ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1068 15 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0817) 12 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | CHO, Bong Wun (趙鳳元) (조봉원) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt |
| AGE: | 24 |
| DUTY: | Ass’t Plt Ldr |
| ORGN: | 6th Div, (?) Regt, (?) Bn, 6th Indep Inf Co, 3rd Plt |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 6 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Electrical welder (SHINPUN KWANSAN Co) |
| ADDRESS: | HAMNAM TANCHUN GUN, KWANG CHUN MYON, DONG AM NI #163-1 (咸南 端川郡 広泉面 東岩里 163-1) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 18 Sep 50, "CHINJONG" (鎭田) 2 Km West of CHINCHON NI (128 27-35°06′) |
| INTERROGATOR: | C.H.S. |
PW was cooperative but tactical information was limited because of prolonged absence from his unit.
During the period 18 Aug to 11 Sep 50, PW was held by the South Korean CIC at MASAN Prison. Received 3rd degree treatment because he did not know his unit designation.
3. T/O & E OF UNIT:Rifle Company - 250 men.
Four (4) Plts in Co - 50 or 60 men each.
Two (2) Plts had five (5) squads,
Two (2) Plts had four (4) squads.
The reason that two (2) Plts had five (5) sqds was that these leaders had longer military service and were able to handle more men.
Officers carried TOKAREV Pistol, 20 rounds of ammo.
Squad - 10 men,
Sqd Ldrs - some had PPSH SMG, Two (2) 72 round each, Others had M1891/30 rifles.
All other rifle-men carried M1891/30 rifles, 100 to 200 rounds and two (2) grenades each,
There were four (4) LMG in the Company, one (1) in each Plt, 3,000 to 4,000 rounds per gun.
4. PERSONALITIES:CO Co, KIM, Hyong Nak (金亨洛) (김형락), Sr Capt, Age 30.
1st Plt Ldr Kim, Ki Mok (金基穆) (김기목), Lt, Age 23.
2nd Plt Ldr Kim, Tok Hwa (金德化) (김덕화), Lt, Age 25,
3rd Plt Ldr Kim, Pyong Kyu (金怦奎) (김병규), Jr Lt, Age 24.
4th Plt Ldr PAK, Won Ho (朴元浩) (박원호), Jr Lt, Age 28.
5. PERSONAL & UNIT HISTORY:PW stated that he was adopted by a Japanese family (SHIMOKAWA, ZENSHI CHI), at TSITSIHAR, MANCHURIA, on 1942. His name was changed to SHIMOKAWA, Yoshio. When the war was over the SHlMOKAWA family returned to KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN. PW tried to go with this family but was prevented by the Korean League in MANCHURIA. PW came to North KOREA on Oct 46, he tried to cross the 38th parallel to return to his registered domicile, which was in South KOREA, but was stopped by the North Koreans.
PW was captured by the ROK troops on 18 Aug 50 while he was dressed in civilian clothes and on a reconnaissance mission. The South Korean soldiers became suspicious of a young man traveling to MASAN. He confessed when the Korean CIC questioned him.
PW stated that five (5) men all dressed in civilian clothes without weapons (by order of the CO) were on this mission. These five (5) men were headed toward CHAWAN, PW was traveling to CHINJON alone.
The purpose of this mission was to learn enemy positions, weapons and strength. This info was to determine the route the Company was to take to SANCHOMPO where the North Korean 6th Div was supposed to have been located. This was the first time they ever went on reconnaissance.
Inducted 15 May 50 at TANCHON.
Received one (1) month of training (battle tactics) at INMINGUN, SHOKSONKWA KANBU HUNNYUN SO (Officers training school), at WONSAN.
Departed WONSAN - 20 June - RR - arr - YANGYANG - 21 June. 40 officers arrived here.
Six (6) officers including PW were placed into 6th Co,
Departed YANGYANG - 25 June - marched - crossed 38th parallel and arrived at UIJONGBU (?) July 50.
Only 6th Co arrived here.
Departed - UIJONGBU - ? July - marched - arr - KYONGSONG - ? July
〃 - KYONGSONG - ? July - 〃 - 〃 - CHONAN - ? July
〃 - CHONAN - ? July - 〃 - 〃 - TAEJON - ? July
〃 - TAEJON - ? July - 〃 - 〃 - KUMSAN - ? July
〃 - KUMSAN - ? July - 〃 - 〃 - ANUI - ? Aug
〃 - ANUI - ? Aug - 〃 - 〃 - CHINJU - 15 Aug
〃 - CHINJU - 17 Aug - 〃 - 〃 - MUNSAN - 17 Aug
〃 - MUNSAN - 17 Aug - 〃 only 6 soldiers left this area for reconnaissance purpose. PW alone arrived at CHINJONG, 18 Aug, and was captured. PW stated that the Company had never been committed to battle as of time of capture.
6. FOOD & AMMO SUPPLIES:They received food from People's Committee.
PW did not receive any additional supply of ammo since leaving YANGYANG on 25 June 50.
7. REPLACEMENT:No replacements in this unit.
Troops were taught that casualties were to be placed in empty houses and treated for first aid. An ample amount of rice was to be left with them to enable them to subsist until the medics following the unit would arrive. These houses in which the wounded were placed were marked by a piece of gauze over the entrance.
8. ENEMY INTENTIONS:Mission of the 6th Indep Inf Co was to proceed to SAMCHOMPO to meet with the 6th Division.
9. US PW’s:PW saw 30 American PW’s led by North Korean troops, marching northward of ANUI on d/u Aug. PW heard that these PW's were being sent to SEOUL.
For the AC of S, G-2
SAKAMOTO
