ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1279 24 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0865) 21 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHO, Chong Don (曹正敦) (조정돈) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 3606 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 1st Div, Training Bn, 1st Co, 2nd Plt, 2nd Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School (4 years) |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | P’ALGONGSAN (1160-1450) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 16 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KYONG SANG PUKTO, SANGJU-Gun, SAPOL-Myon, MAEHORI (慶尙北道 尙州郡 沙伐面 梅湖里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | KYONG SANG PUKTO, SANGJU-Gun, HAMCH’ANG-Myon, CHUNGCH’ON-Ni (慶尙北道 尙州郡 咸昌面 菁村里) |
| INTERROGATOR: | A CAMPBELL (FEAF) |
PW was cooperative and seemed reliable. No further interrogation recommended.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
11 Sep 50 - Inducted into NKPA at KUNWI (軍威). PW was fleeing from home with ROK unit. After crossing NAKTONG River, ROK unit left by truck. PW proceeded on foot, was overtaken by a NKPA unit at KUNWI. At first used as ammunition bearer.
13 Sep 50 - Given rifle from dead ROK soldier.
16 Sep 50 - PW surrendered.
Unit Organization:
30 men in PW’s Co; 15 in Plt; 5 in squad. All S.Korean conscripts. PW did not see any other unit. He understands that the other companies in the battalion are composed of S, Korean conscripts also.
PW thinks most of the unit either surrendered or was annihilated.
Equipment:
PW's unit not given rifles originally. Only officers and NCO's were armed. Unit armed at the front with M1891/30 rifles. Officers carried PPSh M1941 SMG's and PPs M1943 SMG's. One DP LMG in company.
Unit History:
PW’s training company organized in N KOREA. Same NK personnel left when PW entered. Unit now composed mostly of S. Korean conscripts. Officers all from N KOREA.
Dispositions:
Units scattered along hills at foot of P’ALGONG-SAN (八公山). PW has no information of disposition of other companies of battalion.
Intentions:
Unit objective - T'AEGU.
Morale:
All S. Korean conscripts had very low morale because of poor or very infrequent rations. All S. Koreans desired to surrender. Told that they would be killed if they surrendered. NK officers morale, high. They believed in their ultimate victory. PW reports much doubt and dissatisfaction among NK privates who came originally from the north. PW saw no Safe Conduct Leaflets although he had heard of then. Squad leader threw a hand grenade at PW and companion as they started to surrender. PW saw others shot for deserting.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
