ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 991 11 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0766) 9 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | RIM, Kuk Bong (林國奉) (림국봉) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 555 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 20 |
| ORGN: | 9th Div (Code 315), 2nd Regt (code 319), 120 mm Mortar Co, 2nd Plt, 1st Sqd |
| DUTIES: | Gun crewman |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School 3 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | PYONGBUK, UYE JU GUN, KOSONG MYON, YONIU TONG |
| DATE AND PLACE CAPTURED: | 041355 K Sep 50 where NAM River joins NAKTONG River by US “F” Company. |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt H. NAKAJI |
9th Div (code 315) composed of the 1st, 2nd (code 319), and 3rd Rifle Regiments, Artillery Regt (ten (1)) 45 mm AT Gun and ten (10) 76 mm Field Gun), Signal Bn (100 men; wire & wireless), Engineer Co (100 men), a Medical Co (10 doctors - 70 others) and a tank unit (observed three (3) T-70 tanks).
2nd Regt composed of three (3) rifle bns, 45 gun company (six (6) 45 mm guns), 120 mm mortar company (50 men; six (6) 120 mm mortars, 30 rounds per mortar), a Medical Unit (5 doctors) and Signal Platoon.
Rifle Bn consisted of three (3) rifle companies, a total of approx 200 men. Arms included HMG's, IMG's, SMG’s and rifles.
3. DISPOSITION OF ABOVE UNITS: (4 Sep 50)2nd Regt CP located 4 km North of the point where NAM River joins the NAKTONG River. Majority of the Regt believed to be in the area of the Regimental CP.
120 mm Mortar company located on East Bank of the NAKTONG River where the NAM River joins the NAKTONG River. Unit was firing at target 3 km North east.
4. ESTIMATED STRENGTH OF ABOVE UNITS: (1 Sep 50)| Original strength | (1 Sep 50) strength |
| Rifle Bns each approx 500 men | Approx 200 |
| 120 mm Mortar Co - 60 men, six (6) | 40 men, three (3) 120 mm mortars |
| 120 mm mortars (casualties caused by air strikes) | |
CO of 120mm Mortar Co, 2nd Regt - Capt PAN Chan Pok (화창복)
CO of 1st Plt, Mortar Co, 2nd Regt - 2nd Lt HWAN Sun Oh
6. PERSONAL & UNIT HISTORY:Inducted 10 May 1950 at SINUIJU. Received 1 month training in the mountains of HWANGHAE DO, PYOKSONG GUN with the 315th Unit. Entered combat on 25 June 1950 as unit crossed 38th parallel from HAEJU. 315th Unit officially named 9th Division while unit was marching SEOUL. Division entered SEOUL on 10 Jul 50. 9th Div departed SEOUL on 13 Aug 50 and marched South, passing through SUWON, CHONAN, TAEJON, KUMSAN, KOCHANG to HYOPCHON. Reached HYOPCHON on 28 Aug 50. Followed a mountain path from HYOPCHON to a point on West bank of NAKTONG River 2 km upstream from the place NAM River joins NAKTONG River. 2nd Regt crossed NAKTONG River at this place on 010100 K Sep 50. Other regiments of 9th Div followed the 2nd Regt across the river, 2nd Regt was repulsed attacking a mountain. Unit retreated in disorder. Informant was captured while attempting to cross NAKTONG River to NK line.
7. FOOD & AMMO SUPPLY:Each man carried a 3 day food ration when crossing, the NAKTONG River. While marching down from SEOUL, the unit lived off the land.
Ammo last issued at SEOUL on 13 Aug 50. Ammo was loaded on three (3) trucks which followed the unit down from North KOREA.
Gasoline was especially short and unit had to beg from other units to keep the vehicles moving.
8. REPLACEMENTS:9th Division never received any replacements. Wounded personnel were cared for by medical units. Critical shortage of doctors and medicine existed.
9. ENEMY INTENTIONS:Hearsay: 4th Div located directly North of 9th Division. Objective of 9th Div was PUSAN.
10. MORALE:Morale low due to fatigue from long marches, meager food ration, and UN air attacks.
11. CAPTURED EQUIPMENT:No information.
12. AMERICAN PW'S:Observed American PW's in small numbers frequently while marching South from SEOUL. Seems that PW’s were receiving good treatment.
13. NORTH KOREAN AF & NAVY:No information.
14. CIVILIAN ATTITUDE:Approx 50% of populace seems to be glad the North Korean Army has come. Others seem to fear the North Korean troops.
15. MEDICAL:Inoculated for cholera at KWANGHAE DO during May 1850. All troops stationed there were inoculated.
16. INTERROGATOR'S REMARKS:Seems reliable but was not too cooperative.
17. INTERROGATED BY:Sgt H. NAKAJI
For the AC of S:
SAKAMOTO
