Section V: An UNsolved and Startling Close Encounter of The Third Kind!

-- The McChord Incident as Relayed to a DIA Official --

On Saturday afternoon, October 14, 1972, Airman First Class (AIC) Steven Briggs and Airman (AMN) Dennis Hillsgeck were instructed to check on the Tactical Air Navigational (TACAN) facility located eight (8) miles east of McChord Air Force Base. The TACAN site was situated on government land which was maintained by the U.S. Army, Ft Lewis. Briggs and Hillsgeck drove to the TACAN site at approximately 1300 hours [1 p.m.]. Upon their arrival, they opened the locked fence surrounding the TACAN facility and entered the compound. Once inside the compound, they opened the TACAN building and began to conduct a systems check of the TACAN equipment. At approximately 1400 hours [2 p.m.], Briggs heard a strange sound outside of the building. According to Briggs, it sounded like a high-pitched engine. Briggs exited the building to investigate the sound. Once outside, Briggs observed a SAUCER-SHAPED OBJECT directly above the TACAN building.

Briggs watched as the object landed just south of the TACAN compound. Briggs was startled by the object and entered the TACAN building to summon Hillsgeck. Once Hillsgeck and Briggs exited the building together, they observed two (2) "creatures" walking towards the fence. Briggs returned to the building and telephoned (555) the base security police. He yelled that they needed help at the TACAN site because "intruders" were attempting to enter the facility. The phone call was received by Sgt David Holmes who was the Law Enforcement Desk Sergeant, 62nd Security Police Squadron. Sgt Holmes dispatched Sgt Dwight Reid and AIC Michael Tash to the scene. It took the security police patrol 17 minutes to travel to the TACAN site.

Upon their arrival, they observed Briggs and Hillsgeck standing near their government vehicle. Both appeared to be in a daze. Neither could speak. Sgt Reid summoned a USAF ambulance to the scene. Hillsgeck appeared to have been burnt around the face. AIC Tash walked around the area and found marks in the soft Washington state dirt. Then suddenly, Sgt Reid yelled to AIC Tash that an object was directly over his head. A saucer-shaped object was hovering just above the TACAN facility.

Sgt Reid attempted to communicate to the security police law enforcement office by using his Motorola HT-220 portable radio. However, the radio did not function. Sgt Reid then yelled for AIC Tash to return to the police vehicle. Sgt Reid and AIC Tash retrieved Briggs and Hillsgeck and quickly left driving from the scene. Approximately one (1) mile from the TACAN site, Sgt Reid was able to communicate with the security police office, requesting assistance and declaring a "Covered Wagon." Four (4) additional security policemen arrived on scene, including, Sgt Darren Alexander and his military dog, "Champ." Sgt Alexander and Champ drove to the scene and started to search the area.

Approximately 400 yards south of the TACAN site, Champ became alerted. Sgt Alexander observed two (2) "creatures" standing near a remote power station. Sgt Alexander yelled for the two (2) "creatures" to stand and raise their hands. Both creatures then moved towards Sgt Alexander. Sgt Alexander observed that one of the creatures was holding an object, which Sgt Alexander thought was a weapon. Sgt Alexander fired six (6) rounds from his military-issued Model 15, .38 caliber revolver. After firing the shots, Sgt Alexander returned to his vehicle and radioed Sgt Reid that he had fired at the creatures.

A Security Alert Team (similar to a police SWAT) arrived. They conducted a search of the area and observed the saucer-shaped object sitting on the ground, directly east of the power station. They circled the object and called for a supervisor. Captain Henry Stone, of security police law enforcement, arrived on the scene, but the object departed just as Captain Stone walked towards the object. The object flew off in an easterly direction and was out of sight in a few seconds. Office of Special Investigations agents arrived on scene and conducted an investigation. Statements were taken from all involved parties. Evidence was collected at the scene which included shell casings from the rounds fired by Sgt Alexander. This incident was classified as “Top Secret” and remains in the OSI files as UNsolved.

MODERATOR's SUPPLEMENTARY BACKGROUND MATERIAL ON CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH EXTRATERRESTRIAL BIOLOGICAL ENTITIES [EBEs]:

Close Encounters of The First Kind

Visual sightings of an unidentified flying object seemingly less than 500 feet away that show an appreciable angular extension and considerable detail.

Close Encounters of The Second Kind

A UFO event in which a physical effect is alleged. This can be interference in the functioning of a vehicle or electronic device; animals reacting; a physiological effect such as paralysis or heat and discomfort in the witness; or some physical trace like impressions in the ground, scorched or otherwise affected vegetation, or a chemical trace.

Close Encounters of The Third Kind

UFO encounters in which an animated creature is present. These include humanoids, robots, and humans who seem to be occupants or pilots of a UFO.

Close Encounters of The Fourth Kind

An UNwilling abduction of an Earth human by a UFO, an EBE [Extraterrestrial Biological Entity) or its occupants in either a fully conscious state or in an UNconscious, trance-like state. This type was not included in Hynek's original close encounters scale. Hynek's erstwhile associate Jacques Vallee argued in the Journal of Scientific Exploration that a CE-4 should be described as "cases when witnesses experienced a transformation of their sense of reality," so as to also include non-abduction cases where absurd, hallucinatory or dream-like events are associated with UFO encounters.