ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1161 19 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0791) 17 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | HO Maeng San (許孟山) (허맹산) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 3067 |
| RANK: | M/Sgt (特務上士) |
| AGE: | 20 |
| DUTY: | Supply Sgt |
| UNIT: | 15th Div, Arty Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Btry |
| EDUCATION: | 2 yrs mining school |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 16 km S of YONGCH’ON (1190-1450) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 14 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | MANCHURIA, KILIN Province, HUALUNG Country, TEHHUA District, KILCHI Village (滿洲 吉林省 和龍県 德化区 吉地村) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt HAYASHIDA (ATIS) |
PW was very cooperative but not very intelligent. PW was in good physical condition. PW was unable to carry on an intelligent conversation. Reliability poor.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
| 14 Apr 50: | Inducted into the NKPA at NAJIN, assigned to the 15th Div, Arty Regt which was then stationed at NAJIN. |
| 14 Apr - 22 Jun 50: | Received artillery training. Subject received training in operations of 76mm guns, and was also taught to make minor repairs. Some classroom training was received in trajectory. During this period, the disposition of the 15th Div units were as follows: |
| 7th Regt and Div arty regts stationed at NAJIN and the 8th and 9th Regts were at HOERYONG (會寧). | |
| 22 Jun 50: | Entire 15th Div departed NAJIN and HOERYONG by rail. |
| 24 Jun 50: | 15th Div arrived CH’ORWON (鐵原). Upon arrival, all men were ordered to destroy written data for security reasons. Infantry Regts 15th Div marched south from CH’ORWON. |
| 25 Jun 50: | 7th, 8th and 9th Regts were redesignated as the 45th, 47th and 50th Regts. Div Arty Regt departed CH’ORWON by truck. |
| 26 Jun 50: | Div Arty Regt crossed 38th Parallel. |
| O/a 29 Jun 50: | Entire 15th Div entered CH’UNCH’ON (春川). Div Arty Regt participated in the battle for CH’UNCH’ON but did not sustain any losses. Subject heard that the infantry regts sustained a total loss of about 150 men. |
| O/a 30 Jun 50: | Entire 15th Div departed CH’UNCH’ON in the direction of SEOUL. |
| O/a 1 Jul 50: | 15th Div arrived at a point 32 km from SEOUL - ordered to return to CH’UNCH’ON. |
| O/a 3 Jul 50: | 15th Div arrived CH’UNCH’ON. No engagements were fought between 30 Jun 50 and 3 Jul 50. Infantry Regts proceeded south. Div Arty Regt remained in CH’UNCH’ON. |
| O/a 4 Jul 50: | Div Arty Regt proceeded south from CH’UNCH’ON. |
| O/a 12 Jul 50: | Div Arty Regt arrived CH’UNGJU (忠州). Although Div Arty participated in several engagements enroute, no losses were sustained. Losses suffered by infantry units unknown. Infantry Regts had advanced 12 km in the direction of CH’ONGJU (靑州). |
| O/a 25 Jul 50: | Div Arty Regt arrived 12 km NE of CH’ONGJU and provided artillery support for the 1st Div and an unknown Regt of the 15th Div. Div Arty sustained a loss of 15 men enroute through US air activity. No pieces were lost. Losses sustained by the infantry units unknown. |
| O/a 20 Aug 50: | Div Arty Regt arrived SANGJU (尙州). Fought several engagements enroute but dates and location are not known. Div Arty sustained a loss of about 30 men and 2 x 76mm M1942 guns in the engagements. Route of march unknown. Infantry units of 15th Div located at NAKTONG-NI. Activities of the infantry to date, unknown. |
| O/a 25 Aug 50: | Div Arty Regt crossed NAKDONG River at NAKTONG-NI (樂洞里). Heavy equipment ferried across the river by lashing several wooden boats together. The Regt sustained fighter aircraft attack while crossing and lost 5 men and one truck loaded with ammunition. |
| O/a 27 Aug 50: | Div Arty provided artillery support for the 15th and 13th Divisions at KASAN-MYON (架山面). Unit losses in the engagement were 3 KIA, 2 WIA, and the destruction of 5 trucks and 225 rds of 76mm shells. Infantry losses unknown. |
| O/a 2 Sep 50: | Div Arty supported 15th Div infantry Regts at P’ALGONG SAU (八公山), exact location unknown, and suffered a loss of 2 trucks, 90 cases of 76mm ammunition (a total of 450 rds) and 15 men. Infantry losses unknown. |
| O/a 12 Sep 50: | Div Arty Regt arrived YONGCH’ON (永川). Subject heard that 15th Div infantry had entered the town o/a 8 Sep 50. Div Arty departed YONGCH’ON at 2000 hrs. Disposition of infantry unknown. |
| 13 Sep 50: | 0900 hrs Div Arty Regt arrived on the hills 16 km S of YONGCH’ON. 3 Regts of 15th Div were disposed in the area, exact location unknown. 2100 hrs supported infantry in attack. PW deserted because he realized that the 15th Div was no match against opposing elements. |
| 14 Sep 50: | PW captured by American forces. |
Strength, Arty Regt (estimated):
Original|Present (as of 14 Sep 50)
Div Arty Regt - 1,000 men|300 men
24 x 76mm M1942 guns|5 x 76mm M1942 guns
12 x 122mm M1938 Howitzers|11 x 122 mm M1938 Howitzers
46 x trucks|No trucks (horses used)
Morale: Morale was very low because of the constant decrease in men and equipment. Moreover, the men did not have adequate rations and rest. Most of the men believed that they are engaged in a futile war. Since about 12 Sep 50 the men became disobedient to orders. This was probably because of the heavy losses sustained by the division at YONCH’ON.
| Code Numbers: | Div Arty, 15th Div - 379 |
| 15th Div - 783 |
| Personalities: | Name: LEE Kwan Il (李光日) (리광일) |
| Rank: Jr Lt (少尉) | |
| Age: 35 | |
| Position: CO, 1st Btry, 1st Bn, Div Arty Regt | |
| Subject states that Div Arty Commander and CG, 15th Div were killed at YONGCH’ON o/a 12 Sep 50. Names unknown. |
No information on propaganda leaflets, N Korean currency and American PsW. N Korean hospital trucks have red cross insignias painted on both sides, on the windshields, and on the rear doors. On some of the trucks, red cross flags are also affixed.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
