U.S. Official Killed in Panmunjom, Korea

Description

SECURITY OF FILM RELEASE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) UNITED STATES of ASSESSMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. - 20301 PLEASE NOTE DATE IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 20, 1976 OXford 7-6161 Release #67-76 Footage: 50' Super 8 Original Film Room 2E 773 Time: Untimed 460003 460XXX U. S. OFFICERS KILLED IN PANMUNJOM, KOREA 100926 106337 (Official United Nations Command Film Released by Department of Defense) DATE/PLACE: This footage was taken in Panmunjom, Korea, on August 18, 1976. SCOPE: This coverage is of the unprovoked attack by North Korean soldiers upon United Nations Command officers and enlisted guards escorting a United Nations Command work party routinely trimming trees within the Demilitarized Zone. BACKGROUND: On August 18, 1976, at about 10:45 a.m. (Seoul, Korea time) (9:45 p.m. EDT, August 17, 1976) two United Nations Command officers were brutally murdered in an unprovoked assault by North Korean guards at the Joint Security Area, Panmunjom, an area within the Demilitarized Zone where free access and movement are guaranteed by the Armistice Agreement to personnel of both sides. The United Nations Command officers and enlisted guards (white helmets) were escorting a small UNC (United Nations Command) work party (civilian clothes) when North Korean guards (dark hats) attacked with axes, metal pikes and ax handles. The two Army officers, both Americans, died from massive head injuries and stab wounds inflicted by the North Korean guards. A Republic of Korea Army enlisted man, a security guard assigned to the US Army Support Group, Joint Security Area, sustained stab wounds, and a ROKA officer, four other U. S. soldiers and three additional ROKA soldiers were treated for minor cuts and bruises. The Korean Service workers were routinely trimming branches from a tree (seen on the left hand side in film) some 35-40 yards from the UNC Checkpoint Three (from where this film was taken) at the south side of the "Bridge of No Return". The murdered Americans were Major Arthur G. Bonifas, Omaha, Nebraska, and 1LT Mark T. Barrett, Jacksonville, Florida. The murders were the first deaths ever in the Joint Security Area, site of the Joint Armistice Commission meetings. SEQUENCES Various scenes of attack taken by UNC guard, SP-4 Timothy H. Gray, Joint Security Force, UNC; Korea. -MORE

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases