ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1124 17 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0853) 14 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | MIN, Man Ki (閔萬基) (민만기) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 905 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Ammo bearer |
| ORGN: | 7th Div, 2nd Regt (702 unit), 2nd Bn, 82mm Mortar Co, 3rd Plt, 2nd Sqd. (It was also called "POKSANAM" or Peach Tree) |
| EDUCATION: | Technical College (2 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| ADDRESS: | SEOUL SHI, CHUNGGU, LIP CHUNG DONG 2 (서울市 中区 笠中洞 2) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 121400 Sep 50 at HAMAN GUN by 35th RCT. |
| INTERROGATOR: | M.T. |
PW was cooperative. Information seems reliable. After seeing leaflets, PW deserted from the unit because he felt that it was safer to surrender than go to the rear.
3. DISPOSITION OF ABOVE UNITS:2nd Regt Hq was located in vicinity SE of UlRYONG on 4 Sep 50.
4. ESTIMATED STRENGTH OF ABOVE UNITS:| Unit | Original Strength | Present Strength |
| 2nd Squad | 3 men (as of 31 Aug 50) | Unknown |
| 3rd Platoon | 10 men (〃 〃 〃 〃 〃) | About 1 |
| 82mm Mortar Co | 50 men (〃 〃 〃 〃 〃) | Unknown |
| 2nd Battalion | Approx 500 (〃〃〃〃〃) | 2/3 killed or wounded |
Equipment: The Co had 9 x 82mm mortars as of 31 Aug 50. 6 x 82mm mortars crossed the NAM River on 25 Aug 50. However, PW believes they were destroyed by strafing and artillery shelling.
5. PERSONAL & UNIT HISTORY:Inducted on 9 Jul 50 at SEOUL.
Received no training.
A group of 25,000 men consisted of college students, Middle School students and factory laborers (no training) left SEOUL on 11 Jul 50 and marched through SUWON, YOJU, PYONGTAEK, CHOCHIWON, TAEJON, KUMSAN, CHINAN, NAMWON, KURYE (stayed 10 days & departed on 14 Aug), HADONG, SAMCHONPO, HABOR, CHINJU and arrived in UIRYONG on 24 Aug 50.
PW with 250 others were assigned to 2nd Bn, 2nd Regt, 7th Div at YOJU on 20 Jul 50. The Bn crossed the NAM River on 25 Aug 50. On or about 31 Aug 50, the Bn was surrounded by US troops. After seeing the safe conduct passes which were dropped by US planes on the road, PW deserted from his unit and surrendered to US troops, in the vicinity of HAMAN GUN on 121400 Sep 50.
6. ARMOR:Observed 2 tanks (JSU1 type) at CHINJU on the night of 23 Aug 50.
7. FOOD & AMMO SUPPLIES:Since they left SEOUL, they obtained their food (rice & beef) from farmers in the occupied area up to arrival in UIRYONG on 24 Aug 50.
After crossing the NAM River on 25 Aug 50, they went out to deserted villages, killing cattle, pigs, chickens and gathering wheat, oats & vegetables.
PW stated that 50 x 82mm mortar rounds crossed the river with troops on 25 Aug 50.
8. REPLACEMENTS:About 150 replacements who were conscripted in SONCHON, NAMWON & CHINJU areas joined the 2nd Bn, 7th Div enroute to UIRYONG.
After crossing the River, wounded personnel of the Bn were left behind the mountain as the unit advanced.
9. ENEMY INTENTION:Objective of the 7th Div was PUSAN via HAMAN and NAKTONG River by 31 Aug 50.
10. MORALE:Morale of the unit dropped after the troops crossed the NAM River on 25 Aug 50 due to enemy air attacks, tanks & artillery shelling.
11. CAPTURED EQUIPMENT:After crossing the NAM River, PW saw about three (3) M-1 rifles & five (5) carbines being utilized by PW's Co CO and messengers.
12. US PW’S:Observed two (2) US PW's riding jeep (US) which was heading toward HADONG on or about 20 Aug 50. They were guarded by two (2) NK troops.
13. SOUTH KOREAN SENTIMENT:People of SUNCHON & KURYE welcomed NK troops. The main reason for this was that the people were being oppressed by SK Police.
14. ADDITIONAL INFO:PW suggested that US planes should drop more leaflets over North Korean troops, because a large number still have not seen them.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SAKAMOTO
