On Wednesday
18 August 1976 at 1040 hours in the morning, a United Nations Command
(UNC) work force of five Korean Service Corps (KSC) personnel
accompanied
by and UNC security force, including the Joint Security Force (JSF)
Commander, Captain (P) Arthur G. Bonifas of Newburgh, New York, First
Lieutenant Mark T. Barrett of Columbia, South Carolina, and one Republic
of (South) Korean Army (ROKA) officer started to prune a large tree in the
vicinity of UNC Check Point #3. This tree partially obscured the view
between UNC Check Point #3 and UNC Check Point #5. In addition the
un-pruned tree was also blocking the view of the "Bridge of No Return" from
"Freedom House." Shortly after the KSC work force arrived at the tree and
began to cut it back, (North) Korean People's Army (KPA) personnel
appeared at the work site. For a short time, the KPA security force
observed the pruning without apparent concern. Suddenly, the KPA security
force commander demanded that the JSF commander cease pruning or there
would be trouble. Captain Bonifas did not order the operation stopped.
Senior Lieutenant Pak Chul of the KPA, seeing that he was losing control,
took off his wristwatch, wrapped it in his handkerchief and put it in
his pocket. Another North Korean rolled up his sleeves. Lieutenant Pak
then shouted "MI KUN UL CHU KI GI CHA." Translated, it means, "Kill the U.S.
Aggressors."; the UNC security force was attacked by a superior force of
30 KPA guards wielding pick handles, knives, clubs, and axes. Senior
Lieutenant Pak jumped on Captain Bonifas from the back forcing him to the
ground where Bonifas was beaten to death. 1LT Barrett was also attacked.
The KPA soldiers used the mattox and axes the tree trimming detail was
using prune the tree as weapons. The North Korean attack was broken up
when a UNC soldier drove his 2 1/2 ton truck into the fight and over
Captain Bonifas to protect him. The UNC Security Force then withdrew but
not before two American Army Officers were murdered and, a ROKA officer,
three Korean Augmentees to the US Army (KATUSA) and four US enlisted men
were wounded.
The UNC's response to the North Korean attack in the JSA was the planning and
execution of "Operation Paul
Bunyan."
