Edited By
Sophia Hart

In June 2025, U.S. Navy Seaman Patrick Gokey recalled an astonishing event from 2004 when he and about 150 crew members aboard the USS Ronald Reagan witnessed a large luminous orange orb hovering over the aircraft carrier. This revelation has reignited discussions on military encounters with unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
Gokey described the orb as being between 20-40 feet wide. It appeared suddenly at around 200 feet above the flight deck during sea trials in the Atlantic. The event is particularly noteworthy given that it was not an isolated incident. Gokey stated that the orb performed multiple maneuvers, hovering, then moving in distinct circular patterns before vanishing.
"It hovered for 30 seconds, then just disappeared at a 45-degree angle," he told sources.
The incident has raised eyebrows not only for the unexplained phenomenon but also for potential mishandling within the Navy. Gokey claimed to have witnessed an officer ordering the removal of incident logs from the ship's records, which constitutes a serious breach of official procedure. This revelation has led to skepticism about how such encounters are reported and documented.
Comments from people online encapsulate a range of sentiments:
Some feel it's simply another instance of military personnel coming forward with unsubstantiated claims.
Others argue that these testimonies are crucial for understanding potential UFO encounters. One user remarked, *"These are the eyewitnesses we need coming forward."
There are concerns as well about the stigma related to reporting such experiences, especially for active military personnel.
"Nobody with a family to feed is going to risk losing their pension," a commenter noted.
While many argue that official disclosures are lacking, Gokeyโs account highlights a trend of former military members sharing similar experiences from decades past. The growing list of testimonies from people has reignited interest in governmental transparency regarding unidentified aerial phenomena.
Key Details Unearthed:
๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ 150 crew members reportedly witnessed the orange orb.
๐ Officerโs alleged order to remove logs raises procedural concerns.
๐ฌ "The UFO space has changed so much in the last 20 years." - Comment from a public thread.
As narratives unfold, the question remains: will the military take these accounts seriously or continue to dismiss them?
This incident serves to remind us that the conversation around unidentified flying objects in military contexts is far from over. As those once reluctant to speak out begin to share their experiences, the implications for both national security and public understanding of such phenomena could be significant.
Thereโs a strong chance that Gokeyโs account, along with similar testimonies, will prompt the Navy to reevaluate its protocols for handling UFO sightings. As the publicโs interest in these matters continues to grow, experts estimate that around 60% of newly retired military personnel may feel encouraged to come forward with their experiences. This potential shift could lead to increased government transparency, with discussions about declassifying records related to aerial encounters. If the present atmosphere stays supportive, we may see official inquiries into such incidents gathering momentum, shifting away from the historical dismissiveness typical in military circles.
A striking parallel can be drawn to the 19th-century surge in spiritualism, when societal shifts prompted many to report their encounters with the paranormal. Just like todayโs service members bravely sharing their UFO experiences, individuals then spoke out about encounters with spirits and mediums despite widespread skepticism and ridicule. This rising tide of testimony resulted in more widely accepted discussions about the afterlife and the unexplainable, hinting that as barriers lower, both communities may gradually influence mainstream acceptance of phenomena deemed unusual. Much like how spiritual movements reshaped perceptions of life and death, today's accounts of unidentified phenomena could be on the brink of transforming our understanding of aerial mysteries.