ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1116 17 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0845) 14 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE, Tae Hak (李泰鶴) (리태학) |
| RANK : | Pvt |
| AGE : | 22 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| ORGN: | 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, 8th Co, 4th Plt, 1st Sqd. (unit code 703) |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School, 3 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Clerk (cotton mill) |
| ADDRESS: | SINUIJU, TONG MYON RI, 113 (新義州市 東棉面 113) |
| DATE & PLACE CAPTURED: | 11 Sep 50, at TAESAN MYON (垈山面) (1140-1370) |
| INTERROGATOR: | T. M. |
PW was very cooperative. Seems intelligent and fairly reliable.
3. T/O & E OF PW’S UNIT:| 3rd Bn: | 600 men, composed of three (3) inf companies, one (1) HMG Co, one (1) Mortar Co. |
| Infantry men armed with M1891/30 rifles, 70 rounds per man, no grenades; sqd ldrs PPSH M1943 SMG’s, three (3) 35 round magazines, two (2) grenades. | |
| Directly under Bn one (1) Mortar Co (50 - 60 men) eight (8) 45mm Mortars, all troops armed with M1944 carbines, number of ammo per man unknown. | |
| HMG Co: | 60 men, 16 HMG (4 HMG per plt), all troops armed with M1891/30 rifles, 70 rounds per man, no grenades; sqd ldrs armed with PPSH M1943 SMG’s, three (3) 35 round magazines per man. |
| When in combat, the HMG Co was split up and attached to infantry companies. |
According to PW, the 3rd Bn was located somewhere on a Mt NW of MASAN, 9 Sep 50.
5. STRENGTH OF ABOVE UNITS:3rd Bn: Approx 200 men (8 Sep 50)
HMG Co: Number of men remaining unknown. Only two (2) HMG of 16 were in operation (8 Sep 50).
Mortar Co: Number of men unknown; however, observed three (3) mortars (8 Sep 50).
6. PERSONALITIES:3rd Bn CO: CHE, ? (崔 ?)
Rank: Major, age: approx 40 yrs.
8th Co CO: RO, Chi Mun (盧致文)
Rank: Sr Lt, age: approx 25 yrs
7. PERSONAL & UNIT HISTORY:Inducted 8 Jul 50 at HAEJU.
PW received 12 days of basic infantry training at HAEJU. Training included rifle marksmanship, calisthenics, close-order drill, etc.
On 28 Jul 50, the 3rd Regt only departed HAEJU by rail and arrived at "SUSAEK" (水色) on 1 Aug 50.
At SUSAEK, the Regt was separated by battalions.
On 2 Aug 50, 3rd Bn marched from SUSAEK, reaching YONGDUNG PO on 2 Aug 50.
Departed YONGDONG PO 2 Aug 50, marched, arrived PYONGTAEK ? Aug 50.
Departed PYONGTAEK ? Aug 50, marched, arrived CHOCHIWON ? Aug 50.
Departed CHOCHIWON, ? Aug 50, by truck, arrived KUMSAN, ? Aug 50.
Departed KUMSAN ? Aug 50, by truck; arrived KOCHANG ? Aug 50.
Departed KOCHANG, 7 Aug 50 by truck; arrived CHINGJU, 15 Aug 50.
Departed CHINGJU, 16 Aug 50, marched, arrived SACHON, 17 Aug 50.
Departed SACHON, 18 Aug 50, marched, arrived TAESAN MYON, 8 Sep 50.
On 7 Sep 50, about 2 Km West of TAESAN MYON, the 3rd Bn was separated by companies. PW's Co marched to a Mt 2 Km West of TAESAN. Just as they arrived in the Mt area at about 0200 hours, 8 Sep 50, they were attacked by unknown ROK Troops.
The Company fought for one day and retreated to a corn field, near the foot of the Mt. On the field they spent one day and on the following day (10 Aug 50) PW and another soldier ran away to a village (HAGIRI 下基里) and spent the night there. The next day about 1000 hrs, PW heard tanks approaching on a nearby road from the village. The tanks were Americans, so he surrendered to them (11 Sep 50).
8. FOOD & AMMO SUPPLIES:PW received average of two (2) meals per day. Food was looted from farmers and villagers.
Ammunition last received at TAESAN MYON, 7 Sep 50 (30 rds per man).
Ammunition was carried by individual.
9. REPLACEMENTS:The 3rd Bn received approx 40 replacements on 4 Sep 50 at a point 6 Km Weat of NAM River.
10. ENEMY INTENTIONS:The 3rd Regts, 7th Div, objective was MASAN via Mt trails and secondary roads.
11. MORALE:Morale was low, because they did not like the North Korean government system.
12. US PW’s:PW saw approx 100 US prisoners at SEOUL on 2 Aug 50.
13. SOUTH KOREAN SENTIMENTS:The South Koreans did not welcome the North Korean troops, because they looted food & belongings.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SAKAMOTO
