Tree trimming. Trees get too big, you call someone to come out and prune back or remove the offending tree. Maybe a couple of hundred dollars if you have to get them to pull out the stump right?
Well, today is the anniversary of probably the most expensive tree trimming operation ever. What made it so expensive? Usually, when the guys come to cut down the tree, its 2 or 3 guys, some chainsaws, a truck, maybe a chipper. Well, on this date in 1976, chopping down a few trees was done by sixteen U.S. Army Engineers. Divided into two groups of eight men each, each team was accompanies by a 30 man security platoon drawn from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (A/2/9)which was then assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division.
Also accompanying the 16 engineers, 60 infantrymen (wielding axe handles and pistols) were 64 members of the Republic of Korea's Special Forces (officially unarmed but unofficially reported to be carrying their weapons). There were also 23 vehicles to transport the force. In addition to the ground detachment, there was a combat air patrol orbiting above the men. At low altitudes, there were 20 UH-1 "Huey" Helicopters carrying the better part of another U.S. infantry company (B/2/9) and 6 AH-1 Cobra gunships. Flying at much higher altitudes were B-52 Stratofortresses (on loan from Strategic Air Command) being escorted by F-4 Phantoms. Waiting to be called upon if needed was a battalion of artillery (with 18 155mm howitzers) and F-111 fighter-bombers on ground alert at Osan Air Force Base. Backing up all that was the USS Midway's carrier battle group with 70 or so attack aircraft (including F-4 Phantoms, A-6 Intruders, and A-7 Corsairs).
And it should also be mentioned that, in addition to all those units directly moving to support the 16 guys with chain-saws, all U.S., United Nation, and Republic of Korea armed forces on the Korean peninsula were put on full alert.
Now what would cause all this?
In fact, it was a couple trees. It just happened that these trees were located in the Joint Security Area (aka the JSA). The JSA is the only place in the Korean peninsula were United Nations soldiers and soldiers of the North Korean People's Army come into contact. It is the area around the truce town of Panmunjom, where negotiations can occur between the two parties who are still technically at war with one another.
In 1976, technically was creeping towards actually when the Axe Murder Incident happened on August 18. Earlier that year, NKPA units had begun a series of provocations which included firing on UN/US/ROK aircraft. Almost a week earlier, NKPA soldiers had chased out a detachment of wood cutters who had been sent out to prune a 30 foot high poplar tree. After a few days of rains, Captain Bonifas, Captain Kim (ROKA) 1st Lieutenant Mark Barrett and 11 U.S. soliders and KATUSAs went out to take care of the tree that was blocking the line of sight for the UN troops.
As soon as they started working, they were met by NKPA patrol of 30 men led by Lt. Pak Chul. Nicknamed the "Bulldog" for his ability to try and provoke incidents, Lt. Chul initially ordered the US/ROK tree cutting operation to cease. When they did not, he ordered his men to attack and kill them. Since neither side had much in the way of firearms, the fight quickly degenerated into a melee of fists and axes as both sides fought.
(Photographs of the actual Axe Murder Incident)
Caught by surprise, many accounts stating that he was hit in the back of the head by Pak while he ignore the NKPA officer's orders, Bonifas was killed before he could know what happened. Lt. Barett was killed as well. Three KATUSAs and four Americans on the party were also injured. Five NKPA troopers were also either serious injured or killed in the brawl. The survivors of the tree cutting party quickly retreated back the UN side of the JSA.
Following the incident, NKPA units began firing on U.S. and ROK aircraft which were patrolling south of the DMZ. The situation seemed to be escalating out of control.
Realizing what would happen if they allowed the NKPA to force them out of the JSA, even over something as trivial as a tree, the commander of the UN forces, General Richard G. Stillwell, decided that this could not go unanswered. Coming on the heels of the Pueblo incident, the Mayaguez incident, and the evacuation of Saigon, it was probably felt that there needed to be a decisive, and successful, response to the North Korean aggression. Stillwell's solution was Operation Paul Bunyan, launched on August 21, 1976.
The 16 engineers and the immediate support troops, designed Task Force Vierra, rolled into the JSA, NKPA officers began reacting. They dispatched a company of their own, approximately 150 to 200 soldiers, fully armed. Upon seeing their advance, Lt. Col. Vierra, in command of the actual ground operation, called for his air cover to demonstrate against the NKPA troopers. Upon seeing the firepower that was being brought to bear, the NKPA deployed to watch, but not hinder the operation.
For the next 42 minutes, the engineers cut down the trees. An illegal roadblock which had been earlier set up by the NKPA was also dismantled. For good measure, the ROK Special Forces detachment vandalized two nearby guard posts of the NKPA. By 7:15 a.m., the US and ROKA forces were back in their vehicles.
Although there were fears that the show of force could provoke an even more violent response, the North Koreans seemed unwilling to up the stakes further after that day. The NKPA's series of provocations were now being met more forcefully by US and ROK forces. When shots were fired later on August 21 at a US Army helicopter, another show of force by AH-1 Cobra put an end to the shooting.
Whether it did or did not prevent a resumption of the Korean War can be debated (although history suggests that it did). For the people who served there in 1976, Operation Paul Bunyan was seen as a necessary and effective way of preserving peace and freedom on the Korean peninsula. Today, there is a small stone statue that marks the spot of the incident.
There are accounts of Operation Paul Bunyan here, here, and here. I borrowed some of these photos from websites recording personal experiences of people. Some of those include Wayne Johnson's (who was a member of A Company on that day in 1976) story which is here.
Note: I made an error in reporting casualties the first time, which a reader pointed out. The error was entirely my own from a double I did. I apologize for that. The error has been corrected ( I hope).
