THE UFO CHRONICLES

Monday, March 13, 2017

PHOENIX LIGHTS: Original, Eyewitness Account By Mike Fortson | 20th Anniversary

By Mike Fortson
The UFO Chronicles
March 1997
© 1997-2017

I ran down the hallway, grabbed my glasses off the bar and yelled to my wife, of 25 years, "get outside right now!" Without hesitation she followed me out the back arcadia door to the edge of our patio. (I have timed this since and it took app. 8-10 sec)

Standing at the edge of our patio, facing west, and looking north, confussion struck me. For there was no plane crash, but coming from the north and heading south was one, single structure that looked like a giant boomerang. (the description of boomerang, chevron (best), and V shaped object all apply). This object stuck out like a sore thumb in the evening sky due to the fact we were looking north towards the Phoenix metro area, and the city lights gave us a grey background in which to view this huge black V shaped object. It was so low to the surface we could not believe it. I remember saying, "what the hell is that?"

The huge V shaped craft was moving slowly to the south. At this point, still northwest of us, we both saw a 737 in landing approach pass over the object. The plane was coming in from the west heading east. The V shaped craft was heading south from the north. As the 737 passed over the V shaped object, I said, "did you see that! Why didn't the plane get the hell out of there?" But it didn't. The pilot nor the planes computers saw nothing. (Just like the radars at Sky Harbor and Luke AFB. Nothing was detected.)

I would like to explain more on this incident. We live app. 23 miles ESE of Sky Harbor in Phoenix. Planes coming in to land (most of the time) will come out by us, bank to the north (left), proceed for app. 10-12 miles, bank left again (west) and land at Sky Harbor. This is normal landing pattern. I have talked to airline pilots, tower operators, and investigators about the altitude of planes coming in to land at Sky Harbor, at the point of the first bank north where we live. The altitude..1200'. The massive V shaped craft we saw was under 1200' altitude!

As the huge V shaped craft proceeded south, it was almost in front of us, when my eyes followed the left wing to it's end. We live 1/2 mile south of Chandler Blvd. The end of the wing was well past that and at least half way to Ray Rd. (1 1/2 miles north!) I remember saying to my wife, "that son-of-a-bitch is a mile long! As it passed in front of us all we could see is the left wing. That's how low it was. At arm's length the object was at least 30"+ long. I reported it was app. 1 1/2 mile west of us, going down Alma School Rd. But the closest part of the huge V, the end of the left wing was much closer. Maybe within a 1/2 mile. One thing that I remember the most is how this craft "floated" app. 30-40 mph. There was no visual means of propulsion and absolutely no noise. The altitude and speed of the craft never changed.

On March 13, 1997, at app.8:31 pm mst., there was a bright bottom quarter moon setting in the western horizon. I said to the wife, "we're gonna get more detail, look, it's going right into the light of the moon." But instead of greater detail of this huge V shaped craft, what we saw still amazes us. As the front of the V shaped craft entered the light of the moon, this black chevron shaped object became translucent in bright light! We could still see the bottom quarter moon thru the object, but instead of bright white, it (moon) was a dingy yellow. As the V shaped craft exited the bright moon, it became a solid black object again. We watched as the entire craft passed thru this. Seeing a solid object going into and coming out of, was black. But as the craft passed between us and the bright, white moon, it was translucent.

(Something about bright objects...witnesses who had this pass over their heads claim that as the craft passed between bright stars, it was like looking thru...water)

By the time the end (left wing still) was passing thru the light of the moon, the front of the craft was disappearing into the night sky to our south. It never changed course, speed, or altitude. Just faded off into the night sky to the south of us.

During the whole sighting we never moved our feet. We never considered getting a camera. We never thought of yelling for a neighbor. There was no question in our minds that what we saw was not of this Earth. Our total sighting was app. 1 minute and 45 seconds.

Continue Reading ►

See Also:

Phoenix Lights 19th Anniversary: Vintage Interview with Tim Ley, Mike Fortson, Frances Barwood and Richard Motzer | VIDEO

THE PHOENIX LIGHTS: THE (ORIGINAL) REAL INVESTIGATION | 19th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

Original, Eyewitness Account of The 'Phoenix Lights,’ by Mike Fortson | 19th Anniversary

Kingman Witness Breaks Silence! – EXCLUSIVE | 18th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

Phoenix Lights Phenomenon –18 Years Ago, Today | VIDEO

Veteran Airline Pilot – Eyewitness To The Phoenix Lights | 18th Anniversary

The Arizona UFO Controversy | 18th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

Phoenix Lights:
Vintage Interview with Tim Ley, Mike Fortson, Frances Barwood and Richard Motzer

The Phoenix Lights:
After 12 Years, Original Photographic Expert, Jim Dilettoso Reverses Position - Says Famed Video 'Could Be Flares!'

The Non-Investigation of the Phoenix Lights - My View (Redux) | 17th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

Monday, March 14, 2016

The Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona – Phoenix Lights 19th Anniversary

I have always preferred “The Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997,” over the term, “The Phoenix Lights” as the former is by far the most descriptive title regarding the true events state-wide, not just lights at or near the city. The term, “Phoenix Lights” is simply not accurate. The name came into being as 2 of the 5, “10 pm videos” (Rairdon & Kitei) of "mysterious lights" that slowly appeared and then disappeared, were aired on local news stations beginning the following day (Friday March 14th) and were erroneously depicted as being over Phoenix proper. These night-time video’s were shot by residents living in mountain-side homes; the respective cameras were pointed in a southwest direction with the Phoenix metro area in the

By Mike Fortson
The UFO Chronicles
© 2-13-12

foreground and the Estrella Mountain Range as the backdrop. The lights recorded were later proven to be flares dropped at (unusually) high altitude some 45-60 miles away by the Maryland Air National Guard. Thus, the name “Phoenix Lights” was born and by the same token confusion (which still exists today) between the flare drop footage and the “real, remarkable UFO events” which occurred on that date.

Speaking as a witness, it’s safe to say that those of you who were privileged to have observed the massive UFO—did tell someone! If not, how did you do it?! How did you vent the emotion? How could you keep it to yourself?! Having gone through the experience (myself) . . . seeing something that does not compute; that goes against the grain of how one was raised, and or what falls outside of that which society dictates is normal—the natural desire is to share the experience with folks, or seek out others who experienced the same phenomenon.

After 15 years we now know, given the area the UFO(s) traversed; the weather conditions, as well as the fact that people were sky-watching for the Hale Bopp comet that evening—only a fraction of the actual witnesses went public. So what did you do? Did you write about your sighting in a log, or sketch what you saw on paper and keep it private? Do you still see it in your memories? Do you still think about it and what it possibly was or where it was from? Did you take a snapshot or record a video? If you did, would you share it now? Would you be willing to tell your story now? It’s been 15 years . . . isn’t it time to talk? [...]

Original, Eyewitness Account of The 'Phoenix Lights,’ by Mike Fortson | 19th Anniversary

Original, Eyewitness Account of The 'Phoenix Lights,’ by Mike Fortson - www.theufochronicles.com

By Mike Fortson
The UFO Chronicles
March 1997
© 1997-2016

Continue Reading . . .

See Also:

Kingman Witness Breaks Silence! – EXCLUSIVE | 18th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

Phoenix Lights Phenomenon –18 Years Ago, Today | VIDEO

Veteran Airline Pilot – Eyewitness To The Phoenix Lights | 18th Anniversary

The Arizona UFO Controversy | 18th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

Phoenix Lights:
Vintage Interview with Tim Ley, Mike Fortson, Frances Barwood and Richard Motzer

The Phoenix Lights:
After 12 Years, Original Photographic Expert, Jim Dilettoso Reverses Position - Says Famed Video 'Could Be Flares!'

The Non-Investigation of the Phoenix Lights - My View (Redux) | 17th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

Monday, March 16, 2015

Original, Eyewitness Account of The 'Phoenix Lights,’ by Mike Fortson | 18th Anniversary

Mike Fortson's Original Report of The 'Phoenix Lights'| 18th Anniversary

By Mike Fortson
March 1997
© 1997-2015

I awoke from a brief nap in my recliner and leaned over to tell my wife that I was going to bed. I glanced to the clock on the television, it was 8:30 pm. As I walked down the hallway to the master bedroom, I noticed the bedroom window was open. The weather was most pleasant this March 13 evening, temp. 75 degrees, clear and no wind.(Jim Schnebelt Fox 10 weather) Typical Arizona spring evening.

As I pulled the window closed, my eyes were attracted to the three huge, bright white lights angled down and very low to the ground. "Plane crash!" I thought. These lights were way too low and angled in a way nothing I know of could pull out of.

I ran down the hallway, grabbed my glasses off the bar and yelled to my wife, of 25 years, "get outside right now!" Without hesitation she followed me out the back arcadia door to the edge of our patio. (I have timed this since and it took app. 8-10 sec)

Standing at the edge of our patio, facing west, and looking north, confussion struck me. For there was no plane crash, but coming from the north and heading south was one, single structure that looked like a giant boomerang. (the description of boomerang, chevron (best), and V shaped object all apply). This object stuck out like a sore thumb in the evening sky due to the fact we were looking north towards the Phoenix metro area, and the city lights gave us a grey background in which to view this huge black V shaped object. It was so low to the surface we could not believe it. I remember saying, "what the hell is that?"

The huge V shaped craft was moving slowly to the south. At this point, still northwest of us, we both saw a 737 in landing approach pass over the object. The plane was coming in from the west heading east. The V shaped craft was heading south from the north. As the 737 passed over the V shaped object, I said, "did you see that! Why didn't the plane get the hell out of there?" But it didn't. The pilot nor the planes computers saw nothing. (Just like the radars at Sky Harbor and Luke AFB. Nothing was detected.)

I would like to explain more on this incident. We live app. 23 miles ESE of Sky Harbor in Phoenix. Planes coming in to land (most of the time) will come out by us, bank to the north (left), proceed for app. 10-12 miles, bank left again (west) and land at Sky Harbor. This is normal landing pattern. I have talked to airline pilots, tower operators, and investigators about the altitude of planes coming in to land at Sky Harbor, at the point of the first bank north where we live. The altitude..1200'. The massive V shaped craft we saw was under 1200' altitude!

As the huge V shaped craft proceeded south, it was almost in front of us, when my eyes followed the left wing to it's end. We live 1/2 mile south of Chandler Blvd. The end of the wing was well past that and at least half way to Ray Rd. (1 1/2 miles north!) I remember saying to my wife, "that son-of-a-bitch is a mile long! . . .

Continue Reading . . .

See Also:

Eyewitness To Enormous V-Shaped UFO – Interview with Mike Fortson (Pt 2) | 17th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

Eyewitness To Enormous V-Shaped UFO – Interview with Mike Fortson | 17th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

New Phoenix Lights Witness Comes Forward | EXCLUSIVE

New Report on the Phoenix Lights by a First-Hand Witness | UFO NEWS

EXCLUSIVE:
Phoenix Lights Witness Goes Public; Life Changing Experience was Much More Then a UFO Sighting!

More Articles By Mike Fortson

Friday, March 14, 2014

The Non-Investigation of the Phoenix Lights - My View (Redux) | 17th Anniversary of The Phoenix Lights

By Mike Fortson
The UFO Chronicles
© 8-30-06 / 2014

Editor's Note: As we do every year in the month of March, we pay heed to what has (erroneously) become known as the Phoenix Lights. March 13th marks its 17th anniversary–FW.

The late Doc Berry said it best—“The Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997”; his title best describes what happened that Thursday evening. Moreover, nine years later, I (we) still look for a return visit from our alien friends. I don’t have a problem saying that feared word “alien” at all. “Nothing of this earth” describes what we saw pass in front of us around 8:30 PM that night. Nothing!

Recalling the event as if it were yesterday, while in the process of closing a window at our then home in Chandler, Arizona I noticed, "three huge, bright white lights angled down and very low to the ground"; after shouting to my wife to come outside we witnessed this “massive V shaped” craft entering our field of vision from the northwest giving us an almost perfect angle for viewing the UFO. This massive black boomerang shaped object was easily determined to be one solid mass as the gray background from all the lights in the surrounding Phoenix metro area allowed this UFO to be visible. It stuck out like a sore thumb!

The reports of our experience have been published on the Internet for over 9 years; I have done over 50 televised shows and been on dozens of radio shows; I have done four documentaries, even one for UFO’s, Fuji TV from Tokyo, Japan, ABC’s Peter Jennings Reporting, Seeing is Believing and the best by far was Out of the Blue, by James Fox.

To date, as I write this, I am still encountering new witnesses and hearing new stories of that wonderful day; so many reports will never make the Internet, television, radio, or ever be told to the general public. This is so distressing! One goal I had when we moved to the high country of northern Arizona was to find new witnesses and meet many of those who were just too concerned for their jobs, worried about ridicule from friends or family or just not knowing who to contact. There are many more who I feel have yet to tell their story. . . .

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Close Encounters- Arizona Objects | A Review

By Mike Fortson
The UFO Chronicles
© 3-9-14

On Friday night March 7, 2014, with great anticipation, my wife and I watched a new program, entitled, Close Encounters, yet another series (amongst many gracing the airwaves lately) delving into the UFO subject matter. The show is produced by a relatively new company out of Canada, called Newroad Media; they herald the production as “each episode . . . reveals the most intriguing and convincing UFO stories on the planet.” The show premiered in Canada a few months ago on Discovery Canada and here in the U.S. via the Science Channel on the 4th (March 2014).

Larry Lowe

Although intrigued by the UFO topic in general, as regular readers know, being eyewitnesses to what has (erroneously) become known as “The Phoenix Lights,” we were most eager to take in the segment, Arizona Objects dedicated to those events in this second episode. Being aware that my good friend Larry Lowe had traveled to Canada to meet with the producers and consult on and in part, narrate said segment, only augmented our enthusiasm.

As an 8:30 pm witness to what is more accurately described as the, “Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997”; I try to watch all programs related to the so-called Phoenix Lights case. My remarks that follow are in no way critical of the presentation by Larry Lowe; my criticism is directed to the producers and Newroad Media generally, for poor research, lack of due diligence and failing to re-enact events according to known facts.

Conversely, I was very pleased that the Phoenix Lights label and 10 pm videos of a known, intentional, diversionary flare drop were not even seen or mentioned until the very end of the segment. This is the main reason I quit doing video interviews; Arizona Objects is more descriptive and more accurate. The massive craft(s) seen that night in the 8 o’clock hour is what the vast majority of witnesses experienced. Beyond that—the show had very little that was historically, correct or accurate.

—Let’s start with the Tim Ley account:

Tim Ley

They had Tim and his son driving in their car looking for the Hale-Bopp comet. This is incorrect. The Ley family was at home watching the Hale-Bopp comet and was redirected when the appearance of a semi-circle of lights appeared north of them. Their initial sighting was approximately 8:25 pm.

Also, in their reenactment, they depicted the craft, rotating and giving off a noise like a huge natural gas leak. Never at any time was noise associated with the mass sighting. The program showed that there was this huge array of lights—19 lights on the first sighting! The most ever reported that night was 7. In the next segment with the Ley’s, there were 28 and later 33 lights in V formation!

This is a blatant, misleading, egregious error!

Phoenix Lights Craft By Close Encounters (Front View)

Erroneous Depiction of Craft

—The next witnesses, retired airline captain Trig Johnston and his family.

Trig Johnston

The program inferred that this is the same craft at the same time as the Ley family. Another glaring error! Captain Trig Johnston’s sighting was at 10:20 pm from his horse property in the north Scottsdale/Cave Creek area. It was almost 2 full hours after the Ley sighting—not at the same time. Moreover, they once again made the massive V shaped craft with 33 white lights! Ugh!

Next the program told the viewing audience that during the Ley sighting, the craft descended to incredible low levels. The craft according to the Ley family was always incredibly low to the ground.

The show claimed that Capt. Johnston received a telepathic message from the craft, i.e., “Don’t worry, this is just a demonstration.” Wrong! Capt. Johnston did report receiving a telepathic message, but the message was, “We are not a threat.”

Why didn’t the writers or production crew read the actual reports submitted by the witnesses? Take some time, do your homework.

One statement they did get right. Captain Trig Johnston did say “I could have landed my 737 on the wing of the craft!”

—Now for the Phoenix City Council and former Arizona governor Fife Symington:

They got this all wrong as well.

Frances Emma Barwood

The show told the viewing audience that the Phoenix City Council requested an investigation. Again, this is incorrect. It was former Phoenix City Councilwoman Frances Emma Barwood that asked, “Why doesn’t the city investigate the massive craft that passed over our city’s airspace, and Sky Harbor Airport?” She was quickly told the city does not investigate these things and that was it.

Councilwoman Barwood was then lambasted in the media after this and lost her next election. On a positive note, her office was flooded with callers that witnessed the massive object and applauded her bravery and due diligence for coming forward during the council meeting.

Fife Symington

The show then pronounced that several days later (then) Governor Fife Symington held a press conference. This is incorrect. It was the aftermath of the USA Today article, published on June 18, 1997, which precipitated the governor’s press conference, held the next day (90 plus days after the event) and only because of national exposure of the article.

Then the program suggested that at a (near) later date former Governor Symington, himself reported seeing the “other worldly object.” The fact of the matter is–it would be 10 years later that he would make this claim, doing so on James Fox’s documentary, “I Know What I Saw.”

Over the 17 years since the mass sighting, I have met hundreds of witnesses; written several articles, have done dozens of video interviews, over a hundred radio shows and participated in 7 documentaries. I have remained focused on the investigation and know all the main investigators personally. I feel qualified to judge for accuracy when programs go on air concerning the (so-called) Phoenix Lights case or as I prefer, “The Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997” which is a far more accurate title.

To the new Canadian production company: next time allow more that 11 or 12 minutes to report on such a extensive case. Please do your homework. A quick search on the internet and reading a few reports is simply not enough.

I am still waiting for someone to have the courage and take the time to report this incredible mass sighting correctly, so all will know the truth.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Jesse Marcel, Jr., I Am Proud to Have Met You, By Mike Fortson

Jesse & Linda Marcel; Aztec Symposium 2008 – Credit: Mike Fortson Files

By Mike Fortson
The UFO Chronicles
© 8-26-13

In March of 2008, I was invited to be a guest speaker at the Aztec UFO Symposium (in Aztec, New Mexico). I was a replacement speaker for then director of MUFON, James Carrion who had come down with the Flu.

Both my wife and I were eyewitnesses to what I call the “Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona-March 13, 1997,” aka: The Phoenix Lights and our lecture was/is a narration of those events.

I was very excited to be asked again to speak about our sighting of what is arguably one of the biggest UFO events in history, and doubly so knowing that among the names of many of the speakers to be there, was Jesse Marcel Jr., and Stanton Friedman! Both of which I thought I would never have the opportunity to meet.

The day before the event, my wife and I drove from our home in Prescott Valley, AZ., to Aztec, NM. The UFO Symposium lasted for three days—Friday thru Sunday. We all stayed at a quaint bed and breakfast in Aztec. Upon arriving and checking in we met Stanton Friedman as he was coming down the stairs. I introduced myself and was totally surprised he knew my name and had read some of my articles about our sighting on March 13, 1997.

After checking in we went into a large dining area and there he was...Jesse Marcel Jr! I told my wife everything I knew about him and his father. I bought his book, "The Roswell Legacy", and even had a replica of the famed I-Beam.

As we approached his table, Jesse stood up, looked me right in the eye and said "welcome, I'm Jesse and this is my wife Linda." I could tell by his solid handshake and the look in his eye, this is going to be memorable. And it was.

We were invited to sit at their table and we shared drinks, stories, experiences, and more drinks. I thought to myself, after learning so much about Jesse Marcel Jr.—this man is a great American hero. He was still serving his country and had just returned from Iraq, where he was a flight surgeon at the age of 68! What a wonderful life he has had.

The best memory I have is Saturday evening we met up with Dennis Balthaser, his wife, Stanton Friedman and Jessie and Linda. We all went to Farmington, NM., to the Outback Steakhouse. There I was . . . having drinks and dinner with three of the most prominent names associated with the Roswell incident. Wow indeed! What a night. What a weekend.

Those memories will be treasured by me forever.

Sunday evening (8/25/13) I read the sad news of Jesse's passing. I am truly honored to have met this great man. Although our time together was brief, the impression he left on me was profound.

May God have a special place for you Jesse.

Saturday, March 02, 2013

The Non-Investigation of the Phoenix Lights - My View (Redux) | 16th ANNIVERSARY

By Mike Fortson
The UFO Chronicles
© 8-30-06 / 2013

Editor's Note: As we do every year in the month of March, we will being paying heed to what has (erroneously) become known as the Phoenix Lights. March 13th will mark its 16th anniversary–FW.

The late Doc Berry said it best—“The Massive UFO Flyover of Arizona, March 13, 1997”; his title best describes what happened that Thursday evening. Moreover, nine years later, I (we) still look for a return visit from our alien friends. I don’t have a problem saying that feared word “alien” at all. “Nothing of this earth” describes what we saw pass in front of us around 8:30 PM that night. Nothing!

Recalling the event as if it were yesterday, while in the process of closing a window at our then home in Chandler, Arizona I noticed, "three huge, bright white lights angled down and very low to the ground"; after shouting to my wife to come outside we witnessed this “massive V shaped” craft entering our field of vision from the northwest giving us an almost perfect angle for viewing the UFO. This massive black boomerang shaped object was easily determined to be one solid mass as the gray background from all the lights in the surrounding Phoenix metro area allowed this UFO to be visible. It stuck out like a sore thumb!

The reports of our experience have been published on the Internet for over 9 years; I have done over 50 televised shows and been on dozens of radio shows; I have done four documentaries, even one for UFO’s, Fuji TV from Tokyo, Japan, ABC’s Peter Jennings Reporting, Seeing is Believing and the best by far was Out of the Blue, by James Fox.

To date, as I write this, I am still encountering new witnesses and hearing new stories of that wonderful day; so many reports will never make the Internet, television, radio, or ever be told to the general public. This is so distressing! One goal I had when we moved to the high country of northern Arizona was to find new witnesses and meet many of those who were just too concerned for their jobs, worried about ridicule from friends or family or just not knowing who to contact. There are many more who I feel have yet to tell their story. . . .

Continue Reading . . .

See Also:

New Phoenix Lights Witness Comes Forward | EXCLUSIVE

New Report on the Phoenix Lights by a First-Hand Witness | UFO NEWS

EXCLUSIVE:
Phoenix Lights Witness Goes Public; Life Changing Experience was Much More Then a UFO Sighting!

More Articles By Mike Fortson

Saturday, January 05, 2013

A Father's Plea: Please Respect the Ladder!

Whether you work with a ladder every day or you are an occasional user of a ladder, I ask you to please read this father’s experience of an accident which never had to happen, if only my son had more–respect for the ladder.

Joey has been working with a ladder in his business for over 18 years. He installs and repairs Voice/Data/Phone/Fiber lines for businesses setting up their IT rooms and setting up their computer and voice lines. Nearly everything is cable and almost all cables are above the ceilings, thus his ladder is a major part of his business.

The following is a true, factual account of recent events:

5:31 pm Friday Dec 28, 2012- I received call from my daughter in law. She was crying and hysterical. Joey had fallen off his ladder and was injured. Paramedics said he was going to St. Joseph hospital in Phoenix.

5:36 pm Friday Dec 28, 2012- Called my wife at work. I told her to tell her immediate supervisor that there is a medical emergency for her son and to come home.

I had GOOGLED St. Joseph’s Hospital and found the quickest route. My wife arrived home, I explained all I knew to her and we were on our way. The trip to Phoenix was quiet. Not knowing was the scariest. My phone was quiet.

It took nearly 45 minutes to get to the hospital. Security at the Emergency entrance did not have my son’s name. He was not in the system. We knew he was in the Trauma Center, but they as well did not have Joey on their roster. We were going nuts. Joey was entered into the Trauma Center as “John Doe” because he had no ID on him. He leaves is wallet in his truck. (Mistake #1 always have your ID on you)

We got inside Trauma Wing where we found Joey’s wife, Sanja. In tears and uncertain of what’s going to happen, we were all a mess. She said the paramedics struggled to locate her because he had not entered information needed for contacts in case of emergency (Mistake #2. Go to Contacts in your cell phone. There is In Case of Emergency, your ICE Contacts. If you do not have ICE contacts, please reconsider)

After several hours in the Trauma Wing, he was finally entered into the system by his name and wheeled to the Intensive Care Unit. We finally met his ER doctor. He said Joey had fallen off the top of an 8’ ladder. He landed on his head and left shoulder. He has many skull fractures, and bleeding on his brain. There is a blood clot forming in his brain. He has a punctured lung and 8 broken ribs. He has a broken collar bone. He has several cracked vertebrae. He is on life support (breathing tube) and in a medically induced coma. They drilled a small hole in his skull to relieve pressure and allow drainage off the brain due to severe swelling. He has bleeding in his left ear.

We finally got to see our son. It was some three or four hours after the accident. His body full of tubes and sensors. His breathing was machine forced. He had nine bags of drips going into his arms. He was swollen and bruises were becoming darker and purple in color. We tried hard not to show it but we thought we may lose our son.

Family, tears and prayers for the next several days is all we had. The effects of this accident stretched half way around the globe.

Pain and hurt became anger and rage for me. My son made an error. He lost his balance on the ladder and fell. I have seen him do his thing on a ladder for several years. I have worked with him. I have seen him “fly” up the ladder. I have seen him recklessly not RESPECT THE LADDER. Please do not make this same mistake my son made.

Respect and obey safety warnings on your ladder. Make sure your ladder can support your weight and handle the task needed. Never stand on the top of the ladder. Don’t own the cheapest ladder, but one that is solid and safe and designed for your job needed.

I ask myself today, what if Joey had a 10’ ladder instead of the 8’ ladder he was using. He wouldn’t have been standing on the top. Maybe he wouldn’t have had his accident. All we can do is learn from our mistakes.

I am certain Joey will survive all this. It has been 1 week since we got the frantic call from our daughter-in-law. Joey is still on life support. He is still in a medically induced coma. The brain tube may be out in a couple days. He is still bruised and swollen. Brain tests yesterday show normal function activity and when they occasionally wake him from the “sedative coma” he does move on command. He is not paralyzed and not brain dead. He is lucky. He is very lucky. He is looking at another 2-3 weeks in intensive care. Then he has months of rehab. Yes, months.

Fortunately Joey has excellent medical insurance and disability coverage.

• Please consider the following:
• Have ICE Contacts in your cell.
• Always have your ID on your person.
• And most important of all, please RESPECT THE LADDER.
• Your life depends on it.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Phoenix Lights Witness Mike Fortson Condemns Nat Geo's Chasing UFOs

Chasing UFOs - My View

By Mike Fortson
The UFO Chronicles
7-23-12

I first met James Fox about eleven years ago while he was filming his documentary Out of The Blue; he wanted to interview me regarding my sighting of a massive V shaped object seen at 8:30 pm, Thursday evening March 13, 1997 (now erroneously labeled as The Phoenix Lights). I was immediately impressed with James, as he allowed me to speak openly about my sighting and was asking the right questions. He was the first producer in my experience that was truly interested in what witnesses had to say.

Out of the Blue was and still is the best UFO documentary by far, in my opinion. In contrast to the norm—it was/is a serious, informative and educational presentation and has been a constructive shot in the arm for Ufology, enlightening the public about the ongoing phenomenon. I’m very proud to have played a small part in the making of this ground-breaking show; to be included with such high caliber witnesses as former presidents of the United States, high profile military personnel, astronauts/cosmonauts, and various high ranking government officials—I was truly honored to “make the cut”.

James Fox not only acquired my admiration, both personally and professionally, he garnered the respect of the majority of the (so-called) UFO community via his work with Out of The Blue. Little did we know—he was just getting started.
Another crowning achievement by James (along with Leslie Kean) with equal impact to Ufology, was putting together a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Monday November 12, 2007. The event showcased high ranking government officials, aviation and military pilots from all over the world, thus allowing them a public platform to share their respective UFO experiences that were realized in their “official” capacities.

This stalwart effort in part to get the US government to open the files on the UFO subject (public disclosure) gets high praise from me.

Again, the “press conference” was yet another stepping stone for James, as that work culminated in his next impressive, widely acclaimed documentary I Know What I Saw. This film compiled the testimony from those at the press conference and expounded upon it, by adding additional high caliber witnesses and evidence. Indeed, a major accomplishment, James.

Both Out of the Blue and I Know What I Saw will go down as two of the best UFO documentaries of our time; two topnotch films by the best UFO documentary producer—James Fox.

I deemed it necessary and important to recount James’ previous accomplishments in film generally and Ufology specifically, as this editorial was precipitated by the new show Chasing UFOs, as seen on the National Geographic channel.

Chasing UFO’s is not a James Fox production; in this series, I consider James an actor (and I use the term loosely). With that in mind, I would like to say that I, as well as many others waited with great anticipation for the series to premier a few weeks ago. I was truly hoping for the best. And as we all “now” know—we got the worst! I didn’t think anything could be worse than UFO Hunters, but I was wrong!

Since my life-changing experience on March 13th, 1997, I’ve been heavily involved in this thing we call Ufology; I don’t label myself a Ufologist (although others have and do), I consider myself a very fortunate individual, a witness to a once in a life-time event. In that vein I initially sought out other witnesses to the (so-called) Phoenix lights event and later witnesses to UFO events in general. Thus, because of my experience and personal quest, I have met many, many witnesses, Ufologists, enthusiasts etc., participated in dozens and dozens of TV and radio shows.

Accordingly, I also watch most, if not all television shows related to Ufology; the majority these days, unfortunately are poorly researched and produced and seem to be aimed at a teenage audience. That said, Chasing UFOs makes all the rest look like award winning productions! This show is a total embarrassment! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought anyone would dare to put on a “fairy-light” backpack (a night vision apparatus strapped to the actors recording their facial expressions and dialogue) and walk through brush and thicket at night, while (over) reacting to every sound heard while hunting for aliens (ad nauseam). The “B movie” acting, along with the visual picture of these contraptions attached to the actors would be funny if the entire show wasn’t so pathetic; it would be fitting as “sketch comedy.”

With such high quality productions afforded by James Fox in the past, and after watching the first four episodes of Chasing UFOs, I can only ask (James)—what were you thinking?! James, as your friend, you are awesome behind the camera. You are a film producer. Not a reality show actor. You have done so many great things for Ufology with your films. Please stay behind the camera, and don’t sully yourself with kind of nonsense.

I believe Chasing UFOs should be animated and sold to the Cartoon Network.