Richard R NDE 4332

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

We were unloading some crates onto a barge several hundred yards off the coast near the mouth of the Mekong river (we called it the Saigon river at the time). The ship was loaded with 500lb. bombs with napalm canisters stacked 15 or 20ft. high on the deck. They were empty as napalm was transported by tanker and the delivery containers shipped separately. We were taking sniper fire from shore. The VC were trying to ignite the empty containers and all the crew including me was terrified they would shoot thru the side of the ship and set off a bomb in a hold and the explosion would vaporize the ship any second.

I  felt a concentrated desire to get off that ship and suddenly an explosion lifted me off my feet and threw me backwards into a bulkhead (I later was told that some gas bottles lashed beneath the gun platforms exploded, possibly from gunfire). My next conscious awareness was that I was shooting strait up in the air watching the ship shrink down to 3 or 4 inches long below me. I was overwhelmed by the desire to get to shore and suddenly was floating gently down onto a beach bounded by beautiful green hillside with a path curving up the hill to a ramshackle looking bar. (It had a sign that said BAR in red letters in English) Next to the path was an empty guard shack that I passed as I walked up to and into the bar. (I remember checking my back pocket to make sure I had my Buck Knife just in case) I carefully scanned the bar room for threats as I entered, being conscious not to make any aggressive eye contact and saw the usual ruff looking crowd of seaman, dockworkers and B-girls. Suddenly It hit me that it was Quiet and that everyone was looking at me instead of minding their own business.

Then I realized that everyone was smiling, just a little Buddha-like smile and fear swept over me and I tensed and looked around for an attack from behind. Then I began to feel waves of love and peace flowing thru everything. I felt I wanted to relax and flow with the Waves! Then the fear of the unknown seemed to fill me and I got scared! I ran to the bar and asked the man and women in charge "where is the Willamette Victory? do you know where she is docked?!? They were smiling, calm and the Great Waves of Love and Peace Suddenly terrified me. Where are the docks! I asked and they pointed back down toward the path. Still smiling and quiet they beamed "it's alright" but I was out the door and heading down the path.

Now I had an overpowering desire to get back to the ship; having forgotten the snipers, bombs and explosion. I wanted the security of being back on my ship before I was carried away by the Love and Peace. Suddenly I came to the Guard House. Now there was a big tall guard (I remember thinking he must have just come back from taking a leak. He turned and looked at me and "said" you're not supposed to be here! I put my hand on my knife and kept walking and said authoritatively, Do you know where the Willamette Victory is docked?? He turned and with a long arm pointed down the beach and I got the impression of a port with several ships just down the way. I was feeling glad to have gotten past him and walked in the direction he pointed. T

he next conscious moment I woke up lying on a mess table in the ship's crew galley and realized I was covered by a bed sheet. I jerked, felt my neck crack with pain and was overwhelmed with the stench of shit. I sat up and realized with profound embarrassment that my jeans were full of shit!!! I felt I would never live down having shit my pants on the crew's mess table! I looked around and no one was there so I pulled my socks over my pants cuffs and hobbled to the showers and washed my body and cloths and passed out in the shower. Next time I woke up I was in my bunk and the 1st engineer was arguing with the cook as to weather I was a Jonah and when they saw I was awake the were all afraid of me. I know because I could FEEL them thinking. After that I felt like I was 20ft tall and could Look right thru anybody. Every one gave me lots of space and were afraid to talk to me or be alone with me. We unloaded our "eggs" for the B52's at Sadaheip Thailand but my best experience was on the trip back...

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     The overwhelming sense of immortality. the illusionary nature of this "mortal world" we live in.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes            Explosion on the ship.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    On the trip home we were empty and caught the tail of a typhoon as we passed the Philippines. The foremast collapsed and we took water, every one was terrified that we would sink. I thought it was so funny!! I tried to tell them we are immortal! I had no fear! An upwelling of "I" enveloped me. I wrapped my self in rope on deck and screamed I am Immortal to the storm! I was ENVELOPED in PEACE!! Went back to my bunk went to sleep and when I awoke the Coast Guard had us in tow and escorted us to Hawaii for repairs. Now they were All sure I was a Jonah and they wanted me off that ship as soon as we returned to San Francisco.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            On the trip home we were empty and caught the tail of a typhoon as we passed the Philippines. The foremast collapsed and we took water, every one was terrified that we would sink. I thought it was so funny!! I tried to tell them we are immortal! I had no fear! An upwelling of "I" enveloped me. I wrapped my self in rope on deck and screamed I am Immortal to the storm! I was ENVELOPED in PEACE!! Went back to my bunk went to sleep and when I awoke the Coast Guard had us in tow and escorted us to Hawaii for repairs. Now they were All sure I was a Jonah and they wanted me off that ship as soon as we returned to San Francisco.

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes    

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?            Yes    

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Explained above

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No      

Did you see a light?           No      

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     Above

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No      

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No      

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?            Yes     Above

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes    

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes    

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes    

Did you become aware of future events?       Uncertain           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Yes    

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes    

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?    No      

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real   

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            above

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real   

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Yes    

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     The Omnipresence of Consciousness.  At death we are where we are. There will be no drastic transition. We will be made at home for the revelation of Omnipresence. The more we live as if all is ourselves, the more harmonious will be the transition. Love your neighbor as yourself because...Omnipresence

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No      

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        Read the Bible as if Jesus is speaking as from and to the I within you. Be still an KNOW that "I" within you is "Mighty".  When Jesus speaks> realize that the "I" within is speaking to the me that you think you are.  "I" is the door; no one comes to the father but thru "I" "I" Come when you think not...are not thinking..."I" am is with you always.. accept HIM in I...I dissolves "I" appears.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Uncertain     

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   Thanks for the opportunity to write this down....Warm Regards!!!