William J. Hermann

William J. Hermann (also spelled Herrmann), a diesel mechanic, born-again Christian, and church custodian from North Charleston, South Carolina, USA, gained notoriety in UFO circles as a contactee and channeler. In November 1977, he began sighting a UFO over Charleston, photographing it nine times on January 22, 1978. On March 18, 1978, a beam from the craft paralyzed him, leading to a three-hour abduction where he awoke 15 miles away. Under hypnosis by UFO researcher James A. Harder of APRO, he recalled being examined aboard a 70-foot disc by three 4.5-foot tall humanoid beings with large heads, oversized eyes, pale skin, and red clothing from Zeta Reticuli, concerned about Earth's wars. He later channeled their messages, produced a metal bar (lead and antimony, akin to battery material), and claimed a final contact on May 16, 1979. His story featured in Omni Magazine (1978) and a Japanese TV documentary. Wendelle Stevens co-authored and self-published UFO Contact from Reticulum (1981), selling about 5,000 copies, though dismissed by most ufologists for lack of corroboration.