ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 940 11 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0748) 3 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE Hyong Ku (李亨九) (리형구) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 433 |
| RANK: | Pfc |
| AGE: | 23 |
| UNIT: | 2nd Div (code 235 unit), Indep Engr Bn (code 251 unit), 1st Co, 1st Plt, 3rd Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 6 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG NAMDO, HAMTSU GUN, TSUSO MYON, SHIN HUN RI #72 (함남 함주군 주서면 허충리 #72) |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 8 kms E of SHINGERI (신게리). |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 1 Aug 50 |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt ONNA |
Information is fairly reliable, although limited.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:a. Chronology:
Inducted 2 Mar 49, with 30 others at NANAM. From Mar 49 to June 49, PW received close-order drill and road and bridge construction training. From 30 June 49 to July 49, PW's unit trained in the mountains. On 1 Aug 50, the unit was transferred to HAMHUNG and assigned to the 2nd Div. From Aug 49 to 15 June 50, the PW's unit trained daily. On 15 June 50, the Engr Bn (code 251 unit) moved by train to HWACHON. On 18 June 50, the Engr Bn moved to INJE where it was joined by the elements of the 2nd Div. After the outbreak of war PW's unit followed 2nd Div Hq through CHUNCHON, CHUNGJU, HAMCHANG, KUMCHON, KOCHANG, & HYOPCHON. (dates are not available).
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
Squad: 9 troops, M1944 carbines with folding bayonet. 42 rounds per rifle
Platoon (3 sqds): 27 men, M1944 carbines, 42 rounds per rifle Plt Ldr - M1895 Nagant revolver
Company (3 Plts): 80 men, Same weapons as above
Battalion: about 300 men
River-Ferry Company
Equipment: A-3 pneumatic boats
Mine Laying & Detector Company
Equipment: VIM-203 Mine Detector US Land Mines, M1938 mines
Road-Bridge - Construction Company
Equipment: Shovels & carpenter tools Tech Company
Consist of runners, Rcn sqd, Signal troops, electricians etc.
Following units attached directly to 2nd Div Hq:
Engineer Bn
Signal Bn
Medic Bn
Self Propelled Gun Bn (SU-76)
Arty Regt
c. Dispositions:
Unknown because informant was separated from the main body.
The troops lived off the land most of the time. Very little food came from North Korea.
Ammunition was transported by trucks to the Division. (Origin, distribution, ammo dumps, etc unknown)
The 2nd Div employed farmers (SK) who carried ammo on A frames to the front line troops.
d. Equipment:On 31 Aug 50, about 3 x 45mm AT guns and 3 x 120 mm tubular type mortars were seen on the west bank of the NAKTONG River East of HYOPCHON.
e. Intentions:
The troops were told to fight to the last man and never surrender because if they did, they would be killed.
The 2nd Div's mission is to cross the NAKTONG River at a point East of HYOPCHON. In KUMCHON the informant came in contact with troops of the NK 4th Div which is believed to be either on the right or left flank of the 2nd Div.
f. Personalities:
Sgt LEE, Yong Dok (리영덕), age 23, sqd ldr of 1st Engr Co, Engr Bn, 2nd Div.
2nd Lt HAN Yong Su (한용수), age 27, plt ldr of 1st Engr Co, Engr Bn, 2nd Div.
1st Lt KIL, Hak Su (趌鶴受), age 26, CO of 1st Engr Co, Engr Bn, 2nd Div.
Lt Col YU, Pyong Jon (유방준), age 28, Bn CO of Indep Engr Bn (code 251 unit), 2nd Div.
Maj Gen CHE, Yong, age 40, CG, 2nd Division.
g. The morale of the 2nd Div is very low because of:
(1) Lack of training
(2) Lack of food and rest
(3) Enemy air attacks
They are able to fight because, if they don't, they are shot by their superiors.
4. GENERAL:On or about 15 Aug 50 at KUMCHON, PW saw 8 x T/34 tanks & 3 x SU 76’s going to the TAEGU front.
PW estimates that 13 of the original 16 SU-76’s with the 2nd Div have been destroyed by US aircraft.
The informant heard that an unknown communicable disease was present among the troops of the 2nd Div.
On 23 Aug 50, the informant was inoculated. Type of inoculation unknown.
The farmers and laborers are mostly for the North Koreans because of promises of equal land distribution and better living conditions by the NK Government. The informant believes that there are anti-communist elements, but they are afraid to voice their opinions.
The Engr troops of the 2nd Div carried anti-gas ointment.
For the AC of S, G-2
SAKAMOTO
