ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1146 17 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0784) 16 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KIM, Chung P’yo (金増豹) (김증표) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 2915 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 22 |
| DUTY: | Artilleryman |
| UNIT: | 15th Div, Arty Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Btry, Command Plt, |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YONGCH’ON (永川) (1190-1450) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 11 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG NAMDO. CHONGP’YONG-Gun MUNSAN-Myon UNJURI (咸鏡南道 定平郡 文山面 殷诛里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School - 6 years |
| OCCUPATION: | RR Worker, Farmer |
| INTERROGATOR: | A CAMPBELL (FEAF) |
PW cooperative, reliable. Artillery unit entered town of YONGCH’ON. Held down by ROK fire from hills. Attacked by US planes. ROK Units surrounded and recaptured town. PW surrendered with many others. Further interrogation might be useful.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
Inducted at NAJIN (羅津) 11 Apr 50. Received 3 months training as artilleryman.
22 Jun 50, departed NAJIN by rail for CH’ORWON (鐵原)
25 Jun 50, crossed 38° Parallel on ammunition truck. Arrived point 18 miles north of SEOUL. Waited 2 days. No action. Then north and east, turning south thru WONJU (原州) to CH'UNGJU (忠州), guns in action for first time. After one day (exact day unknown) went to CH’ONGJU (淸州). In action 5 or 6 days. Prevented from going west, went south and east thru SANGJU (商州) to SONSAN (善山). Remained about 1 week, no action. Crossed NAKTONG River, temporary bridge. Waited 2 days. Then went into action about 8 miles south. Two days. Proceeded to UIHUNG (義興) in action once or twice on way (PW does not remember places or dates) than south to 5 miles north of YONGCH'ON (永川). Guns in action two days then south into YONGCH'ON. Held two days by ROK fire. Surrendered.
Unit Organization:
Original Strength: Arty Regt, 3 battalions. In one battalion, 3 batteries; in one battery two (2) platoons. Two (2) sections in a platoon. Regt - 1,020 men; Bn - 320; Btry - 75; Plt - 26.
Unit Organization:
Battle Strength: Had lost 2 pieces, 25 men.
Last Known Strength about 10 pieces, 700 men.
Equipment:
Three (3) batteries originally 4 x 122-mm M1938 Howitzers each.
Six (6) batteries originally 4 x 76-mm M1939 Field Guns. Men carried rifles. Observers, SMG. One ammunition truck to each gun. PW states 15th Div had no tanks.
Duties:
Support of infantry.
History:
Organized Mar 50. Received field pieces early in May. New. Apparently direct from RUSSIA. Instructors, Koreans with experience in CCF (8th). No Russian Advisors observed.
Dispositions:About three (3) batteries entered town of YONGCH’ON (much confusion, rain. PW's information incomplete). Remaining batteries 5 miles to north.
Communications:
Two roads from north into YONCH'ON. One road to west to T'AEGU. One to east to P’OHANGDONG. One to south to KYONGJU (慶州) Railroads north, west (T’AEGU) south (KYOUGJU) Station south of town.
Telephone lines from regt Observation CP to each Co CP. Telephone lines to Div CP.
Intentions:
Capture of YONGCH'ON, then attack on KYONGJU.(慶州).
Personalities:
Plt Ldr: CHU, In Ch’ang (朱仁昌) Lt. PW remembers no other names. Names little used. "Comrade" (Tongmo 동모) and Rank used.
Morale:
Originally about 80% fully in accord with purpose. 20% including PW not in accord. Losing confidence in victory, fear being killed. Much fatigue, poor rations. PW did not see leaflets. PW believed he would be killed if captured. Did not know extent of UN aid. Knew only of planes. PW reports wide dissatisfaction among people with Communism. In spite of continual indoctrination students not convinced and skeptical of Communism. PW thinks people of North KOREA would welcome victory by South.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
