2012 Deployment in Afghanistan
Time: 3 AM, January 2012
Location: Helmand Province, Afghanistan
As a former combat Marine with extensive experience handling various firearms, rockets, mortars, and explosives, I was well-acquainted with the diverse weapons used on both sides of the battlefield.
One night, while on guard duty with another Marine atop a compound roof, we witnessed something extraordinary. A cylindrical object, approximately 18 inches long and resembling a narrow tube or an oversized writing pen, flew past us at around 20 feet away. Despite having a faint trail of light behind it—similar to a tracer—it made no sound and followed a perfectly straight trajectory. The object moved swiftly enough for us to see it clearly as it passed, then vanished without a trace. We remained silent, anticipating the sound of it hitting the ground or something else, but there was only silence.
After about a minute, we exchanged hushed whispers to confirm that we had both seen the same unexplainable phenomenon. Just 30 seconds into our discussion, an explosion erupted in an alley approximately 10-20 yards away from our position on the rooftop. We felt the heat of the blast but were not in danger from shrapnel or gunfire. Communication with command revealed no defensive measures were initiated.
I can’t shake the feeling that the sighting and the explosion were somehow connected. I’d appreciate any insights that might help shed light on what we experienced.
Your account is both fascinating and puzzling. As a former combat Marine, your experience with various armaments certainly lends credibility to your observations. The fact that you and your fellow Marine both witnessed the cylindrical object suggests that what you saw was not a figment of your imagination.
There are a few possible explanations for your sighting:
Military Technology: It’s conceivable that the object you saw was a type of experimental military technology or a classified projectile. Military operations often involve advanced weaponry that is not made public, and the characteristics you describe could align with something designed for specific operational purposes.
Drones or UAVs: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones might have been in use in the area. Some specialized drones can fly silently and may produce a visual effect that resembles what you described. The “tracer” effect could have been a visual marker from the drone or another piece of technology.
Natural Phenomena: Although less likely given your environment, natural phenomena such as meteorites or atmospheric events could produce objects that might look similar to what you described, especially in conditions like low visibility at night.
Unexplained Anomalies: There has been a considerable amount of anecdotal evidence regarding sightings of unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) that don’t fit into conventional explanations. Given the reports emerging from military personnel regarding UAPs, what you saw could fall under this category.
As for the explosion, it’s quite interesting that it occurred shortly after the sighting. It could have been coincidental, or there might have been a correlation. Perhaps the object was somehow related to the explosion, either as a precursor or as part of an operational strategy in that area.
It might be worthwhile to dig into any archives or communications from that time to see if others reported similar sightings or if command had any knowledge of unusual activities in the area that night. Your experience adds to the ongoing conversation about the unknown in military operations, and sharing these accounts does help foster greater understanding and inquiry into these phenomena.