Robert Caplan - Veteran NDEs / Love: Our true identity, purpose and meaning for being human
What Researchers Found
The Story
Robert Kaplan was a 20-year-old Navy plane captain serving on the USS Forestall in 1956. He suffered a near-death experience when he was pulled into a jet engine intake during a high power turnup on the flight deck, causing severe injuries including broken bones, burns, and a concussion. During the NDE, Kaplan left his body and watched from above as the Catholic chaplain gave him last rites, perceiving the chaplain's anguish over his Jewish faith. He re-entered his body, opened his eyes, and told the chaplain, 'Father, don't you know I'm Jewish? It's okay, father. You'll do.' In sick bay, he observed doctors working on him from the ceiling, feeling their worry. He perceived his entire life at once and heard the words 'I am the love I seek.' He was unconscious for 48 hours, in and out of his body, with no pain outside it but intense pain upon returning. After the NDE, Kaplan recovered after 19 months in the hospital with surgeries for a bone infection. He formed a close friendship with a paraplegic patient, sharing joy and laughter. He did not discuss the experience for 30 years due to shame and guilt. Later, he became a chaplain and therapist, advocating for support and validation for veterans with NDEs, emphasizing love and human connection.
“my life signs. I didn't have any life again. He gave me last rights a second”
Robert Caplan's NDE includes a severe clinical death with no life signs and detailed OBE observations from above his body, such as the chaplain's specific actions and perceived internal resistance, which are somewhat unpredictable. However, the evidential strength is limited by the complete absence of any verification attempts or confirmations, no multiple verified details, and the account being publicly shared decades after the event without prior documentation.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.
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What Researchers Found
Robert Caplan's NDE includes a severe clinical death with no life signs and detailed OBE observations from above his body, such as the chaplain's specific actions and perceived internal resistance, which are somewhat unpredictable. However, the evidential strength is limited by the complete absence of any verification attempts or confirmations, no multiple verified details, and the account being publicly shared decades after the event without prior documentation.
Score reflects verifiable perceptions reported. A low score indicates the experience was primarily spiritual or subjective, not that it didn't occur.
Score reflects transformation as described. Domains scored 0 indicate the topic was not discussed, not that no change occurred.