YEAR: 1989

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: August

DATE: 9

STATE: North Carolina

COUNTY: Cumberland County

LOCATION DETAILS: Secured military base

NEAREST TOWN: Ft. Bragg, NC

NEAREST ROAD: None

OBSERVED: On August 9, 1989, I was in the army and on a training exercise with 4 other soldiers at Ft. Bragg, NC. Before sunrise that morning a C-130H crashed on an earthen landing strip about 1/4 mile from my location.

[Editor's Note]:

Here's a complete list of Hercules crashes.

Approximately 1hr after sunrise, I walked about 100ft away from the others to relieve myself. I stopped in a small clearing that was mostly shallow sand with small patches of grass scattered around and surrounded by pine trees. As looked down at the ground I noticed a set of very large, human looking footprints(barefoot, 5 toes on each foot, heel and arch). I wear a size 9 1/2 boot and the prints were twice as long as mine and maybe 2" wider.

I looked more closely at the footprints and noticed a smaller set(the size of a 3-4yr old human) to the side of the larger ones. I followed the prints from one side of the clearing to the other and they dissapeared into the pine trees on both sides.

We were moving out as soon as I returned so we were short on time and I was of course ridiculed when I asked the others to go take a look.

ALSO NOTICED: Plane crash about 1/4 mile away, approx. 4hrs before tracks were found.

OTHER WITNESSES: 1

OTHER STORIES: No.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 1hr after sunrise, sunny, warm.

ENVIRONMENT: rolling hills, pine forest.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Tim Staudt:

I spoke with the witness on May 29, 2009. I found him to be very credible, and consistent in his reporting.

He observed approximately 10 to 15 very large prints that were accompanied by smaller prints in a 100 square foot area. The tracks indicated that the animals were headed toward a more densely wooded area. The prints were about 1 inch deep in soft sand that was on top of harder ground.

Upon further investigation, he noted that within the wooded area there were overgrown bunkers that were no longer used. He surmised that it would have provided excellent shelter. There were entrance doors on the backs of the bunkers, and slits on front so that soldiers could observe the exterior. The witness described them as cave-like structures. He stated that someone couldn't tell that they were there unless they were walking on right on top of them, as they were now covered with trees and vegetation.

He feels that the prints were real, and that no one would be out in the middle of a military installment faking prints that may not have ever even been found.

I spent several hours in the general area of the sighting on Fort Bragg and feel that this would be suitable habitat for an undiscovered North American Ape.

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[Editor's Note - Matt Pruitt]

Fort Bragg has yielded many credible reports over the years. I personally know two different individuals who trained at that location who saw sasquatches there; one in the 1980's, and one in the last decade.

About BFRO Investigator Tim Staudt:

DVM from College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University May 2001. Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1994 from Edinboro University of PA. Living in NC 14 years in several counties.
Attended following expeditions: SC '07, NC '08, GA '08 & '09.
Interested in bigfoot since childhood.