포로신문
보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 899　6 September 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0684)　2 September 1950

PW was not co-operative and seemed to be sarcastic in answering questions. Seemed uncertain on some points and his answers were on the whole vague.

Date inducted 23 Mar 47 at NANAM (羅南).

Training - PW and an estimated 11,0000 youths (18-22 yrs) received military training, conducted by the Ministry of Home Defense. Training cycle ran for a 6 mos period, beginning with basic training and ending with battalion level manuevers. Underwent same training program after completion of one cycle. Since Aug 47, numerous shipments of Russian weapons, mostly used, streamed into this training center. Weapons included from rifle up to and including 76mm field guns. Majority of shipments were received via WONSAN (hearsay).

Fob 48, training unit was officially designated the 2nd Div, composed of the 4th, 5th, 6th Inf Regts and an artillery regiment. Oct 48. PW and 200 EM sent to CHINNAMP'O (鎭南浦) and assigned to the 4th Independent Brigade. PW promoted to sqd ldr with rank of Sgt in an Assault Bn, wholly armed with Russian submachine guns. Apr 50, unit increased to division strength (11,000) and redesignated the 4th Inf Div, composed of the 16th, 17th, and 18th Regts. 4th Div brought up to T/O strength, at this time, with the arrival of 5th Regt, 2nd. Div, which augmented the understrength 17th Regt, replacing it in name only. A new regt was activated by the 2nd Div to replace its 5th Regt. It was given the designation of 17th Regt (heasay). The assault battalion was distributed among the three Regts of the 4th Div (one Co per Regt).

The 18th Regt, 4th Div was primarily made up of Koreans from CHINA and MANCHURIA, who arrived in N KOREA Apr 50. 19 May 50, PW commissioned Jr Lt and sent to HOERYONG (會寧). Assigned to 9th Co, 3rd Bn, 9th Trng Regt, 3rd Civilian Youth Trng Ctr. Trng center composed of the 7th, 8th and 9th Trng Regts. Trng Regts redesignated immediately after start of hostilities.

7th Trng Regt - 24th Regt　　8th Trng Regt - 26th Regt

9th Trng Regt - 50th Regt　　3rd Civ Youth Trng Center - 15th Div

25 Jun 50 - 15th Div crossed 38 parallel north of CH’UNCH’ON (春川)

14 Aug 50 - 15th Div plus artillery crossed NAKTONG River E of IN-DONG. Towns passed by 15th Div in previous operations: HONGCH’ON (洪川), CHANGHOWON-NI (長湖院). UMSONG (陰城), KOESAN (槐山) and MUN’GYONG (聞慶). 15th Div waded across the river by regts, immediately after a bridgehead had been won by the 3rd Div.

19 Aug 50 - 15th Div captured CH’ONSAENG SAN (天生山), meeting stiff opposition all the way. To the right, 3rd Div engaged in vigorous probing action; 13th Div encountering stiff ROK opposition to the left.

22 Aug 50 - The three divisions plus the 1st Div which was in the KUNWI (軍威) sector, were ordered to make an all out attack the defense lines north of TAEGU. The tactical plan was somewhat changed, however, after a sustained 3 day pounding against a virtually impregnable stonewall of revitalized UN forces defending the northern approaches to TAEGU. 15th Div was pulled out of the lines, by regts, and shifted to the UISONG front to strengthen the attacking forces in that sector The important highway junction of YONGCH’ON (永川) was reported to be lightly defended.

23 Aug 50 - 50th Regt, first to be pulled out, marched to a point on the main highway, approx 2 km N of KUNWI, where it remained, taking cover the ensuing day. According to some EM of the 1st Div which was in reserve at KUNWI, the recently evacuated sector of the 15th Div was to be filled in by the 1st Div.

24 Aug 50 - 50th Regt, via the KUMWI-UISONG highway, arrived approx 4 km SW of UISONG. PW observed estimated 20 wounded of the 8th Div being transported by litters towards UISONG.

26 Aug 50 - 50th Regt joined by 24th and 26th Regts, approx 2 km W of KUMHAK-TONG.

28 0430 Aug 50 -50th Regt launched a frontal attack on SUSOK PONG located approx 2 km E of KUMHAK-TONG, following a heavy shelling by 15th Division artillery.

28 0430 Aug 50 - SUSOK PONG fell to the 50th Regt. Casualties were light. 26th Regt had been committed to the left of the 50th Regt. However, progress of ammo, unknown. 24th Regt remained in reserve at the afore-mentioned division assemble area. Bn Co informed PW that the 8th Div was to the right, and the 12th Div to the left of the 15th Div.

29 0600 Aug 50 - 50th Regt was counterattacked by ROK forces. Due to numerical superiority of the attacking ROK forces, 50th Regt was ordered to retire to the next ridge line approx 500 m to the rear.

29 1700 Aug 50 - 50th Regt subjected to devastating UN aerial bombardment during its withdraw. 50th Regt completely disorganized, sustaining casualties of about 500 killed and wounded. PW, after leasing contact with his platoon, as well aa his company, wandered in the mountains by himself.

29 2000 Aug 50 - PW reached the ridge line where the 50th Regt was to prepare defensive positional and instead, came across the 24th Regt digging in along the ridge. No one knew where the remnants of the 50th Regt had retreated to, so PW remained with the 24th Regt.

30 1200 Aug 50 - PW, with his hands raised, deserted to the ROK forces. PW had been thinking about deserting to the UN forces for quite a while, since hse Christian ideals were in conflict with those of communism.

Approx strength as of 30 Aug 50:

50th Regt - 600

24th Regt -1500

26th Regt -1500 (?)

No (approx) of principal weapons as of 30 Aug 50, 50th Regt

3 x 120mm mortar

9 x 76mm field gun

no 82mm mortar

20 x HMG

No replacements received by 15th Div since start of hostilities.

No tanks observed in the UISONG sector. 15th Div originally had 16 x SU-76. Only 2 x SU-76 left in the division. Observed 2 x self-propelled guns 1 km E of KUMHAK-TONG. 29 Aug 50.