How To Cut Down A Tree In The Korean DMZ —- Operation Paul Bunyan, 1976.

How to Cut Down a Tree in the Korean DMZ —- Operation Paul Bunyan, 1976.

Perhaps the most heavily armed border in the world, the Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as a buffer between South Korea (backed by the Unites States) and the militaristic regime of North Korea.  Created in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, the demilitarized zone is a 4 km neutral area where neither side can deploy significant military forces.  When the DMZ was created in 1953, a small sapling grew in the UN Command side of a region near the town of Panmunjom.  By the mid 1970’s that sapling had grown into a large 100 ft tall poplar tree which blocked the view between UN lines and a small checkpoint guarding a bridge which led to the North Korean side of the DMZ.  Because of this blindspot it was not uncommon for North Korean soldiers to enter the DMZ and attempt to abduct American and South Korean guards.

On August 18th, 1976 UN Command decided that the blindspot had to be removed after an incident led to US soldiers being held captive at gunpoint.  Five South Korean soldiers and a dozen US troops entered the zone to trim the the poplar tree.  The team was armed only with axes and machetes as firearms are forbidden in the DMZ.  As the team began trimming the tree, a delegation from the North Korean side arrived with 35 soldiers armed with axes, clubs, and crowbars.  The commander of the North Korean force was Lt. Pak Chul, an officer notorious for stirring up trouble on the DMZ.  Lt. Pak ordered the team to cease their trimming, claiming the tree had been planted by the Great Leader Kim il Sung and was under his care.  When the tree trimming team refused to stop, the North Koreans attacked leading to a 30 second scuffle.  By the time UN forces had chased off the North Koreans, Capt. Arthur Bonifas had been bludgeoned to death and Lt. Mark Barrett was mortally wounded.

In response to the attack which killed two American officers, UN Command decided that the tree would be completely removed with the aid of overwhelming force.  Called “Operation Paul Bunyan”, the operation was about more than just cutting down a tree in the DMZ, it was specifically designed to intimidate North Korea. Two eight man teams of US combat engineers entered the DMZ armed with industrial chainsaws to cut down the tree.  They were escorted by a 64 man team of South Korean special forces, all hand to hand combat experts and all armed with clubs, swords, and spears.  

Elsewhere larger forces where martialing. Aircraft squadrons were deployed all over South Korea, running tactical patrols near the DMZ. The USS Midway aircraft carrier task force dropped anchor in the sea of Japan, prepared to launch bomber strikes on North Korea within a minutes notice. Tens of thousands of American and South Korean troops were placed on high alert, ready to fend off a full scale attack across the DMZ. Another 12,000 American soldiers and 1,800 Marines were also shipped from Japan to South Korea to aid in the effort. American and South Korean forces were preparing for war, and it seemed they were about to go to war over a 100 foot poplar tree in the middle of nowhere.

On August 21st, 1976 Operation Paul Bunyan commenced and the American/South Korean team entered the DMZ to cut down the poplar tree.  On the North Korean side stood the infamous Lt. Pak and 200 men, who entered the DMZ with assault rifles and machine guns in blatant violation of DMZ rules.  As the team began cutting down the poplar tree the North Koreans began to advance, but immediately halted when 7 Cobra attack helicopters appeared on the UN side, ready to swoop in to the aid of the tree cutting team.  Supporting them was a flight of B-52 bombers and squadrons of F-4 Phantoms, prepared to strike if the North Koreans dared try anything.  The North Koreans watched in silence as the team felled the tree in 42 minutes.  A 20 ft tall stump was deliberately left standing.  

In the end the incident did not lead to full scale war.  Today tensions along the DMZ continue as relations between the US and North Korea continue to degrade.