ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1128 17 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0857) 14 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE Kun U (李根雨) (리근우) |
| PW NUMBER : | 898 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 23 |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| ORGANIZATION: | 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, 1st Co, 3rd Plt, 4th Sqd. 3rd Regt APO No. 703 Code No. Unknown |
| EDUCATION: | 10 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Clerk at the Sinuiju Electric Machinery Works |
| ADDRESS: | PYOHGAN PUKTO, SINUIJU CITY, PAEKTO-TONG, #2 (平安北道 新義州 白土洞 2班) |
| DATE & PLACE CAPTURED: | 12 Sep 50, at TAESAN-MYON (1043-1372) |
| INTERROGATOR: | G.W.A |
Cooperative. Information seems to be reliable but is limited to knowledge of PW’s own unit. PW is now convinced that the North Korean “government” is attempting to deceive the Korean people. He is angry at his officers for “needlessly” sacrificing lives of the EM.
3. T/O & E OF PW's UNIT:7th Div composed of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Rifle Regts; and a Signal Co; but no Arty Regt.
| UNIT | ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT | EQUIP. AS OF 9 Sep 50 |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, 1st Co | 2 Maxim HMGs; M1891/30 rifles, 100 rds per man 28 grenades; 14 PPsh SMGs; 12 DP LMGs; 6 Pistols. | M1891/30 rifles, 40 rds per man; 7 PPsh SMGs, 5 DP LMGs, 6 pistols, no grenades or HMGs. |
| 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn MG Co | 3 Maxim HMGs, 4 PPsh SMGs, 4 pistols, 26 M1891/30 rifles. | ? |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 2nd Bn, MG Co | 3 Maxim HMGs, 4 PPsh SMGs | ? |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 2nd Bn, Mortar Co | 3 82mm Mortars | ? |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 1st Bn, MG Co | 3 Maxim HMGs, 4 PPsh SMGs | ? |
| 3rd Regt, 1st Bn, Mortar Co | 3 82mm Mortars | ? |
1st & 2nd Rgts of the 7th Div; were to the left front and right front respectively of the 3rd Regt. The 3rd Regt was being held in reserve and men from it were sent as replacements to the 1st Regt and 2nd Regt.
5. ESTIMATED STRENGTH OF ABOVE UNITS:| UNIT | ORIGINAL STRENGTH | PRESENT EFF. STRENGTH (9 Sep 50) |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 1st Bn | Approx 500 men | ? |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 2nd Bn | Approx 500 men | ? |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, | Approx 470 men | Approx 250 men |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, 1st Co | Approx 150 men 〃 6 officers | Approx 35 men 〃 4 officers |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, 2nd Co | Approx 150 men | ? |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, 3rd Co | Approx 150 men | ? |
| 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, MG Co | Approx 30 man 〃 4 officers | ? |
7th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, 1st Co, 3rd Plt Ldr: KIM Pyong Kak (김병학) (金炳学), 2nd Lt (1 star), age 23.
7. PERSONAL & UNIT HISTORY:Inducted on 5 Jul 50, at HAEJU, into 3rd Bn, 3rd Regt, 7th Div. Received no training.
Departed from HAEJU on 2 Aug 50, with a Sr Sgt and 12 EM, by railroad, and arrived at SUSAEK (Suburb in NW part of SEOUL on the SEOUL-KAESONG RR line) on 4 Aug 50.
Departed from SUSAEK (SEOUL) on 4 Aug 50, marched, and arrived at YONGDUNGPO, on 4 Aug 50, having waded across the HAN River, from the SEOUL Airfield (not Kimpo Airfield). Rejoined 3rd Bn, 3rd Regt at YONGDUMGPO. 3rd Bn had departed from HAEJU o/a 28 Jul 50.
Departed from YONGDUNGPO on 5 Aug 50, marched, arrived SUWON on 6 Aug 50.
Departed from SUWON on 6 Aug 50, marched with 3rd Bn, 3rd Regt and arrived via TAEJON, KUMCHON, KOCHANG, and ANVI at CHINJU on 14 Aug 50. 3rd Bn joined other units of 3rd Regt as well as the 1st & 2nd Regts, 7th Div at CHINJU, on 14 Aug 50.
Departed from CHINJU o/a 17 Aug 50, marched with 3rd Regt, 7th Div, which was proceeded by 1st & 2nd Regts, arrived with 3rd Regt at SACHON o/a 18 Aug 50.
Departed from SACHON o/a 18 Aug 50, marched with 3rd Bn, 3rd Regt. (PW lost contact with all units other than 3rd Bn at SACHON), and arrived at SAMCHONPO on about 19 Aug 50.
Departed from SAMCHONPO o/a 26 Aug 50, marched with 3rd Bn of 3rd Regt, and arrived at TAESAN-MYON on 8 Sep 50 where the 3rd Bn found itself surrounded by US soldiers. By 9 Sep 50, the 3rd Bn had had approx 200 casualties. PW dropped behind with intentions of deserting and entered a small unidentified village where PW joined 2 other NKPA EM. Later 3 other NKPA EM entered the village, and one of them brought a Safe Conduct Pass that he had picked up. Because it was not safe in the village as artillery shells were dropping in it from time to time, PW and the 5 other NKPA EM decided to take a chance on the truth of the Safe Conduct Pass. They left the unidentified village on 12 Sep 50 and surrendered to soldiers of the 35th RRCT (The first Americans they met) at 1000 hrs, 12 Sep 50.
8. ARMOR:Observed 6 medium tankns at TAEJON o/a 10 Aug 50.
9. FOOD & AMMO SUPPLIES:Received average of 1 rice or barley ball daily.
10. ENEMY INTENTIONS:Objective of 7th Div was MASAN as of 9 Sep 50.
11. MORALE:Upon being surrounded by US units on 9 Sep 50, morale of men in 3rd Bn, 3rd Regt, dropped extremely low. Most of the EM wanted to either attempt a withdrawal or take chances on surrendering en masse to UN forces, but the officers insisted on a plan to fight to the last man. Consequently, most of the EM were watching for an opportunity to sneak off from their units and surrender.
12. KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER UNITS:PW believes all units of the 7th Div are spread out through HAMAN GUN (Haman County).
13. CAPTURED EQUIPMENT:Captured equipment was being piled up for eventual delivery to the rear echelon in the 3rd Bn, 3rd Regt, area as of 9 Sep 50.
14. US PW'S:Observed approx. 200 U.S. PW's being marched through the streets of SEOUL at about 2300 hrs, 4 Aug 50. PW does not know their destination.
15. S KOREAN SENTIMENTS:During the first part of Aug, S Koreans seemed to welcome the NKPA, but since the middle of Aug they have not acted as friendly to NKPA. PW suspects S Korean civilians are now doubting that the NKPA is winning because every able-bodied S Korean man is being conscripted by NKPA.
16. MISCELLANEOUS:Daring Jul 50, SINUIJU Airfield had no airplanes but was being used as a transient camp for personnel of the NKPA.
Since 15 Jun 50, civilians have not been permitted the use of railroad trains in N Korea.
Received no gas equipment or training.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SAKAMOTO
