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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 604　19 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0443)　15 August 1950

Information seems fairly reliable.

Inducted 10 Feb 50 at HAMGYONG NAMDO, KOWON GUN and sent to NANAM, 25 Feb 50 to join 5th Div, 3rd Regt. Between 25 Feb 50 to 10 Jun 50 the POW was trained as infantry man.

Captured by South Koreans when squad was separated from unit.

1st Bn, 3rd Regt:

1 82 mm Mortar Plt, 9 x Mortars, No of troops & ammo - unk

3 Rifle companies, each Co has 12 x LMG’s (250 rds per gun) 3 x HMG’s (600 rounds per gun) 24 sub-machine guns, (150 rounds per gun) and rifle (100 rounds each). 2 hand grenades per soldier.

On 9 Aug 50, the headquarters of the 5th Division was located 8 kms West of YONGDOK (PW was a guard at Div Hqtrs).

5th Div Strength (original) 10,000

5th Div Casualties - approx 1,000

Inf Regt (Number unknown)

11th Inf Regt

12th Inf Regt

Each Inf Regt consisted of over 1,000 troops. No other information.

5th Div CG unknown.

3rd Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co CO: PAR PYONG MO (박병모), Sr Lt, age 30.

1st Co 2nd Plt ldr: CH’OE HAN GYON (최韓遣), Sr Lt, age 24, formerly of 8th Route Army.

Five (5) SU-76 self-propelled guns of the 5th Div were destroyed by aircraft bombing and land mines. The 5th Div’s self-propelled guns were last seen at a site 7 kms East of YONGDOK on 9 Aug 50.

The Div Arty was last seen (9 Aug 50) at CHIL SONG DOK (Phonetic) 8 kms North of YONGDOK. No. of troops and guns in Div Arty unknown. Type of guns: 45 AT gun, 76 mm and 122 mm Howitzers.

The 5th Div is getting its food supplies from the civilian population in newly captured areas. Ammo supplies were brought to the Div from ULTCHIN by trucks and carts. The people of the newly captured area were forced to hand carry ammo supplies from ULTCHIN. ULTCHIN is the main supply (ammo) point for the 5th Div. Ammo is brought from WONSAN by rail to the depot at YANGYANG. From YGNAYANG it is transported at night by trucks and carts. Because of aircraft, ammo supply reaches the Div every other day. Ammo supply is said to be very low. The PW states that the ammo the troops have now (100 rounds per rifle) is all there is in 5th Div.

Morale: Morale in the 5th Div is said to be low because of the following reasons: lack of rest and food, aircraft and naval bombardment. Morale remains low during both advance and retreat. The troops all feel that they will be killed in the end.

Replacement: The 5th Division does not have replacements. The wounded of the 5th Div were usually evacuated about 5 kms to the rear and left to care for themselves. The wounded were not given medical attention.

Captured Equipment: No information.

No information.

Most of the people in the newly captured areas are afraid of and hostile toward the North Korean forces. The PW came in contact with some people in these areas who said they would stick to the winning side. The people of the newly captured areas do not want to fight for the North Korean Forces.

The troops were daily told to fight to the last man and never surrender. In the event of capture, they were told to give misleading information.

The informant heard that about 700 North Korean troops were killed in YONGDOK on 28th Jul 50 due to US Naval shelling.