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!