Camp Bonifas is a
Republic of Korea ArmyThe Republic of Korea Army is by far the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 522,000 members as of 2008. This size is maintained through conscription, South Korean men must complete 24 months of military service between graduation of high school and the age of 35...
postA military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations.- Etymology :...
(with a small
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the branch of the United States Military responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military and is one of seven uniformed services...
force of the
United States Forces KoreaUnited States Forces Korea refers to the ground, air and naval divisions of the United States armed forces stationed in South Korea.Major components of the force include the Eighth United States Army, the Seventh Air Force and U.S...
present) located 400 meters from the southern boundary of the
Korean Demilitarized ZoneThe Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
and 2400 meters from the military demarcation line, within the
Joint Security AreaThe Joint Security Area or Panmunjeom, often called the "Truce Village" in both the media and various military accounts, is the only portion of the Korean Demilitarized Zone where South and North Korean forces stand face-to-face...
and Panmunjom, along the Military Demarcation Line, which forms the border between
South KoreaSouth Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often simply referred to as Korea, is a country in East Asia, located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul, the second largest...
(the Republic of Korea) and
North KoreaNorth Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , is a state in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer area between North Korea and South Korea...
(the Democratic People's Republic of Korea).
Camp Bonifas is home to the United Nations Command Security Battalion - Joint Security Area, whose primary mission is to monitor and enforce the Armistice agreement of 1953 between North and South Korea. South Korean and American soldiers (known as "security escorts") conduct the United Nations Commander DMZ Orientation Program tours of the JSA and surrounding areas. The camp has a
gift shopA gift shop is a store primarily selling souvenirs relating to a particular topic, often to simply provide evidence that the consumer has visited that location. The items sold are generally fairly trivial, often including coffee mugs, stuffed animals, t-shirts, postcards, and other souvenirs...
which sells DMZ- and JSA-related
souvenirA souvenir , memento or keepsake is an object a traveler brings home for the memories associated with it. Souvenirs include clothing such as T-shirts or hats, postcards, refrigerator magnets, miniature figures, household items such as mugs and bowls, ashtrays, egg timers, spoons, notepads, and many...
s.
The camp was formerly known as
Camp Kitty Hawk and
Camp Liberty Bell, but was re-named on August 18, 1986, in honor of U.S. Army Captain Arthur G. Bonifas (
posthumously promotedA posthumous promotion is the military term for the promotion of a soldier after their death. This is typically, but not always, an honor bestowed upon a soldier after they have died in service of their country in combat.-See also:* Tombstone promotion...
to
majorIn the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. It is equivalent to the rank of lieutenant commander in the other uniformed services.The pay grade for the rank of major...
), who along with 1LT Mark T. Barrett, were both killed by North Korean soldiers in what has become known as the
Axe Murder IncidentThe Axe Murder Incident was the killing of two United States Army officers by North Korean soldiers on August 18, 1976 in the Joint Security Area located in the Korean Demilitarized Zone which forms the de facto border between North and South Korea...
.
There is a
parIn golf, par is a predetermined number of strokes that a scratch golfer should require to complete a hole, a round , or a tournament...
3 one-hole "
golf courseA golf course consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
" at Camp Bonifas which includes an
AstroturfAstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Though the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf...
green and is surrounded on three sides by minefields.
Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports magazine owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. It has over 3 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men, 19% of the adult males in the United States. It was the first magazine with circulation over one...
called it "the most dangerous hole in golf" and there are reports that at least one shot exploded a land mine.
Kevin Sullivan of
The Washington PostThe Washington Post is the newspaper with the largest circulation in Washington, D.C. and is the city's oldest paper, founded in 1877. Being located in the nation's capital, it has a particular emphasis on national politics and international affairs...
reported in 1998 that Camp Bonifas was a "small collection of buildings surrounded by triple coils of
razor wireBarbed tape or razor wire is a mesh of metal strips with sharp edges whose purpose is to prevent passage by humans. The name "Razor Ribbon" is a registered trademark of Allied Tube & Conduit Company, although through long usage the term is generally used to describe the barbed tape products of...
just 440 yards south of the DMZ" that, were it not for the minefields and soldiers, would "look like a big
Boy ScoutThe Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over four million youth members in its age-related divisions...
camp."
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