with the deities Isis and Aphrodite, and in effect creating much of the mythology that surrounds her to this day” (Crawford 2). The pharaohs represented the gods here on earth. They were held in high esteem as they were believed to be half god, and that gave the Egyptian people faith in their rulers. The pharaohs were responsible for the wealth and safety of their nation and of their people.  There is plenty of evidence that shows that Cleopatra was revered as god like by her people.

            The first conspiracy surrounding the death of Cleopatra is the famous suicide by the bite of an Asp. Dr. William J. Maloney states, “Death by the bite of a cobra would be the most poetic means of death considering the cobra was sacred to the goddess Isis of whom Cleopatra felt herself to be the physical incarnation” (Maloney 3). Furthermore, current research by Christoph Schaefer, a professor of ancient history at Trier University, states that “It is certain that there was no cobra” (Gray 1). The bite of an Asp is not always fatal, and when or if someone dies from the bite, it is slow and painful. It is not a quick and painless death rather quite the opposite. It is believed that Cleopatra wrote a suicide note and gave it to the guard to deliver to her political rival, Octavian. While the guard was delivering the note, a short distance away, she held the Asp to her breast. In the article, “The Dramatic Death of Cleopatra-was it really a suicide?” Susan Ardizzoni states, “The guard who was supposedly unaware of the note’s contents, would have only taken a few minutes to walk several hundred meters to give Octavian the note and then a few minutes to return, but medically speaking, it has been suggested that it would have taken a couple of hours for the asp venom to kill Cleopatra, if at all” (Ardizzoni 1). Due to the fact there is no firsthand account of her death documented and backed with current research and knowledge, it is not logical to believe the Cleopatra committed suicide by the bite of an asp. If Cleopatra’s intent was to kill herself, she would have chosen a more indisputable, and perhaps painless, way to die.

The second theory surrounding the death of Cleopatra is a murder plot by Octavian to eliminate his political rival. Octavian had control of the west while Mark Antony had control over the east (Ardizzoni 3). He declared war on Mark Antony, and intended to humiliate Cleopatra, to gain control of the entire Roman empire. According to Susan Ardizzoni, “Octavian felt he could capture Cleopatra and humiliate her. This information comes from Octavian’s own memoirs, so its accuracy must also be questioned” ( 5). Octavian would have altered the truth to fit his idea of how things should be. Since his leaves room for question, it is reasonable to believe this is not the most plausible theory in the death of Cleopatra.

The third conspiracy surrounding the death of Cleopatra is suicide by a cocktail of poison. According to recent research by Christoph Schaefer, there is ancient papyri that shows that Cleopatra not only knew about poisons, but also tested them. Death by poison cocktail was more likely as it fit the way she wanted to die. Additionally, she was found alongside her handmaids who were also dead in her mausoleum. Working alongside German toxicologist Dietrich Mebs, Melissa Gray in her article states, “They decided it was hemlock, mixed with wolfsbane and opium.” (Gray 1). Opium would have caused her heart rate to slow and put her into a deep sleep. Hemlock would have rapidly broken-down muscle tissue and led further to unconsciousness and death. While wolfsbane also lowers heart rate and is more of a psychedelic. The combination is lethal.

Of the three conspiracies surrounding the death of Cleopatra, it is most plausible that she committed suicide to avoid any further humiliation from her captor, Octavian. As a sneaky and manipulative victor, his memoirs cannot be used as a reliable source of information. As a fierce and powerful leader, Cleopatra would not have succumbed to defeat. Sitting idly by and being paraded through the city for further humiliation, beyond her defeat, is not a logical or reasonable outcome for a woman of such power. In a survey of twenty-five people, thirty two percent agree that death by drinking a poisonous cocktail, is the most plausible theory as to how Cleopatra died. Contrary to the belief of death by suicide, the College of the Mainland students polled, with sixty-eight percent in favor, seem to believe that she was murdered by Octavian.

Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, who was incredibly educated and intelligent, was too clever and prideful to allow any man to control her ending. It is with those same characteristics in mind that it is most reasonable to believe that she maintained as much control over her death as she did her life. Of the theories surrounding Cleopatra’s death, the best conclusion is she committed suicide by drinking a cocktail of poison.

Ardizzoni, S. (2014, September 26). The dramatic death of Cleopatra- was it really suicide? Retrieved from http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-important-events/dramatic-death-cleopatra-was-it-really-suicicde-002117

Crawford, A. (2007, March 31). Who Was Cleopatra? Retrieved from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-was-cleopatra-151356013

Gray, M. (2010, June 30). Poison, not snake, killed Cleopatra, scholar says. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/06/30/cleopatra.suicide/index.html#

Jarus, O. (2014, March 13). Cleopatra: Facts & Biography. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/44071-cleopatra-biography.html

Maloney, W. (2010, August 24). WebmedCentral.com :: The Death Of Cleopatra, A Medical Analysis Of The Theory Of Suicide By Naja Haje. Retrieved from http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_view/502

Mark, J. J. (2018, October 30). Cleopatra VII. Retrieved from http://www.ancient.eu/Cleopatra_VII/