Last week on the Pen

On August 18 I went up to Camp Bonifas at the DMZ for the memorial service for Capt Arthur G. Bonifas and 1st Lt Mark T. Barrett. It's always a good reminder of the grim event that happened in 1976 and the fact that anything can happen. During the service the two ROK soldiers, both staff sergeants, that triggered the box mines on August 4, and seriously maimed were noted by all the officials and in a personal letter that was read out loud from Mrs. Barrett. Hundreds of S. Korean villagers near the border have been injured or killed after stepping on or picking up stray mines.

Memorial Wreaths from ROK and US Veteran's Associations

Each contingency lies a white chrysanthemum  on each of the memorials

US Veterans who were at the incident

Tensions have been high up at the DMZ with S. Korea retaliation of the mine incident by blasting anti North propaganda over loud speakers on the border and the yearly ROK and US military combined exercise. A state of quasi-war was declared by North Korea upon the South. 

ROK Nightmare Range

The Live Fire Exercise at Nightmare Range was really a Live Fire exhibition with local school children, business owners and the Mothers of soldiers dressed in uniform. Music played as a narration of what was occurring out on the range. It was quite spectacular.

An interesting note: The US pulled out there participation of this event a half hour before it was to commence. But they did keep their vehicles parked.

Talks have finished up at the DMZ and the negotiations brought an apology from the North to the two ROK soldiers who were wounded from the box mines. The South with cease the loud speaker blasting of anti North propaganda and the best news that the reunions between the North and South families separated by the war will recommence.