On February 28, 1959, US
Army Private Gerry Irwin, a Nike missile technician, had been driving back to
El Paso's Ft. Bliss from leave in Nampa, Idaho when he spotted a bright object
streak across the sky over Route 14 in Utah. When the glowing object disappeared
behind a nearby ridge, Irwin feared it might have been a downed aircraft. He
pulled over and wrote a note indicating he went to investigate a possible
crash, which he placed on the steering wheel of his car. He then wrote STOP on
the side of his car with shoe polish and headed into the night.
Some time later, a Fish
and Game inspector stopped when he saw Irwin's car. After reading the note, he
inspector headed for the Sheriff's station in nearby Cedar City. Less than an
hour later, Sheriff Otto Pfief and a contingent of deputies and volunteers headed
after Irwin. The men hadn't traveled far when they found the Private laying
unconscious on the ground. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where Dr.
Broadbent examined the officer, declaring him to be in good physical condition.
It was unclear as to why the man had lost consciousness.
A day later, Irwin
finally awoke. He was confused and frightened. Where was he? What happened to
the plane crash? He also seemed to be missing a jacket. Those who found him,
however, related that he had no jacket on when he was found.
Once he was feeling
better, Irwin--still with more questions than answers--returned to Fort Bliss
where he was admitted to William Beaumont Army Medical Center for further
analysis. He was again released for duty but within minutes of walking back to
the base, Irwin again passed out. He was taken to El Paso's Southwest General
Hospital. He awoke the next day, asking if there were any survivors.
Irwin went back to
William Beaumont hospital where he remained for over a month for psychiatric evaluation.
As before, no ailment--physical or mental--could be discerned and he was
discharged.
Immediately after
release in mid-, Irwin went AWOL. He boarded a bus for Cedar City, UT. Upon
arrival, he returned to where he had seen the light crash. As he examined the
site, he suddenly found his missing jacket draped over a bush. In one of its
buttonholes was a pencil with a piece of paper wrapped around it. It's not
known what the paper said. Irwin didn't say when he later turned himself in to
Sheriff Pfief.
Irwin was sent back to
Fort Bliss and endured further psychological evaluations that revealed, as
before, nothing unusual. He was again released, but this time he did not return
to duty. Ever again. By September, Irwin had officially been written off permanently
AWOL.
As far as anyone knows
Private Gerry Irwin has never been seen again.