ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1059 14 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 0810) 11 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | CHO, Chi Hwan (曹治煥) (조치환) |
| PW NO: | 2578 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTIES: | Lineman & Telephone operator |
| ORGANIZATION: | 15th Div, 45th Regt, 3rd Bn, Signal Plat, 2d Sqd |
| CODE NO: | Unknown 45th Regt. APO No. 3720 |
| EDUCATION: | 4 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Lumberjack |
| ADDRESS: | HAMGYOUNG NAMDO, PUNGSAN GUN, CHON NAM MYON, SNAGCHONPO RI, #78 (咸南 豐山郡 天南面 双浦堡里 78番地) |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 9 Sept 50, approx ½ km N of YONGCHON |
| INTERROGATOR: | GWA |
Cooperative; information seems reliable but PW is unable to remember dates well, Although PW belongs to two (2) communist organizations, he insists that he is not a Communist at heart,
3. T/O & E OF PW’S UNITS:15th Div, composed of 45th, 50th and 55th Rifle Regts and an Arty Regt.
MG Co, 3rd Bn 45th Regt originally had 6 MAXIM HMGs and 30 boxes of ammo. As of 9 Sep 50, there were 4 HMGs and 8 boxes of ammo left.
Mortar Co, 3rd Bn, 45th Regt originally had 2 x 82mm mortars but had none left as of 9 Sep 50.
Sig Plat, 3rd Bn, 45th Regt, originally had 4 telephones and 4 x 600 meter reels of wire. Only one telephone and no wire left as of 9 Sep 50.
4. ESTIMATED STRENGTH OF ABOVE UNITS:| UNIT | ORIG STRENGTH | PRES STRENGTH |
| 3rd Bn, 45th Regt | Approx 700 men | Approx 600 men |
| MG Co, 3rd Bn 45th Regt | Approx 40 men | Appox 20 men |
| Sig Plat, 3rd Bn, 45th Regt | Approx 16 men | Approx 9 men |
15th Div, 45th Regt CO: LEE, Chol Yong (리길용), Lt Col, age approx 35.
45th Regt, 3rd Bn CO: CHANG, Sok Kil (長錫吉) (장석길), Capt, age approx 35.
6. PERSONAL & UNIT HISTORY:Inducted on 1 Mar 50 into 2nd Sqd, Sig Plat, 3rd Bn, 45th Regt, 15th Div, at NAJIN-DONG. Received 2½ months basic training at NAJIN-DONG.
Departed from NAJIN-DONG on 22 Jun 50, by railroad with entire 15th Div, and arrived at KUMHWA on 27 Jun 50.
Departed from KUMHWA on 29 Jun 50, marched with 15th Div, and arrived at CHUNCHON o/a 5 Jul 50.
Departed from CHUNCHCN o/a 3 Jul 50, marched, and arrived at YOJU, date unknown.
Departed from YOJU, date unknown, marched, and arrived at CHANGHOWON-NI, date unknown.
Departed from CHANGHOWON-NI, date unknown, marched, and arrived at KOESAN, date unknown.
Departed from KOESAN, marched and arrived via PALGONG-SAN approx ½ km north of YONGCHON on 7 Sep 50. PW separated from his unit at 2200 hrs, 9 Sep 50. While attempting to find his unit PW was surprised by a group of ROK soldiers and surrendered immediately.
7. ARTILLERY:Observed approx 20 x 45mm guns about 2 km north of YONGCHON on 8 Sep 50.
8. FOOD AND AMMO SUPPLIES:Food supplies were delivered from the rear echelon; 3rd Bn personnel depended solely on confiscating food from farmers.
9. ENEMY INTENTIONS:Objective of 15th Div was KYONGJU via YONGCHON (9 Sop 50).
Received no gas training or equipment.
10. MORALE:Morale of replacements was low because they were inexperienced, but morale of soldiers who had been in 15th Div since it left North KOREA was high.
11. CAPTURED EQUIPMENT:Equipment is used by unit capturing it.
12. MISCELLANEOUS:PW joined Democratic Youth League (“KOMSOMOL”) in Mar 50, and joined the NK Labor Party (Communist Party) in Dec 49. He alledged that he joined these organizations because he wanted to make a decent living and would not be able to do so in North KOREA unless he was a member.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SAKAMOTO
