ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1206 22 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0830) 19 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | HAN, Hung Yon (韓興淵) (한흥연) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 3138 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 18 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 5th Div, 10th Regt (Code No 617) Security Guard Plt, 1st Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | 11 yrs, 2nd yr of higher middle school |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 10 km NE of AN'GANG-Ni |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 15 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, KYONGHUNG-GUN, AOJI-MYON, AOJIRI #143 (咸鏡北度 慶興郡 阿吾地面 阿吾地里 一四三番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (FEAF) |
PW was in good physical condition. PW was still a student in higher middle school, 2nd year. He received 2 hours military training at school per week.
PW seemed intelligent and stated that he could speak Russian. He was captured by ROK Forces while looking for food. Further interrogation not recommended.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:| Chronology: | 15 Jul 50 - Inducted in NKPA together with 100 students of his high school at CH’ONGJIN (淸津). Assigned to 5th Div, 10th Regt Security Guard Plt, 1st Sqd. Received no military training in unit but had 3 months training while attending high school. Departed same day by train. |
| 17 Jul 50 - Arrived KOSONG (高城) via HUNGNAM (興南) and WONSAN (元山). Departed KOSONG, 18 Jul 50 by foot, arrived date unknown SAMCH'OK (三陟). Arrived ULCHIN (蔚珍) d/u. D/u arrived HUNGHAE (興海). 5th Div engaged in combat. | |
| 10 Sep 50 - Arrived at point 1 km SW of P'OHANG-DONG Airfield. 5th Div engaged in combat 4 days in order to capture the airfield. PW stated that more than 50% of the Div were killed. The 10th Regt could not contact the rear as the unit was surrounded by ROK forces. The 5th Div was forced into a disorganized retreat toward AN'GANG-Ni (安康) on 14 Sep 50. | |
| PW had internal and bone trouble caused from the long march, so he tried to locate the 91st Field Hospital on 15 Sep 50, at the same time retreating with the 5th Div. He had not had a meal for 8 days prior to his capture. |
Unit Organization and Strength:
The 5th Div was composed of the 10th, 11th, 12th Regts, Medical Bn, Engr Bn, 122-mm Howitzer Unit and a tank unit. The 10th Regt was composed of 1st, 2nd, 3rd Bns, PPsh SMG M1941 Co, Security Guard Plt, Recon Plt, Engr Plt, Communication Plt, AT Gun Plt, and an AA Gun Plt. PW believed that an artillery Regt was attached to the 10th Regt. The artillery regt was composed of a 45-mm Gun unit, 76-mm Howitzer unit and 120-mm Mortar unit.
The Bns had a mortar company and a HMG Co besides the infantry companies. The Security Guard Plt (42 men) was composed of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sqds. PW estimated that only 20 men remained as of 15 Sep 50. The Plt ldr and sqd ldr were killed in action.
Unit History: The 5th Div was engaged in battles at KANGNUNG (江陵) and P'OHANGDONG. PW stated that the 10th Regt won a great victory at KANGNUNG on 20 Jul 50.
| Communication: | Road: Condition of the roads along the east coast was good. Roads in vicinity of P’OHANG-DONG were also good. |
| Railroad: RR was utilized up to KOSONG (高城). The RR lines were not damaged. | |
| Bridges: Bridges were destroyed S of SAMCH'OK (三陟) but most bridges were repaired by the village people with sand bags. Trucks and tanks were able to cross these bridges. |
Intentions: The mission of the 5th Div was to capture the P'OHANGDONG Airfield by 10 Sep 50.
| Personalities: | 10th Regt former CO: PAK, Chong Dok (朴正德): Col Formerly with 8th Route Army |
| 10th Regt present CO: KE, U Sop (桂禹燮); Col Formerly with 8th Route Army. |
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of troops was quite high until the unit was surrounded by the UN Forces and strafed and bombed heavily in their attempt to captured the P’OHANG-DONG Airfield.
The morale of troops became low when they became aware of their position and ran short of provisions when their supply line was cut. The Regt, including Regt CO, did not have a meal for 3 days during the battle and they were forced to kill cows and eat them raw with uncooked rice. When retreating from P’OHANG-DONG, 11 Aug 50, PW read UN Propaganda leaflet. The leaflet stated that the UN Forces would attack the NKPA that night so that they should surrender before the attack. The NCO’s of units took the leaflets away from the troops.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
