A simple gardening task almost led to a full-blown war between the United States and North Korea. The year was 1976, and the scene was the heavily guarded Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas—a place where tensions are always high. And conflict a common sight.
It all started with a poplar tree. Standing in the Truce Village at the DMZ, this tree was blocking the US from keeping an eye on North Korean activities. So, a group of US and South Korean soldiers set out to trim it back. Sounds harmless, right? Well, North Korea didn’t think so.
As the soldiers began their work, a group of North Korean troops appeared, armed with axes and clubs, and demanded they stop. When the soldiers ignored their orders, things turned violent. Two US officers—Captain Arthur Bonifas and Lieutenant Mark Barrett—were brutally bludgeoned to death. The tree was reportedly planted by North Korean dictator Kim Il Sung, making it invaluable to the DPRK.
Word of the attack quickly reached Washington, DC, and the US was faced with a tough decision: what to do next? Secretary of State Henry Kissinger pushed for a direct attack on North Koren military positions, but cooler heads prevailed. Instead, the US came up with a bizarre but serious plan: Operation Paul Bunyan.
Operation Paul Bunyan was a massive, show-of-force operation designed to cut down the poplar tree using overwhelming military power. The operation involved hundreds of men, helicopters, B-52 bombers, and even an aircraft carrier task force—all to make sure that tree wouldn’t be a problem anymore.
The North Koreans, meanwhile, watched from a distance, but didn’t intervene. As the soldiers moved in and chopped down the tree, the whole operation was over in just 45 minutes. No more poplar tree. And with that, the US and South Korean forces quickly withdrew, leaving the DMZ in a tense but awkward calm.
Although Operation Paul Bunyan was a success, it reminded the world of the brittle nature of war. And how easy it was to trigger it.
