Two U.S. officers were brutally murdered with axes in the Korean DMZ. The U.S. response? Not missiles—but chainsaws, commandos, and fighter jets. This is the true story of Operation Paul Bunyan—how the might of the U.S. military was unleashed to cut down a single tree… and avoid World War III.
In this episode of An Ounce, we explore how a seemingly small act of violence nearly sparked global conflict, the cultural concept of “saving face,” and one of the most bizarre military operations in Cold War history.
📌 Featuring dramatic tension, dark humor, and true history that’s stranger than fiction.
🔔 Like, subscribe, and don’t miss your next ounce of unbelievable-but-true history.
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⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:54 - Tree With a View
02:51 - The Axe Murders
04:55 - The Flex Heard 'Round the World - Operation Paul Bunyan
07:10 - North Korea Blinks
07:59 - What Was This Really About?
09:08 - An Ounce
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🎥 Watch More Great Videos:
1. 👉 “Annie Oakley and Another Perfect Shot: How She Missed a Chance to Change the World”
➤ https://youtu.be/OY4x7Q3-LWw
2. “Staff Sergeant Reckless: The Unlikely Hero of the Korean War”
➤ https://youtu.be/F-vnNIWu8Kg
3. “The Real story of Paul Bunyan”
➤ https://youtu.be/zCQZST8n2Xw
4. “Dumb Sheep: The Strange True Story of a Flock That Walked Off a Cliff”
➤ https://youtu.be/FKRmzMS-PfA
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📚 References & Resources:
1. U.S. Army Center of Military History – Operation Paul Bunyan Summary
➤ https://history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/resmat/korea/paul-bunyan.html
Official U.S. Army source recounting the timeline and strategic decisions during Operation Paul Bunyan.
2. CIA Declassified Report on the Axe Murder Incident (August 1976)
➤ https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp79t00975a030500010041-2
Declassified analysis of the incident and its potential for escalation during Cold War tensions.
3. Military Times – Retrospective: The Tree That Nearly Started World War III
➤ https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2018/08/18/the-tree-that-almost-started-world-war-iii/
Accessible summary with emotional impact and human perspective on Bonifas and Barrett.
4. The National Interest – “The Most Dangerous Tree in History”
➤ https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/most-dangerous-tree-history-60362
In-depth discussion of the incident, North Korea’s response, and its symbolic meaning.
5. War History Online – The Axe Murder Incident: A Tree Almost Led to Nuclear War
➤ https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/axe-murder-incident.html
A well-written summary that captures the tension, absurdity, and danger of the event.
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🛒 Check Out My Book:
Firehouse Philosophy – Real stories and lessons for an exceptional life
📘 On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Firehouse-Philosophy-Embers-Insight-Exceptional/dp/B0BJ58Q1FS
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📬 Contact / Collaboration Inquiries:
[email protected]
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🎵 Credits:
Music: Light Expanse by Unicorn Heads via YouTube Music
Illustrative and Background Visuals: iStock, Getty, Wikimedia, and as noted in video
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