2012 Deployment in Afghanistan: A Strange Encounter
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’ve seen my fair share of the battlefield.
One night, while on guard duty with another Marine atop a compound roof, we both witnessed something unusual: it seemed like a rocket with no visible propulsion speeding past us, about 20 feet away. The object was roughly cylindrical, about 18 inches in length, tapering at both ends, resembling a large pen. It left a faint light trail behind it—a sort of “tracer” effect—yet it made no sound and traveled in a perfectly straight line.
We were able to see it clearly as it zipped by, approximately 20-30 feet away, before it completely vanished from sight. For a brief moment, we were silent, anticipating the sound of it hitting something or falling, but there was nothing—just silence.
After about a minute, we began to quietly confirm with each other what we had just seen, both of us acknowledging the strangeness of the event. Suddenly, around 30 seconds later, an explosion erupted in a nearby alley, about 10-20 yards from our position. The heat from the blast was palpable, but we didn’t experience any shrapnel or gunfire coming our way. We relayed the incident to our command, but no action was taken.
I can’t shake the feeling that the sighting and the explosion were somehow linked, and I’d appreciate any thoughts or insights that might help explain this unusual experience.
What you experienced sounds incredibly intriguing and definitely raises some questions! Given your military background and familiarity with weaponry, it’s understandable that you would seek to rationalize such an unusual incident.
There are a few possibilities that might help explain what you and your fellow Marine witnessed:
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): It’s possible that what you saw could have been an unarmed drone or UAV. These devices can produce little to no noise and can have a distinct appearance, particularly if they are using flares or other light sources for navigation or surveillance. However, drones typically wouldn’t explode in that manner unless they were rigged intentionally.
Munitions Test or Malfunction: Sometimes, there are tests of weapon systems or munitions, which could explain the sighting of a projectile without identifiable propulsion. It could also be a malfunction from emerged explosives or munitions that were supposed to be used elsewhere.
Rocket-Propelled Grenade/Artillery Round: Depending on the tech and munitions available in that region, a rogue or misfired RPG could have been what you witnessed. The lack of sound is unusual but could also be attributed to the conditions at the time.
Residual Effects of Combat: The explosion you heard could have been related to ongoing combat activities, and the light you saw might have been caused by an artillery light or other ordinance going off in the distance.
Extraterrestrial or Paranormal Theory: While less likely, some might entertain the idea of a UFO or paranormal phenomenon given the unexplained nature of both the object and the explosion. These sorts of claims are often dismissed but can linger in the minds of witnesses.
In any case, the synchronization of your sighting and the subsequent explosion is certainly curious. It might be worth investigating any activity reported in the area around that time to see if anything aligns with your experience. Sharing this with other veterans or military personnel who have experienced similar sightings may also yield additional insights or explanations. Remember, it’s okay to seek out input and gain different perspectives on what was undoubtedly a surreal event!