ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 794 28 August 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0595) 26 August 1950
| Name: | SONG, CHE SON (宋才仙) (송재선) |
| Rank: | Pvt |
| Age: | 23 |
| Orgn: | 6th Div, 15th Regt (Code No. 661) 3rd Bn, MG Co, 1st Plt, 1st Sqd |
| Duties: | Ammunition Bearer |
| Education: | Middle School - 2 years |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Address: | SEOUL, YONGSAN-Ku, SUO BINGOTON, #186 (京城市 용산区) |
| Date and Place Captured: | 21 1400K Aug 50 at SANGCHON Area Captured by S Korean Marine |
| Interrogator: | Sgt NAKAJI |
Cooperative, and seems reliable. PW states he wants to rejoin the
ROK Army and that 1st Lt YU, SUNG MUN, Signal officer, PUSAN 5th Training
Unit will vouch for him.
Military History:Inducted in ROK Army 12 Jun 47. Subject was S/Sgt, Serial No. 1103905, in the Signal Co, ROK 5th Div during the outbreak of hostilities.
Subject was captured by NKPA 29 Jun 50 at SUSAEK on the outskirts of SEOUL and was placed in the guard house of the NKPA 383 Unit (unit occupying the former ROK 3rd Regt buildings in SEOUL). Six ROK Army men (1 officer, 3 NCO’s, and 2 EM) were interned here. While interned there PW heard that 40 ROK officers, military police, and intelligence personnel were executed there. Informant was turned over to the People’s Anyone refusing was shot.
On 15 Jul 50, approx 3,000 S. Korean conscripts from KYONGGIDO (京畿道) departed SEOUL. (Received 4 days training at SEOUL). Unit marched south of P’YONGTAEK and rested 5 days there (20 Jul - 28 Jul 50). On 27 Jul the unit was officially assigned to the NKPA as the Replacement Regt for the 1st Div. Unit departed P’YONGTAEK 28 Jul 50 and marched southward through CHONAN, CHONCH’IWON, YUSONG. TAEJON, KU SAN, CHINAN, CHANGGYE-Ri (stopped 3 days), ANUI, SANCH’ONG, CHINJU, and PANSONG. Reached NAEDONG (內洞) 4 km S of PANSONG 15 Aug 50. Only 1,000 reached NAEDONG (others fell sick due to malnutrition and the forced march) and they were assigned to various units of the 15th Rifle Regt 19 Aug 50.
Informant and another deserted their unit 20 Aug 50 and worked their unit way to the UN Forces. Surrendered 21 Aug 50, at SANGCH'ON Area to ROK Marines. Companion killed while surrendering.
Personalities:No information.
T/O & E of PW’s Unit:6th Div composed of 15th Rifle Regt (Code No. 661) and other unknown units.
15th Rifle Regt composed of 3 rifle battalions and rear echelon units (supply, signal etc.)
3rd Bn composed of 3 rifle companies (approx 120-130 men, 1 x LMG, 3 x Sub-machine guns, and rifles)..
MG Co (100 men - 5 x HMG, 1,000 rounds each; 36 Russian rifles 20-100 rounds per rifle), and Mortar Co (50 men - 6 x 82-mm Mortars, 10-15 rounds per mortar).
Disposition of Above Units:15th Regt Hqs located at a base of a hill approx (1139-1352) in the SANGCHON Area.
1st and 2nd Bns, 15th Regt located on a hill 3 km N of Regtl Hqs.
3rd Bn, 15 th Regt located on a hill 1 km N of Regtl Hqs.
A Rifle Regt (Code 657) located 6-7 km N of 15th Regt CP.
It was rumored in PW’s unit 18 Aug 50, that the 6th and 7th Divs would be consolidated and attack in the MASAN Sector.
Armor:Approx 10 x T-34/85 tanks seen moving south in the TAEJON Area 3 Aug 50.
Artillery:3 x 122-mm Howitzers drawn by trucks moving toward CHINJU from PANSONG observed on 20 Aug 50.
Food and Ammunition Supplies:No food supplies coming in. Troops were living off the land. Ammunition supply very low with very little coming in. A small amount believed to be brought in by horse carts.
Replacements:1,000 S. Korean conscripts joined the 15th Regt on 19 Aug 50 as replacements.
Enemy Intentions:15th Regt was to take CHINDONG-Ni by 22 Aug 50 and then attack MASAN.
Morale:The morale of the unit was very low because unit was facing stiff opposition for first time after rapid advance through western Korea. The low food supply and high rate also lowered the morale.
Captured Equipment:American rifles and carbines were being used by the NKPA Units.
American PW’s:Hearsay: American PsW were interned in the SUSONG School in SEOUL.
Civilian Attitude:Populace of SEOUL was sure that the NKPA would win. Farmers were still hopeful for a ROK victory.
Special Intelligence:Informant was interned at POKWANG-DONG (寶光洞) Church (1 Jul 50-8 Jul 50) as a prisoner of the People’s Committee. O/a 3 0300K Jul 50 as he was gazing out the window he saw 8 civilians including 1 child (about 7 years old) 1 young woman (about 19 years old) and 1 old lady (about 60 years old) their hands tied behind the back being taken toward the HAN River by KIM, POM DO (김병도), head of Guard Unit (園衛隊) of the People’s Committee of POKWANG-DONG and 10 guards. 10 minutes later he heard about 50 shots. 10 minutes later KIM, POM DO and 10 guard returned. Next day informant heard from the people living nearby that 8 bodies were floating in the river.
Signed TARKENTON/WALKER
