Previous to this incident, I had never experienced seeing any "ghosts" or apparitions.
I attended Infantry Basic Training/Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, GA in the Harmony Church area, from January through March of 1981. The barracks were two-story WWII-era buildings. Anyone who has been in the Army knows what "Fire Guard" is.
I was on fire guard early (after midnight) one morning. The fire guard was required to have a flashlight, and you had to "patrol" the building constantly, during your one hour tour of duty. The barracks were completely dark, and were "open bay". There was a REALLY bad thunderstorm going on, at the time of this incident. Pouring rain, lightning, and thunder that was constant. The area outside the area was lit, but only by a couple of street lights, on the power poles.
I was on the first floor, and was standing at the door of the barracks. I could see the fire guard's flashlight, in the adjacent building, approximately 25 yards away. That fire guard was close to that building's front door. I looked through the window, to my left, towards where the CQ was on duty. A huge bolt of lightning lit up the sky at that moment.
On the sidewalk at the end of the building, approximately 50 feet away, I saw an older man, with long gray hair and a long gray beard. He was wearing what appeared to be cut-off jean shorts, and had no shirt on. He was standing very "rigid." I thought maybe I was just worn out, and was "seeing things." How could someone be standing in the pouring rain like that, with no shirt or rain gear on?
About 15 seconds after I saw the old man, the fire guard from the adjacent building came running towards our barracks, and came through the door. He seemed upset, and asked me: "DID YOU SEE THAT OLD MAN?" I almost passed out, knowing that what I saw was witnessed by another person. Needless to say, I don't think I slept very well, the rest of the morning.
I brought up the subject to my Drill Sergeant the next morning, and wasn't ready for his response. I figured the Drill Sergeant would tell me to "move along, Private." He stated something along the lines of: "Yeah, I've seen him, too." I was floored.
I'm posting this story in hopes that someone who has served in the Harmony Church area of Fort Benning, GA has experienced anything like this.
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As a vet and military contractor I've heard many stories of sightings on bases, though I've not spent much time on Army bases, mostly Navy and Coast Guard. Most of the stores I've heard echo yours, in that was a sighting with little or no interaction with the object.
I can't help but wonder if Silverthane is on to something.
Thank you for sharing.