Michael Herrera

Michael Herrera
Role	Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, alleged whistleblower
Official affiliation	United States Marine Corps
Affiliation in practice	Alleged covert involvement in UAP-related military operations
Status	Honorably discharged (2010s)
Experience dates	October 8, 2009
Experience location	Padang, Indonesia
Experience type	Large octagonal hovering craft
Beings encountered	Unidentified men in unmarked uniforms
Alleged activities	Witnessing a UFO and covert military operation involving UAP technology
Claims	Unidentified aerial craft sighting, confiscation by unmarked U.S. forces
Physical evidence	Alleged confiscated equipment and documentation, unverified testimonies
Disclosure type	Voluntary public testimony
First public account date	2020s
Alleged suppression of evidence	Claims of documentation and equipment being confiscated by superiors
Public accounts	Interviews, podcasts, congressional briefings
Known for	Allegations of UFO sighting and covert U.S. operations involving UAP
Notable contributions	Advocacy for transparency on UAP/UFO phenomena
Attempts to debunk	Criticism from skeptics for lack of physical evidence

Michael Herrera is a former U.S. Marine who claimed to see a human-occupied craft and covert military operation during his service in 2009. Herrera alleges that while deployed in Padang, Indonesia, for humanitarian aid, he encountered a hovering, octagonal craft being loaded with weapons by unmarked U.S. forces.

Alleged incident

On October 8, 2009, Herrera was serving as a corporal with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, providing assistance after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck Padang. Herrera claims that he and five other Marines were sent to investigate a supposed weapons cache in a jungle area. Upon arrival, they allegedly observed a large, octagonal-shaped craft levitating silently above the ground. The craft was approximately 100 feet in diameter and emitted a low-frequency hum.

Herrera reports that unmarked U.S. forces were loading large weapon cases onto the craft. When noticed, he and his team were confronted by these men, held at gunpoint, and ordered to surrender their weapons and communications equipment. They were allegedly threatened to remain silent about the incident.

Public disclosure

Years after the event, Herrera began sharing his story publicly. In 2023, he provided a briefing to members of the U.S. Congress regarding his experience. He also appeared on the "Weaponized" podcast hosted by investigative journalists Jeremy Corbell and George Knapp, where he detailed the encounter and the aftermath.

Herrera asserts that he has faced intimidation and harassment since coming forward, including alleged surveillance and threats aimed at discouraging him from sharing his story.

Advocacy

Herrera is part of a growing group of former military personnel advocating for increased transparency from the government on issues related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP). He supports calls for official investigations and public hearings to address and disclose information regarding UAP encounters involving military personnel.

Reception

Herrera's claims have been met with both interest and skepticism. Supporters argue that his military background lends credibility, while critics point out the lack of physical evidence and official documentation to corroborate his story. Skeptics also note the challenges in verifying such accounts due to the secretive nature of military operations and classified information.

See Also

• Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
• Ufology
• Military UFO sightings
• Disclosure (ufology)