ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 779 27 August 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0582) 25 August 1950
| Name: | YANG CH’OL HWA (楊澈華) (양철화) |
| Rank: | Cpl |
| Age: | 23 |
| Orgn: | 3rd Div, 7th Inf Regt (Code: 389 Unit), 1st Bn, 2nd Co, 1st Plt, 4th Sqd |
| Duties with Unit: | Ass’t sqd ldr - light machine gunner |
| Education: | Primary School |
| Occupation: | Veterinary technician |
| Address: | P’YONGAN NAMDO, P’YONGYANG SONGYORI #425 (平安南道 平壤市 船橋里 四二五 425) |
| Date & Place Captured: | 24 1200 K Aug 50, 5 km S WAEGWAN (1138 - 1450) |
| Interrogator: | Sgt HAMASAKA (ATIS) |
Informant was captured wearing civilian clothing obtained from deserted civilian hut 3 days before capture. Reason for change was dirty uniform. Informant was of average intelligence. Fairly cooperative Informant’s statement concerning civilian clothing believed by interrogator to be reasonable. Informant considered reliable by interrogator. Referred to CIC and JAG.
Military History:10 Mar 49 - Conscripted into 3rd Div, WONSAN. Assigned to 7th Inf Regt. Trained with 1,600 conscripts for 5 months. Rifle training with wooden rifles.
20 Aug 49 - 3rd Div, 7th Inf Regt transferred via rail to CH’ORWON. 7th Inf Regt, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bn’s continued training in separate camps in vicinity of CH’ORWON. Issued reifles and ammunition.
25 Jun 50 - 3rd Div (3 x Inf Regt’s including 7th Inf Regt) crossed over 38° parallel.
5 Jul 50 - 3rd Div occupied SEOUL via UIJONGJU (議政府).
7 Jul 50 - 3rd Div departed SEOUL on foot. 1st and 2nd Dive arrived in SEOUL (Hearsay).
12 Jul 50 - 3rd Div arrived in TAEJON via SUWON (水原), P’YONGTAEK (平澤), CH’ONAN (天安), CHOCHI’WON (鳥致院).
14 Jul 50 - 3rd Div arrived in TAEJON on foot.
20 Jul 50 - 3rd Div arrived in KUMCH’ON (金泉).
22 Jul 50 - 3rd Div departed KUMCH’ON. Marched over KUMCH’ON-WAEGWAN (倭館) highway towards WAEGWAN.
26 Jul 50 - At point 4 km Northwest of WAEGWAN, 3rd Div left road, continued in southerly direction. Occupied wooded mountain 3 to 5 km Southwest of WAEGWAN Railroad Bridge (over NAKTONG River).
o/a 11 0300 Aug 50 - 3rd Div, 7th Inf Regt crossed NAKTONG River at point east of mountain. River 5 foot at deepest point of crossing. No opposition encountered before or during crossing. Total clapsed time for 7th Inf Regt river crossing 30 minutes. Other 3rd Div Regt’s still deployed in mountain west of NAKTONG River. After 7th Inf Regt reached East bank NAKTONG River entire crossing area illuminated by star-shells from US-ROK Army Positions. Heavy machine Gun from US-ROK positions engaged throughout morning. During daylight, 7th Inf Regt strafed and bombed by US aircraft.
11 - 13 Aug 50 Constant artillery-mortar shelling on 7th Inf Regt positions, in wooded hills along east bank NAKTONG River, by US-ROK Units. Only 7th Inf Regt crossed river. Others unknown.
13 2030 Aug 50 7th Inf Regt began withdrawing to positions west of NAKTONG River. As a result of Heaby machine gun and artillery fire on river area, PW returned to east bank from midpoint in river after attempting to cross.
14-24 Aug 50 PW and 3 others from 7th Inf Regt threw away weapons near east bank NAKTONG River 5 km S of WAEGWAN. On 21 Aug, PW, and 1 other of group of 4, discarded uniforms, were civilian clothes found in deserted house.
24 1200K Aug 50 PW and 3 captured by US troops in area 5 km S of WAEGWAN (1138-1450).
Personalities:CO - 3rd Div: LEE YONG HO (李英鎬) (리영호) Maj Gen; Age 40.
Remarks: Formerly with Manchurian Army.
CO, 7th Inf Regt: KIM CH’ANG PONG (金昌奉) (김창봉) Col; Age 35
CO, 1st Bn: MUN, UN KWON (文運權) (문운권) Capt; Age 28
CO, 2nd Co: LEE KYON UN (李玄運) (리현운) Lt; Age 23
Plt Ldr, 1st Plt: CHANG, YONG HYOP (張英協) (창영협) Jr Lt; Age 24
Code Numbers:3rd Div - No code designation
7th Inf Regt - 389 Unit
1st Bn - 389 KA (가)
2nd Bn - 389 NA (나)
3rd Bn - 389 DA (다)
Following code designations for companies in 7th Regt 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Bn’s:1st Co - KA (가)
2nd Co - NA (나)
3rd Co - DA (다)
No code designations for platoons.
Weapons and Personnel:3rd Div (3 x inf regts including 7th inf regt), strength u/k.
7th Inf Regt (1st, 2nd, 3rd Bn’s) sterngth unknown
1st Bn (1st,2nd,3rd, Inf Co’s, Mortar Co, AT Rifle Plt, 45-mm AT Gun Plt), strength unknown.
12 Mortars similar to 82-mm M1937 Medium Mortar, 20 rounds each
9 Maxim HMG M1910 (on M1931 dual-purpose mount) 272 rounds each
12 x 14.5-mm PTRD-41 AT Rifles
70 rounds .30 cal per rifleman.
Casualties: 1st Bn, 7th Inf Regt, 3rd Div - strength 150 at time of NAKTONG River crossing (11 Aug 50). No casualties during crossing. After crossing, during period 11-13 Aug, reduced to 50. Majority of casualties due to artillery-mortar fire. Aircraft strafing and bombing.
Link of Communications: Runners used between platoon, company, battalion. No radio or field telephone sets observed E of NAKTONG River.
Unit Objective: To secure mountain E of NAKTONG River, 5 km S of WAEGWAN.
Signed TARKENTON/WALKER
