ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1198 22 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0822) 19 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE Ch’ol Ung (李哲雄) (이천웅) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 4049 |
| RANK: | Civilian |
| AGE : | 30 |
| DUTY: | Engineer (Marine) |
| UNIT: | "Construction" Unit (vehicle & equipment salvage unit, believed attached to 3rd Div?) |
| EDUCATION: | Celebes Macassar Marine Engineer School (6 mos) |
| OCCUPATION: | Marine Engineer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 1 km NW of YONGSAN (1150-1380) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 10 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | CHOLLA NAMDO, MOKP'O, TAESONG DONG #1048 |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA DAFC (FEAF) |
PW complained and moaned during the interrogation that he had a splitting headache caused by a blow on the back of his head by a S. Korean policeman at MIRYANG (密陽). PW appeared to be quite intelligent. He spoke very freely. He had worked as an engineer for the T'ONGYONG (統營) Transportation Co in MOKP'O (木浦). During World War II he was employed by the Japanese Navy as an engineer on a freighter.
He claimed that he was connected with the NKPA for such a short period, he knew nothing of the NKPA from a military standpoint. He stated that the military personnel never discussed military matters in his presence.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
| 15 Aug 50: | PW drafted into the NKPA as a civilian at MOKP'O. Since PW was not fit for military service. He has six ribs and the entire right lung missing as a result of a bombing raid during World War II off the coast of JAVA when he was an engineer on a Japanese cargo ship. He received one week's political training at KWANGJU (光州). Departed 23 Aug 50. |
| 26 Aug 50: | Arrived at CHINJU (晋州) where he was attached to the 3rd Division as a vehicle mechanic. PW surmised that he was attached to the 14th Regt of the 3rd Div when he heard that their food supply came from the 14th Regt of the 3rd Div when they were later in the YONGSAN area. PW travelled during the night by trucks via SUNCH'ON (順天) to CHINJU. On the evening of 24 Aug 50 SUNCH'ON was strafed and bombed by six fighters (type unknown). PW could not determine the extent of damage or objective of strafing since he was in the outskirts of the town. He heard that there was a volunteer Army unit of 2,000 South Koreans stationed in SUNCH'ON (順天). |
| 28 Aug 50: | PW and his construction unit arrived in CHINJU (晋州). He did not know the location of the main elements of the 3rd Div at that time. Trucks were left in CHINJU. |
| 2 Sep 50: | Arrived at the S bank of NAKTONG-GANG (洛東江). |
| 3 Sep 50: | Waded across the NAKTONG-GANG and arrived on foot in PUGONG-NI (1950-1380). |
| 4 Sep 50: | Arrived at a point 4 km N of CH'ANGNYONG (昌寧). |
| 051900 Sep: | PW was ordered to go with a NKPA soldier on a reconnaissance patrol to the outskirts of CH'ANGNYONG. The PW's patrol crossed the line to a hilltop 2 km E of CH'ANGNYONG. From here the patrol observed about 10 x UN jeeps entering CH'ANGNYONG by the YONGSAN (龍山) CH'ANGNYONG road. The patrol returned about 060600 Sep 50 to their bivouac area. The 14th Regt was stationed 1 km to the N of the PW's bivouac area. |
| 061900 Sep: | The construction unit was strafed by 4 x UN fighters and the 14th Regt area was bombed. During the air strike PW left his unit and walked SE southward to a point about l km NE of YONGSAN. |
Unit & organization:
It was composed of 20 men; 3 drivers, 11 vehicle mechanics, 3 privates, 2 NCOs and l officer. The purpose of this unit was to repair all types of vehicles and equipment. 8 of the civilians were drafted from South Korea and 3 civilians and the 6 military personnel were from North Korea. The officer was armed with a pistol and the 5 EM had carbines. The civilians carried no weapons. PW had no idea what happened to his unit after he deserted the during the air strike near CH'ANGNYONG (昌寧).
Disposition of supply:
PW heard that NKPA units bury their excess supplies and ammo when retreating with intentions of recovering the when they counterattack.
Intentions:
The objective of the constriction unit which was composed of mechanics and Engineers was to enter areas occupied by the NKPA and to salvage captured vehicles and weapons for the use of NKPA. This unit, however, had no occasion to perform its duties.
Personalities:
CO of the construction unit: HWANG To Yul (黃道律), Jr Lt.
Morale and Propaganda:
The morale among the civilian members in the unit was quite low, mainly because they were taken from their homes and forced to suffer adversity for the NKPA. PW had no food for 4 days prior to his capture. When PW saw the UN, Safe Conduct Surrender Pass he made up his mind to surrender when he had the opportunity. He stated that he knew that US troops would give him good treatment.
4. GENERALPW stated that Security forces behind the lines were composed mainly of South Koreans who were drafted. He believed that some were communist sympathizers. He knew of no Security force unit designations or strength.
Troop movements:
At about 031800 Sep 50 PW observed about 200 NKPA troops marching south at a point 1½ km N of PUGONG-NI (1150-1350). He could not see the type of equipment carried by the troops. Military personnel in his unit stated that this was a portion of the 3rd Division which withdrew from HYONP'UNG (玄風) area to be deployed somewhere S of PUGONG-NI.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
