ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 721 24 August 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0540) 21 August 1950
| Name: | PAK, KWANG HON (朴光憲) (박광헌) |
| Rank: | Lt |
| Age: | 24 |
| Orgn: | 7th Div 1st Regt, 2nd Bn Hqs |
| Duties with Unit: | Asst to Bn Political Officer |
| Education: | Primary School |
| Occupation: | RR freight yard worker |
| Address: | HAMGYONG PUK-DO, YONGSON-GUN HWAPANG-MYON, NOYA-DON (咸鏡北道 龍城郡 華芳面 虜耶洞) |
| Date and Place Captured: | 19 2000K Aug 50, 12 km NW of KEGYE (1210-1460) |
| Interrogator: | Sfc HAMASKA (ATIS) |
PW was cooperative but could furnish only limited information due to short service with unit. Informant considered fairly reliable by interrogator.
Military History:15 Oct 48 - Conscripted into Ministry of INterior National Border Guard, HOERYONG. Assigned to National Border Guard Bn (strength 000) HOERYONG. Received 2 months basic military training. Trained with wooden rifles. Later issued Japanese Model 99 rifle.
Mar 49 - Promoted from Pvt to Jr Sgt. Squad leader in unit.
21 Jun 50 - National Border Guard alerted as replacement for NKPA units. PW and 8 from National Border Guard Unit sent, via rail, as replacements to 7th Div.
27 Jun 50 - Arrived at 7th Div Hqs 3 km S of 38° parallel (S of INJE). PW assigned to 1st Regt, 2nd Bn Hqs, Ration supply section.
O/a 27 Jun 50 - 7th Div, 1st and 2nd Regts engaged an ROK Army unit at a point 12 km S of 38° parallel (S of INJE). 2nd Bn, 1st Regt lost 30 EM and 4 officers KIA, Unknown number wounded.
O/a 30 Jun 50 - 7th Div entered WONJU.
1 Jul 50 - 7th Div entered CHECH’ON.
6 Jul 50 - PW promoted from Jr Sgt to Lt (replacement).
9 Jul 50 - 7th Div entered TANYANG.
O/a 25 Jul 50 - 7th Div entered YONGJU.
O/a 5 Aug 50 - 7th Div entered ANDONG.
O/a 12 Aug 50 - 7th Div entered KIGYE.
O/a 13 Aug 50 - 7th Div entered P’OHANG-DONG (1230-1400). Three hours later 7th Div unts withdrew under intense UN Naval bombardment and UN aircraft attacks. Retreat towards KIGYE. Out off by ROK Army units. 2nd Bn (PW’s unit) separated from 1st Regt.
13 - 19 Aug 50 - 2nd Bn under constant air attack by ROK Army artillery, mortars. 3 days without food. No ammunition.
19 2000 Aug 50 - PW and 2 other (Lt’s) lay under tree near river, hungry and exhausted. Captured by ROK Army troops. Only 90 troops remained in 2nd Bn, 1st Regt at time of PW’s capture. Other units unknown.
Personalities:CG, 7th Div - CHON, U (전우) Maj Gen
Remarks: CG, 7th Div from 27 Jun 50 to 29 Jul 50. Transferred 28 Jul 50. Replaced by an unknown Maj Gen.
1st Regt CO - CH’OE, HYOK (최혁) Col; Age 44
2nd Bn CO - OM, UNG GOL (엄웅걸) Maj; Age 36
Remarks; Wounded in Action
2nd Bn Political Officer - PAK, SUN MAN (박순만) Sr Capt;
Age 35
Remarks: Gave morale talks to 2nd Bn Units
Weapons and Personnel:7th Div (1st, 2nd, 3rd Regt’s) strength unknown
16 x SP similar to JSU-249, except top turret extended toward rear (8 destroyed by ROK Army Units at point 12 km S of 38° parallel (S of INJE), 5 destroyed by aircraft and artillery between WONJU and KIGYE). Remaining 2 last seen in KIGYE Area.
4 x 76-mm M1942 AT Guns, 3 x 122-mm M1938 Howitzers and 7 former Japanese Army Field and Mountain Artillery pieces (Models unknown) observed in WONJU Area. None seen in KIGYE or P’OHANG-DONG Areas.
150 trucks (None observed in KIGYE-P’OHANG-DONG Area).
1st Regt (1st, 2nd, 3rd Bns) strength unknown.
4 x 45-mm M1942 AT Guns
2nd Bn (1st, 2nd, 3rd Inf Cos, HMG Co, Mortar Co) Strength 90 (29 Aug 50).
HMG Co - 4 former Japanese Model 99 HMG.
Mortar Co - 5 former Japanese 60-mm Mortar (square base plage).
Inf Co (3 platoons) strength unknown. Former Japanese type 99 rifles.
Remarks:PW estimated 80% of 7th Div troops were Korean veterans of China War who brought their own weapons.
At YONGJU, 25 Jul 50, 7th Div, 1st Regt, 2nd Bn received 90 conscripts from N. Korea bringing 2nd Bn strength from 300 to 400. Other units unknown. No replacements after YONGJU.
Signed TARKENTON/WALKER
