ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 987 11 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0738) 10 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE Man Sok (李萬錫) (리만석) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 2532 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 32 |
| DUTY: | Lineman |
| UNIT: | 15th Div, Signal Bn, Wire Co, 4th Plt, 2nd Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 5 years (Non-grad) |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 4 km N of YONGCH’ON (永川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 5 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | P’YONGAN NAMDO, MAENGSAN GUN (平安南道 孟山郡) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, NANAM City, YANGDOK (咸鏡北道 羅南市 陽德) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HORISHIGE (ATIS) |
PW was cooperative but information was limited. PW’s information does not seem very reliable because be was unobservant. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
1 Aug 50 - PW was inducted at NANAM Youth Training Center. Approx 800 men including PW sent to HOERYONG (會寧) by train.
3 Aug 50 - The group reached HOERYONG. About 20 men including PW were attached to the Signal Bn, 15th Div. Most of the 20 men did not have any knowledge of the principles of electricity. PW and 7 others learned how to lay and connect wires for 3 days.
7 Aug 50 - The following units departed HOERYONG by train:
15th Div Hqs (unknown number of men including CO) Signal Bn, 15th Div (about 220 men)
Guard Unit (about 400 men)
o/a 10 Aug 50 - The above units reached KUMHWA (金化). From here the personnel of the 15th Div Hqs, 15th Div, Sig Bn and the guard unit marched southward. CG rode in a jeep.
o/a 26 Aug 50 - The 15th Div Hqs, 15th Div, Sig Bn and the guard unit reached KUMCH'ON (金泉) via CH’UNCH’ON (春川) and CH'UNGJU. Departed here same day.
o/a 30 Aug 50 - The 15th Div Hqs, 15th Div, Sig Bn and the guard unit crossed the NAKTONG River (8 km N of WAEGWAN) and reached a mountain located 12 km N of YONGCH’ON.
31 Aug 50 - PW and 2 others were to ordered to repair the telephone wires leading to YONGCH’ON. PW and 2 others deserted their unit, because the unit had no food. They had no intention of going back to their unit when they were ordered to repair the telephone wires.
5 Sep 50 - PW surrendered to ROK troops at a point 4 km N of YONGCH’ON. PW had not eaten for 3 days when he surrendered. The other 2 men who came along with PW dropped behind because of hunger.
Unit organization & strength:
| Signal Bn, 15th Div: | Wire Co (80 men) |
| Wireless Co (80 men) | |
| Signal Tng Co (60 men) |
Casualties: PW heard that about 2/3 of the personnel had been killed or wounded by 31 Aug 50. Most of them were killed by aircraft strafing.
Equipment:
Signal Bn, 15th Div - Wire Co (20 "TAM" field telephones. This Co had 12,000 m of telephone wire) Wireless Co (No information) Signal Co (No information)
Dispositions:
PW stated that the 15th Div Hqs, 15th Div Sig Bn and the guard unit were located on a mountain 12 km N of YONGCH'ON as of 31 Aug 50. Location of other units unknown.
Communications:
PW never repaired telephone lines after he left N. KOREA, because his unit wee marching most of the time.
Personalities:
4th Plt ldr (Wire Co, Signal Bn, 15th Div):
Name: HAN Sin Ch’ae (韓信採) (한신채)
Rank: Jr Lt
Age : About 25
Morale and propaganda:
Morale of the troops was very low, due to shortage of food. PW saw surrender leaflets but he was somewhat doubtful about contents. PW believed that most of the troops who have seen the surrendered leaflets are still in doubt because of N. Korean propaganda.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
