ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1106 16 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0765) 14 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KANG Un Hwa (姜運華) (강운화) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 2787 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 25 |
| UNIT: | 15th Div, Artillery Regt, 2nd Bn, 6th Btry, 2nd Plt, 4th Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 6 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Fish cannery worker |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 5 km S of YONGCH’ON (永川) (1190-1450) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 12 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG NAMDO, PUKCH’ONG GUN, YANGHWA MYON, TONGNI #370 (咸鏡南道 北靑郡 陽化 東里 三七0) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | S/Sgt LEE (FEAF) |
PW's unit was ordered by his battery commander to bury all artillery pieces 5 km S of YONGCH’ON. Unit fired upon by machinegun and fighter aircraft. PW then deserted. PW was sincere and cooperative. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:PW left home by train on 6 Apr 50 and arrived at PUKCH’ONG (北靑) 6 Apr 50 where he took his physical examination. PW with 50 new conscripts then left PUKCH'ONG by rail on 7 Apr 50 and arrived HAMHUNG (咸興) 8 Apr 50. On 9 Apr 50 PW with 150 replacements departed by rail for NAJIN (羅津) arrived 14 Apr 50. PW was inducted into the army and started basic training which lasted for 2 months. PW assigned to an artillery unit of the 15th Div artillery regt. Received artillery training until 22 Jun 50. PW's unit was ordered to CH’ORWON (鐵原) and then to YONCH‘ON (漣川) 25 Jun 50. On 26 Jun 50 unit crossed 38th parallel just below YONCH’ON. By passed SEOUL and first engaged ROK troops at YOJU. From YOJU PW’s unit passed through CH'UNGJU (忠州) and arrived at KUMCH’ON (金泉).
PW's unit first received UN aircraft attacks on road to KUMCH’ON. Unit then moved to SONSAN on trucks and crossed the NAKTONG River east of SONSAN (善山) to participate in the attack toward TAEGU o/a 20 Aug 50. PW’s unit was badly mauled by UN aircraft and ground opposition that they had to retreat and regroup at KUNWI (軍威). Received new replacements. Unit joined the battle of YONGCH’ON o/a 8 Sep 50. PW was captured 13 Sep 50.
Battle organization & strength:
PW’s unit the 6th Btry, 2nd Bn, 15th Arty Regt consisted of 70 men and 4 x 122mm M1938 Howitzers. The 4th Btry strength unknown. 4 x 72mm guns. The 5th Btry consisted of 3 x 72mm guns and 1 x 122mm Howitzer. All 3 btry's made up the 2nd Arty Bn of the 15th Div Arty Regt. 15th Div CG’s name is PAK Sung Ch’ol (박승철), a Maj Gen. Plt ldr name is CHONG Ch’ung Nam (정충남), a Jr Lt.
Last known composition of 6th Btry was approx 65 men and was intact when last seen by PW 5 km South of YONGCH'ON near a RR station. 3 x 122mm Howitzers were buried along the bank of the river 5 km due S of YONGCH'ON. Reason for burying artillery pieces was lack of ammo.
Communications:
Roads were bad and the RR bridges bombed.
Morale & propaganda:
Morale was high at start of the war but after seeing fighter aircraft support for UN ground forces and first class fighting equipment and material, PW feels that NK has lost the war. Food situation was very critical and lack of ammo and supplies also contributed to the very low morale of the N. Korean troops. PW saw propaganda leaflets, but after talking about it PW was ordered to forget about it. The political officers said that everything in the leaflets was false. PW was also told that if captured he would be killed immediately by the UN Forces.
4. REMARKS:PW heard that there was an airfield in WONSAN (元山).
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
