The other day I got to go up to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) between North and South Korea. It's got to be similar to living in either East or West Germany except that war could literally break out at any time. No one wants to talk about it, but the motto of the 2nd ID, Fight Tonight, has been known to be reiterated as (Fight Right Now)!
There have been incidents over the years. The Axe Murder Incident occurred on August 18, 1976. A work force was to prune a poplar tree 75 meters east of the Bridge of No Return. Two soldiers, Captain Bonifas and Lieutenant Barrett were slain, four US enlisted men and four ROK soldiers were injured when the N. Korean soldiers attacked. The N. Korean attackers fled back to N. Korea on the Bridge of No Return.
There have been incidents over the years. The Axe Murder Incident occurred on August 18, 1976. A work force was to prune a poplar tree 75 meters east of the Bridge of No Return. Two soldiers, Captain Bonifas and Lieutenant Barrett were slain, four US enlisted men and four ROK soldiers were injured when the N. Korean soldiers attacked. The N. Korean attackers fled back to N. Korea on the Bridge of No Return.
The Bridge of No Return is the spot where all the POW's were repatriated after the end of the Korean War. It's an eerie place where you can still hear the foot steps.
The Military Armistice Commission (MAC) building houses four level of meetings essential to the upkeep of the Armistice Agreement, which was signed on July 27, 1953. These meetings are conducted in a hostile environment in this blue building, half on S. Korean soil the other half on N. Korean soil.
I am standing on the N. Korean side.
All the guards wear sun glasses so their eyes will not reveal any emotion and they stand in a Taekwondo position of readiness. This guard must stand only half exposed to N. Korea.
Guard in N. Korea.
