It was late. Midnight or later. I was in the Army, training in the woods of Ft. Benning. Week 12 of a combination of Basic training, and AIT (in my case, 11BC2, or infantry dragon gunner). We had set up our shelter halves (tents), and four of us were having a cigarette before turning in. We were stargazing when one of us pointed out a star that seemed brighter than others. Easily as bright as Jupiter. I suggested that it was probably Jupiter when it seemed to double in size. Within three seconds, it grew to double in size and brightness, then it split into 3 smaller points. These points originated in the center and radiated out. As they did, they trailed light behind. The center went out. The three points of light remained steady, at a distance of approximately two fingers apart, for about thirty seconds. Then they blinked out, one by one. No star I had ever seen had ever done anything like that. We all looked at each other, and somebody asked what we should do. Fearing ridicule and career alteration, we agreed to not say anything. It was almost 30 years ago, and I remember it like it was last night.
