ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 727 24 August 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0545) 22 August 1950
| Name: | CH’OE CH’OL HAK (崔哲学) (최철학) |
| Rank: | Sr Sgt |
| Age: | 23 |
| Organization: | 7th Div, 1st Regt, 2nd Bn Hq |
| Duties with Unit: | Cultural Section Clerk |
| Education: | 6 yrs |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Address: | MANCHURIA, CHILIN Provinces, YENCHI Country, YUSSU District. T’IEN PAO Village (滿洲 吉林省 延吉縣 裕廋区 天罷村) |
| Date and Place Captured: | 19 Aug 50, 8 km W of KEGYE (1218-1464) |
| Interrogator: | Sgt MIYATA |
Cooperative, information seems reliable.
Military History:23 Jul 47 at CHILIN, MANCHURIA PW was inducted into the 3rd Independent Constabulary Regt. This regt was composed of Koreans who resided in CHILIN Province. Strength 1,500 men. Formerly the 3rd Independent Constabulary Regt was called the CHILIN Province Constabulary Unit. The name was changed in Feb 47. Reason for the change, PW did not know (This Constabulary Unit was organized to protect the property of the Koreans from Manchurians).
Jan 48 the 3rd Independent Constabulary Regt was designated the 16th Inf Regt, 6th Ind Inf Div. Division also incorporated two other Independent Constabulary Regiments. At the time the 6th Independent Constabulary Regt (in TUNHWA 魰化 which was composed of one Bn Koreans and two Bn’s Chinese) because the 17th Inf Regt and 72 Independent Constabulary Regt (in CHAO-YANG 朝陽, composed entirely of Chinese) became the 18th Inf Regt. These regts were stationed at their own district until Aug 48.
Aug 48 the 6th Ind Inf Div was redesingated the 156th Inf Div of the 4th Field Army under LIN PIAO. (16th Inf Regt became the 466th Inf Regt, 17th Inf Regt 467th Inf Regt and 18th Inf Regt became the 466th Inf Regt). The three regiments assembled at CHANGCH’UN (長春) in Aug 48. Stayed in CHANGCHUN for two months (Aug-Oct 48). Then they entrained for MUKDEN (墨天).
Departed MUKDEN Oct 48 - marched - arrived PEIPING (北平) Jan 49
Departed PEIPING Mar 49 - marched - arrived NANCH’ANG (南昌) Jun 49
At NANCH’ANG the four Korean Bns of the 156th Inf Div departed for CHUNG CHOU (鄭州) by train on 20 Feb 50. After arriving at CHUNG-TZU they were joined with about 8 other Korean Bns which had served in MANCHURIA (total of 10,000 men). From CHUNG-TZU they proceeded to WONSAN, KOREA by (Apr-20 Jun 50) and formed the 7th Inf Div. The 7th Div was composed of Korean troops formerly from MANCHURIA.
Departed WONSAN 20 Jun 50 - rail -arrived KANSONG (杆城) 21 Jun
Departed KANSONG 21 Jun 50 - marched - arrived INJE - 23 Jun 50
Departed INJE 25 Jun 50 - marched - arrived HONGCH’ON (洪川) 2 Jul
Departed HONGCH’ON 2 Jul 50 - marched - arrived WONJU (原州) 5 Jul
Departed WONJU 5 Jul 50 - marched - arrived CHECH’ON (堤川) 8 Jul
Departed CHECH’ON 8 Jul - marched - arrived TANYANG (丹陽) 13 Jul
Departed TANYANG 15 Jul - marched - arrived YONGJU (榮州) 20 Jul
Departed YONGJU 20 Jul - marched - arrived ANDONG - 23 Jul 50
Departed ANDONG 23 Jul 50 - marched - arrived KIGYE - 13 Aug 50
Departed KIGYE 14 Aug 50 - marched - arrived P’OHANG-DONG 16 Aug 50
Departed P’OHANG-DONG 16 Aug 50 - marched - arrived KIGYE 17 Aug 50
19 1000 K Aug 50 PW’s unit (2nd Bn) was attached by ROK 10th Regt. Due to the severe artillery shelling and machine gun fire PW’s Bn retreated. While retreating PW and 15 men were captured at 1500 hrs, 8 km W of KIGYE.
Personalities:1 Regt CO: CH’OE HYOK (崔赫), Col, age 35 yrs approx.
2 Bn CO: OM UNG KIL (嚴雄傑), Maj, age 32 yrs approx. Wounded near KIGYE 16 Aug 50.
Foreign Elements:Two Russian officers (Lt Col & Maj) at WONSAN 15 Jun 50.
Weapons and Personnel:Original strength: 7th Div - 8,000 men, Regt - 2,000 men, Bn - 600 men, Co - 140-150 men, Plt - 42 men, Sqd - 10 men. Riflemen armed with Japanese Model 99 and 38 rifles, 100 rounds, two grenades. Sqd ldrs: Chinese made submachine guns, 80 rounds. Officers: Russian M1933 pistols. One HMG Co in Bn, 70 men, 9 x Japanese 60mm Mortars. One 45mm guns plt in Bn, 18 men, on 45mm M1942 AT gun. 1 x A/T plt in Bn, 20 men, 4 x 14.5mm A/T rifles.
One medical plt in Bn, 8 men. One Signal Plt in Bn, 15 men. One Supply Plt in Bn, 8 men. Infantry company : 2 x HMG, Japanese and Chinese, 12 x LMG. Losses: 2nd Bn, 1st Regt - 350 men, 6 x HMG, 34 x LMG, 9 x mortars (60mm) between HONGCH’ON and KIGYE (2 Jul 50-19 Aug 50). On 20 Jul 50 at YONGJU the 2nd Bn received approx 120 replacements but no equipment.
Armor:PW observed 3 x SU-37 armored cars at KIGYE 18 Aug 50.
Artillery:PW observed three 76mm M1938 guns at KIGYE 18 Aug 50.
Vehicles:Observed 20 x trucks (GAZ-63 and GAZ-51) at KIGYE 18 Aug 50.
Supplies:PW received average of two meals a day. After leaving ANODNG (23 Jul 50) PW’s unit did not receive and supplies (food or ammunition). Food was located from farmers. Ammunition last received 8 km W of P’OHANG-DONG 17 Aug 50 (50 rounds per man). Source of supply unknown. However supplies were bought by trucks daily prior to 23 Jul 50.
Enemy Intentions:7th Div objective P’OHANG-DONG. Other details lacking.
Additional Information:Hearsay: PW heard from the replacements, which arrived at YONGJU on 20 Jul 50, that the 7th Div was the 12th Div. However PW did not hear anything of that sort from this battalion commander.
Hearsay: The 5th Div was located W of P’OHANG-DONG City (18 Aug 50). Observed one regt (strength unknown) of guerrillas and Security Bn (strength unknown) W of P’OHANG-DONG 18 Aug 50. Present location unknown.
Signed TARKENTON/WALKER
