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When I hear a Veteran talk about their barracks ghost stories, I want to ask, “Was your base really haunted or were you just hallucinating from the black mold and asbestos?” Of course that’s a joke, but that does not negate the fact there is an alarming amount of ghost stories coming from US military bases. Here are three of the top most haunted ones.
West Point, Military academy, New York
Surprised to see a school on this list? West Point is notorious for hauntings. Though, I’m sure it remains in the nightmares of some of its alumni, it's set on traumatizing the future of Army leaders for years to come. The academy is known for an unknown occupant that wanders about, making its living quarters in room 4714. Though naturally beautiful in the fall, New England is bound to have more than one thread to the noose. Less than an hour away from campus holds secrets of famous ghost hunters, Ed and Lorraine Warren, in the town of Sleepy Hollow. The Warrens were real people, not just characters from the Conjuring movie series, and their ghost exposés were very, very real as well. So real, that the Warrens were considered reputable and reliable enough to lecture at the academy back in the 70’s. The more you know.
Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington
In 1927, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord museum was a hotel near (then) Camp Lewis, and holds some pretty garish history. At the time, it was hosting a film crew for the movie, The Patent Leather Kid. During production, reports claim a member of the crew was murdered on the second floor, and there have been many unexplained phenomenons since. In the theater world, there are a few things that jinx productions, and even so, the show must go on. But looking back on the Poltergeist film and how that turned out, it's not surprising that Camp Lewis took the same path. The hauntings mimic that of the movie, and electronic malfunctions are common when activity is high.
The Army has confirmed that some records from the time claim, “maids and hotel staff swore they had seen the ghost of a man dressed as a cowboy wandering the halls.” Because of the times, records are incomplete. However, an article published in the Fort Lewis Ranger (what is now the post newspaper) in 1987, states the haunting did not stop after the hotel closed. Furthermore, the article says the disturbances were so out of control, three priests were brought to perform an exorcism. Again, records from the time are not definitive, but it is still considered to be a hotspot for paranormal activity. Paranormal forums online are packed with Soldiers who have claimed to have unexplained experiences occurred while near the building.
Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
Ghost stories can have some pretty creepy origins. When you look at the more sinister history of Japan, it’s no wonder that Kadena Air Base has none other than: a creepy ass cave. Unsurprisingly, the cave was actually used as a field hospital during the war, providing shelter and the element of surprise. The fact that it was used as a hospital is enough to make it extremely haunted, let alone the fact that it was during such a brutal war. Other hauntings on base are related to reports of ancient buildings being disturbed and military members violently lashing out.
It's not uncommon that when spirits are around that certain individuals become hostile, just watch an episode of ghost adventures and watch how Zak talks to Aaron. (With that being said, maybe Fort Hood is just hella haunted, we should probably do a full base exorcism.)
If your base didn’t make the list, that doesn’t mean your stories are not valid. For every one person who shares their experience online, there are probably a few who haven’t. That in itself is a scary thought.
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