ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 989 11 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0740) 10 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | YANG Ch’ang Kwon (梁昌權) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 2527 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 18 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 15th Div, 45th Regt, 3rd Bn, 8th Co |
| EDUCATION: | 2 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YONGCH’ON Area (永川) (1190-1450) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 6 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, KILJU GUN, KILJU MYON, YONGCH’ON RI (咸鏡北道 吉州郡 吉州面 龍川里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, MUSAN GUN, SAMSA MYON, KULSONG NI (咸鏡北道 茂山郡 三社面 佶松里) |
| INTERROGATOR: | S/Sgt Harold NAKAYAMA (FEAF) |
Cooperative. PW was hiding behind a rock when the NKPA and ROK troops were exchanging fire. When the firing became light he slipped off and ran away to a small village near YONGCH'ON. He entered a small house and discarded his rifle and ammunition. When he came out of the house he was ordered by the ROK soldiers to raise his hands and surrender. Further interrogation at higher headquarters is not recommended.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:PW was inducted into NKPA Under false pretenses. He was told that North Korea had already won the war and he would be used to do construction work in SEOUL. He was taken to NAJIN (羅津) (1250-2200) on 15 Jul 50. On 16 Jul 50. PW and 500 others left for KUMWHA (金化) (1040-1730) by rail and arrived on 18 Jul 50. 250 men were sent to unknown place from KUMHWA. PW and 50 men were sent to CH’UNCH’ON on trucks loaded with ammunition. Arrived there on 19 Jul 50. The other 200 men of the original 500 were met at ANDONG, making a total of 250, 125 of there men were issued rifles at ANDONG and marched to YONGCH’ON, where PW was captured. The original 500 replacements were to reinforce the 45th Regt of the 15th Div.
Equipment:
PW’s unit of 500 men were equipped with the following:
PPsh M1941 SMG - 1
DP LMG - 3
M1891/30 rifle - 200
MAXIM HMG M1910 - 1
RG-42 handgrenade - 100
14.5mm PTRD-41 AT rifle - 3
Field telephone - 1
Each man was given 75 rounds of ammunition at YONCH’ON.
Communications:
Field telephone and messengers were only means of communication in PW's unit.
Intentions:
At ANDONG they were told by squad leader that YONGCH'ON is in the hands of tho NKPA so they will go there for rest and advance further south to PUSAN, their ultimate objective.
Morale:
When the PW departed SEOUL he was informed thet the war was over. He thought it was a good excursion to travel from place to place at army expense. However, they were given weapons at ANDONG and discovered that they were still fighting the war. From here on the morale was low due to lack of proper training for combat, no food, long hikes, insufficient sleep and rest, no supplies of any kind and excessive fatigue.
Leaflets:
PW had no information about propaganda leaflets or broadcasts.
4. GENERALSpecial information:
PW was told by plt ldr and sqd ldr that in the very near future the NKPA artillery will utilize very heavy guns. It is supposed to be mounted on 6 wheels and towed by tractor. It takes four men to load the shell. It is too powerful to be used near buildings. PW received no inoculation or vaccination since induction. PW received no physical examination.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
