Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone, Gyeonggi-do Province, South Korea

Axe Murder Incident Memorial

By Craig Swain

1. Axe Murder Incident Memorial

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

On this spot was located the yellow poplar tree which was the focal point of the axe murders of two United Nations Command officers, Captain Arthur Bonifas and First Lieutenant Mark Barrett, who were attacked and killed by North Korean guards while supervising a work party trimming the tree on 18 August 1976.

{On alternating lines is the translation in Hangul (Korean}.

Topics. This historical marker memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, Cold • War, Korean. A significant historical year for this entry is 1976.

Location. 37° 57.36′ N, 126° 40.355′ E. Marker is in Panmunjom, Gyeonggi-do Province, in Demilitarized Zone. Technically this memorial is located between North and South Korea within the Joint Security Area, jointly administered by both Korean governments, within the Demilitarized Zone. Location is accessed only by escort of military personnel. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Panmunjom, Gyeonggi-do Province 468-1, South Korea. Touch for directions.

More about this memorial. The memorial is located near the "Bridge of No Return."

Also see . . .
1. Axe Murder Incident. Wikipedia entry detailing the incident. (Submitted on September 11, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Memorial Service. Video

Bridge of No Return and Memorial image. Click for full size.

By Craig Swain

2. Bridge of No Return and Memorial

The bridge is known as "The Bridge of No Return" since crossing it indicates a defection to one side or the other of the two Koreas. The location of the poplar tree, and that of the memorial is just visible at the "Y" of the road junction, in front of the guard house. The memorial is on a concrete slab to the right side of the road running toward the bridge.

Click or scan to see
this page online

of a recent memorial service held at the site. (Submitted on September 11, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

By Craig Swain

3. Pan-Mun Gak

The main North Korean building within the DMZ.

Joint Security Area Map, 1976 image. Click for full size.

From Wikipedia Commons

4. Joint Security Area Map, 1976

Map showing the location of the tree, the bridge, and related buildings in the JSA as they stood at the time of the incident.

38th Parallel Sign image. Click for full size.

By Dodson M. Curry

5. 38th Parallel Sign

Located in another section of Korea, but a reminder of the division that still exists today. This sign was in Kumsong, Korea. Kumhwa Valley Demarcation Line between North and South Korea.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,027 times since then and 32 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week October 10, 2010. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 11, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on May 13, 2010, by Dodson M. Curry of Birmingham, Alabama.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Clearer photo of monument. • Can you help?