ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1203 22 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0827) 19 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KIM Kil Hwan (金吉煥) (김길환) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 4034 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) (S. Korean conscripted into N. Korean Army) |
| AGE: | 25 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 13th Div, 19th Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co, 3rd Plt, 1st Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | S of KASAN (1154.6-1456.1) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 15 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KANGWONDO, HOENGSONG GUN, HOENGSONG MYON, KATAM NI, #50 (江原道 橫城郡 橫城面 佳潭里 五十) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HORISHIGE (ATIS) |
PW talked freely and his information seemed fairly reliable. Since PW was a replacement, tactical. information unavailable. recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
| 6 Aug 50: | PW was inducted at WONJU (原州). Approx 1,000 S. Koreans including PW received basic training for a week. Basic training consisted of close order drill, squad tactics, military courtesy, etc. |
| 26 Aug 50: | The 1,000 men departed WONJU (marched). |
| o/a 5 Sep 50: | The 1,000 men reached TOWON DONG (桃院洞) via TANYANG (丹陽), YONGJU (榮州), ANDONG (安東) and UISONG (義城). Here, they were assigned to various units. About 70 men including PW received M1891/30 rifles. Each man received 300 rounds of ammunition and 4 hand grenades. The 70 men were assigned to the 1st Co, 1st Bn, 19th Regt, 13th Div. They were replacements. |
| o/a 7 Sep 50: | The 70 men departed TOWON DONG (marched). |
| o/a 10 Sep 50: | The 19th Regt Hqs was located approx 3 km S of KASAN (架山). The 70 men were separated into squads and took positions along the hills located approx 4 km S of KASAN. The troops dug fox holes and remained there for about 4 days. |
| 14 Sep 50: | The US troops started to attack with artillery, mortars, machine guns. The 1st Co retreated to the 19th Regt Hqs area (3 km S of KASAN). After the firing ceased in the evening, the troops advanced towards the US positions. About 50 men including PW came as close as 50 m to the US positions. |
| 14 Sep 50: | The 50 men were discovered by the US troops. The US troops fired machine guns and many N. Koreans were killed. Some of the N. Korean troops escaped, but PW and 2 others were captured by the US troops at point (1154.6-1456.1). |
Last known composition of unit:
On the night (14 Sep 50) When PW and 50 others advanced to the US positions, PW heard from his Plt Ldr that most of the men in the 1st Bn, 19th Regt were killed.
Armor:
PW observed one T-34 tank parked at a roadside in TOWON-DONG (1150-1490) o/a 5 Sep 50. PW estimated that there were a total of approx 14 destroyed T-34 tanks in the vicinity.
Dispositions:
Ammunition was scattered in the hills near TOWON-DONG, but PW was unable to give the exact locations. PW said that the house were all burned in TOWON-DONG.
Intentions:
PW heard from his Co CO that the objective of the 13th Div was TAEGU.
Morale and Propaganda:
The morale of the original troops was high, but the morale of the replacements was low. The N. Korean troops did not trust the S. Korean replacements. The S. Korean replacements were always sent to the front and told not to surrender, because the N. Korean troops were behind them with submachine guns. The troops were told not to read the surrender leaflets. Everybody was afraid to pick up leaflets, because they would be killed.
4. GENERAL:One N. Korean won was worth 10 S. Korean won. PW saw Red Cross Insignia on hospital vehicles.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
