A Sighting

This was written a couple months ago, but I was not brave enough to publish it. I recently read a post elsewhere that let me know it was okay to admit to seeing things that most don't.

One morning, just outside of Savannah, Georgia, I saw a creature that I used to think only a legend. The sighting has stuck with me since, though I've told no one for fear of ridicule. After over ten years, I've decided to break the silence. I don't know if the others who witnessed it have spoken out, or kept silent as well.

We were at Ft. Stewart, playing the aggressors against the Army's Airborne. 82nd or 101st? I don't remember... and it doesn't really matter now, does it? I think it was the summer of '93, but that really doesn't matter, either.

Anyway, after a few days out in the field, sweating our asses off, and always moving, we were allowed to "go into garrison." Basically, our company was allowed to take a short break from the war game. We parked the vehicles back into the treeline, and made ready for the night. Our radio watch shifts were assigned, and we hit the hay.

I had the last shift, and as the darkness grudgingly gave way to light, I heard a rustling in the brush, quite aways off, but it sounded like it was coming on. I grabbed the NVGs (night vision goggles), and looked into the night. A flash of movement, a movement of vegetation, and then there was nothing.

I was about to wake the VC (vehicle commander), when he sat up and let me know that he had heard it, too. Our driver, who'd had the shift before mine, was also awake and looking. We passed the NVGs back and forth, finding nothing. We discussed it... we weren't supposed to be attacked, but then again, the previous day, after a visit by the guys scoring "the game," we were attacked by a helo. The bastards tipped our enemy off. They would do it again, later, but I digress...

About the time we were ready to put the NVGs away, there was a short grunt or growl, and a god awful stink, followed by a rustling. This time it was coming straight at us, very rapidly. The brush was moving, and you could hear distinct footsteps. As I grabbed the NVGs again, it broke from the brush, ran past us and the front of our vehicle, on towards the vehicle parked next to us... about thirty meters away. There was a yelp of suprise from the radio watch over there, and it disappeared back into the woods, leaving us all standing there with an adrenaline rush.

Unreal.

I told one person, and their immediate impression was that it was a skunk ape, based upon the bad smell. I kinda laughed about that one... the bad smell was our VC dropping ass. Hey... after a week of MRE's, your shit, and it's announcers, do stink... no matter who you are.

Nah... the creature seen was a Real. Live. Armadillo. Yeah... you read that right. Live. I know. I know. They can't exist. But they do...

Were it not for this experience, I'd still think that southerners tossed ugly ass toy creatures alongside the roads.

What sightings have you had?

Thank you Tommy, for having the courage to admit to seeing a live possum.

Posted by That 1 Guy at October 19, 2006 07:50 AM | TrackBack