Operation Paul Bunyan: when North Korea murdered 2 Americans and we called their bluff

On August 18th 1976, two American soldiers were set upon and hacked to death by North Korean soldiers for the crime of pruning a poplar tree that was on the South Korean side of the border.

Their names were Arthur Bonifas and Mark Barrett.



In response, President Ford ordered a show of force.

Several companies of US Infantry and South Korean troops were ordered to the site of the killings, while over 12,000 additional troops were ordered to be sent to the area.

In the background, US helicopters and aircraft circled while B52 stratofortress bombers were on station.

A company of US troops went to the tree that the murdered men had been pruning and chopped the tree down while North Korea troops watched.

The show of force worked, as for the first time since the 1953 Armistice the North Korean government took responsibility for the incident and issued an apology.

Fun fact: future South Korean president Moon Jae-in was part of the South Korean detachment for the operation and later visited the monument built to honor the fallen men.

"Our American brother's in arms paid the ultimate price for their vigilance against the evil of Communism. May their sacrifice never be forgotten."