Valerie K's Experience
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It was January or February 1968. I had been visiting with a friend of mine that lived in the apartment three doors down from me. It was just a typical Saturday afternoon. My friends boyfriend came to see her and brought a friend with him. He wanted to know if the two of us would like to go to the stock car races with the two of them. We decided it might be fun so I went to my apartment to get a jacket while they waited for me. I was just at the doorway of my apt., when suddenly I found myself walking in a thickly forested area. Looking around me I realized I was in a jungle following a small group of soldiers (American). The two soldiers at the end of the line stopped and turned when I stumbled over a vine and helped me through a thickly wooded area. They did not seem surprised to see me (a civilian) there although they acknowledged my presence.
After walking a ways with them I realized I was in Viet Nam. I talked with the soldiers quietly as we walked along. Then I realized That a very close friend of mine was the soldier in the lead. (He was the only soldier there that I had knew.) I excused myself from the companionship of the two soldiers walking with me and started to walk to the front of the line to talk to my friend. (This friend and I were very close in high school and I was glad to see him again.) As I neared the front of the line another soldier grabbed my arm and restrained me just before I reached him. Just then we heard the click. My friend had stepped on a land mine. The force of the explosion threw me backward against a tree. I screamed as blood splattered my body.
The next instant found me again in the doorway of my apt. and I heard the sound of feet running as my friend and the two boys waiting for me came to see what had happened. They found me standing in the doorway with my hands braced against the door jam on each side. I had blood and dirt splattered on my clothes and face and my right shoulder was painfully swollen and turning black. It had been dislocated when I hit the tree. Needless to say, we did not go to the races that day, it took some time before my friends could calm me down. I have had many such experiences and wasn't upset about that, but the fact of what I had just seen happen with my dear friend.
The problem with
my shoulder, although it was reset, has persisted to this day. The doctors can
not understand the problem with it! It had been a normal day, I was under
no stress, nor was I ill in any way. I was wide awake when it occurred. I was
not taking any medication or on any kind of drugs and was not attempting to have
any such experience. I used to think my experiences were some sort of OBE but as
I've heard other people talk I think my experiences may be more like Astral
Projections. They happen often. Sometimes with physical evidence afterwards and
sometimes not.
Any associated
medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?
No
Was the kind of
experience difficult to express in words?
No
At the time of this
experience, was there an associated life threatening event?
No
What was your level
of consciousness and alertness during the experience?
I was wide awake
Was
the experience dream like in any way?
No
Did you experience
a separation of your consciousness from your body?
No
What emotions did
you feel during the experience?
First- curiosity at
where I was
Then joy- at seeing my friend there
Next shock and horror- at seeing him step on the land mine and the results
Later grief-at the loss of my friend
And finally, fear- after I received a letter from my mother two weeks later confirming what I had witnessed right down to the day and hour of the happening. I did not ever want to experience anything that horrible again.
Later- following my
grief, reconciliation- to the happenings that have always been a part of my
life.
Did you hear any
unusual sounds or noises?
Yes, all my senses were
intact. I heard the muffled steps of the soldiers, the rustle of leaves on the
trees, the caws of birds, I smelled the damp musty loam in the jungle, felt the
humidity against my skin.
LOCATION
DESCRIPTION:
Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar
religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or
amazing creatures?
Yes I was in the
jungle in Viet Nam. I saw no creatures there, only the soldiers I walked with,
although I did hear birds.
Did you see a
light?
No Not like a big
bright light like some talk about in NDE experiences. The only light were
splashes here and there as it found it's way down through the canopy of the
trees.
Did you meet or see
any other beings?
No Just the
soldiers
Did you experiment
while out of the body or in another, altered state?
Yes
There was no way
anyone could have known about this event before it happened. And as I said, it
was confirmed in a letter two weeks later, when my mother wrote me to tell me
about it.
Did you observe or
hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be
verified later?
Yes see#12
Did you notice how
your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?
Yes My senses were
normal, like in any day. See#8
Did you become
aware of future events?
Yes Not really
future, I was just there at the exact time and place where it happened.
How has the
experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career
choices?
As I said, this was just one of many that has happened to me since I was three
years old. It is outstanding only because of the loss of a dear friend and the
circumstances. And also the physical manifestation present following the event.
Has your life
changed specifically as a result of your experience?
No
Have you shared
this experience with others?
Yes I am very
careful who I share these experiences with. I use lesser experiences to feel my
way in before I relate some of my heavier experiences, like this one. Few people
know of my experiences. And of those that do, I'm not sure even all of them
believe me.
What emotions did
you experience following your experience?
see#7
What was the best
and worst part of your experience?
The best part was
seeing my friend one last time. The worst part was the loss of my friend.
Is there anything
else you would like to add concerning the experience?
I knew about the war in
Viet Nam as every one else at that time did, but I did not think about it one
way or the other. I was not involved with any anti war movements nor did I even
care enough to read or keep up with any news about it. I don't know why I was
projected to Viet Nam, except to maybe see my friend one last time.
Following the
experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or
substances which reproduced any part of the experience?
Yes Yes, I have had
numerous events both before and after this one.
Did the questions
asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your
experience?
Yes Although my
experience may be somewhat unusual these experiences have always been normal for
me. I do not control them in any way, they happen at will, sometimes when I'm
awake, sometimes when I'm asleep. Sometimes when I'm alone, sometimes when I'm
with others. I just know that when it's important, I go!