One of the best known and most discussed UFO abduction cases in recent history, or the history of the phenomena, is that of Travis Walton. Early November of 1975 Travis Walton was working on a logging crew in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. Walton and six other men were leaving the logging site at the end of the day when they saw a light in the forest, or as given in the title of the movie of the story, “A Fire In The Sky.” Obviously a forest fire threatened their livelihood so they went to investigate and what they saw has been hotly debated ever since.

Discovery in the woods

A little after 6 p.m. on the evening of November 5, Rogers and his crew finished their work for the day and piled into Rogers’ truck for the drive back to Snowflake. The crew reported that shortly after beginning the drive home, they saw a bright light from behind an upcoming hill. They drove closer and said they saw a large silvery disc hovering above a clearing and shining brightly. It was around 8 feet (2.4 m) high and 20 feet (6.1 m) in diameter.

Rogers slowed the truck to a stop after which, they claim, Walton leaped from the truck and ran toward the disc. The other men said they shouted at Walton to come back but that he continued toward the disc. The men in the truck reported that Walton was nearly below the object when the disc began making noises similar to a very loud turbine. The disc then began to wobble from side to side, and Walton began to cautiously walk away from the object.

Jerome Clark wrote that just after Walton moved away from the disc, the others insist they saw a beam of blue-green light emanate from the disc and “strike” Walton. Clark went on to write that Walton “rose a foot into the air, his arms and legs outstretched, and shot back stiffly some 10 feet (3.0 m), all the while caught in the glow of the light. His right shoulder hit the earth, and his body sprawled limply over the ground.”

Rogers later said he was convinced Walton was dead, so he drove away very quickly over the rough road, afraid that the disc was chasing the truck. After about a quarter of a mile, the truck skidded off the road and Rogers stopped. After some discussion, the crew claim they decided to go back to the site and find Walton. The disc was gone, and his co-workers said they searched for Walton for a half hour but found no sign of him.

Walton’s co-workers were investigated for his possible murder and each separately passed multiple poly-graph tests attesting to their story as told. Five days later, Travis turned up, inadequately dressed for the season, unshaven, injured and frightened. His story matched that of his co-workers with the addition of his account of being aboard the craft witnessed in the forest that night. That story is available for you to read.

One of the questions that surrounds UFO abductions is that of motive. In the Walton case, Travis himself has come to one possible conclusion.

I found this on Open Minds TV website and with the their kind permission bring it to you here.

Travis Walton reveals new theory on Fire in the Sky Abduction
Michael Cline | Jul 02, 2012

Travis Walton (Credit: Open Minds/Peter Beste)
One of the most prolific abduction cases in the history of ufology, which happened more than 35 years ago, was that of Travis Walton. His disappearance caused a whirlwind of news reports, controversy, and skepticism.

For his entire adult life, Walton has been carrying this emotional burden and the telling of his story has been, for the most part, a solo journey. Recently, at the 2012 International UFO Congress, two eye witnesses, John Goulette and Steve Pierce, came forward to speak with Walton about the incident. Hearing their stories has educated Walton about what Goulette and Pierce experienced during his abduction, and since then he has also connected with others who have shared similar stories. Making these connections and his own process of maturity has allowed Walton to reexamine his beliefs surrounding the incident.

Recently Walton sat down with Open Minds and during the interview it was apparent he had a certain new found confidence. Whether it is the result of Walton being joined by his fellow workmen and sharing their stories, or just through the maturity process, it is evident that Walton has become much more comfortable in his own skin.

One can only speculate how someone is personally affected after an experience like this. The truth as to why this happened to Walton will probably never be known for sure. But he continues to press on and uses his new conviction surrounding the incident to broaden his philosophy on life and society.

And in looking for additional information to bring to the case I found the story of one of the witnesses, and how those events have affected him to this day.

This case may never be solved to the satisfaction of sceptics, but of all cases it is one of the best witnessed and reported, and has very little that challenges it beyond scepticism itself. And of those cases is possibly unique in Mr, Walton’s opinion that his abduction was neither sought nor malevolent, but rather a possible “humanitarian” act.