This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Dclemens1971 (talk | contribs) at 20:26, 2 January 2025 (added Category:July 1990 events in the United States using HotCat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 20:26, 2 January 2025 by Dclemens1971 (talk | contribs) (added Category:July 1990 events in the United States using HotCat)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Gulf Breeze Six incident refers to the desertion of six military intelligence analysts from the American 701st Military Intelligence Brigade who got arrested in Gulf Breeze, Florida, presumably traveling there while spurred by their spiritualist beliefs.
Absent without leave
Michael Hueckstaedt, Kris Perlock, William Setterberg, Vance Davis, Kenneth G. Beason, Annette Eccleston were declared absent without leave from their base at Augsburg on July 9, 1990, in what was then West Germany.
Beliefs attributed to Christian eschatology appear to have played a role in their decision to journey to Florida. According to Stars and Stripes, Beason told family members and other people that they came to Florida to survive the end of the world and out of interest for UFO phenomena. Members of their units reported that some members of the group initially intended to kill the antichrist, although Beason would deny later having said anything of the sort. Just two years prior, the Gulf Breeze UFO sightings, largely believed to be a hoax, had attracted the attention of those interested in the paranormal. A conference of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) was taking place in Pensacola on July 9.
Speaking two years after the events, Davis denied the group had any interest in UFOs. According to his version of events, they had been experimenting with a ouija board since 1989 and had been spiritually instructed to leave the military in preparation for the rapture.
Arrests and release
On July 14, the six were arrested at the Gulf Breeze home of one Anna Foster after Hueckstaedt attracted police attention for a traffic violation. Foster was described by police as a psychic.
They were arrested in Florida on July 14 and 15, they were detained at the Fort Benning army post then sent at Fort Knox. Because of their access to highly classified material, they were changed with desertion rather than being absent without leave. The charges were dropped however and all six discharged from the military. Three of the six came back to live at Foster's home for a time after they were released. Davis would marry another woman living in Foster's home and moved to Albuquerque.
References
- ^ "Soldiers allegedly desert to kill Antichrist". Tampa Bay Times. 20 July 1990. Archived from the original on 2 January 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ^ "Mystery surrounds AWOL trek". Associated Press. 27 July 1990. Retrieved 2 January 2025 – via Sun Sentinel.
- ^ "Study of Bible led to group's desertion, ex-soldier says". Tampa Bay Times. 5 August 1990. Archived from the original on 2 January 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- Sullivan, Christopher (26 July 1990). "UFOs, Jesus may figure in weird AWOL case". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2 January 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2025 – via Greensboro News & Record.
- ^ Clary, Mike (6 August 1990). "Flights of Fancy or UFOs? : Space: Strange encounters aren't unusual in one small town. But mere mortals, not aliens, may be responsible". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2 January 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
- ^ "AWOL soldier's excuse: Ouija Board made us do it". Tampa Bay Times. 28 July 1992. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2025.