ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1409 27 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0879) 23 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KIM, Sok Chung (金石中) (김석중) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 13th Div, 19th Regt (Code No 717) 1st Bn, 3rd Co, 3rd Plt, 1st Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 years) |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | KASAN-Myon (架山面) (25 km NNW of TAEGU) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 19 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HWANHAE-DO, PONGSAN-Gun, SOJONG-Myon, TAEHAN-Ri #200 (黃海道 鳳山郡 西鐘面 大閑里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (FEAF) |
PW was in good physical condition. Stated that his father was a refugee from CHINA and entered KOREA after the termination of World War II.
PW was a member of the MINCHONG (民靑) Communist Youth Organization) but stated that he was compelled to join the organization.
Cooperative but was neither talkative nor observant. Further interrogation not recommended.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
14 Mar 50 - Inducted in NKPA at SINUIJU. Assigned to 13th Div, 19th Regt, PPsh M1941 SMG Co, 2nd Plt, 3rd Sqd. Received three months training with a wooden gun.
17 Jun 50 - Departed SINUIJU by train with Regt (3,000 men) for “field training”.
20 Jun 50 - Arrived KUMCH'ON (金川) via P'YONGYANG and SARIWON. Engaged in details for one week. Departed on foot with 19th Regt.
28 Jun 50 - Crossed 38° Parallel.
2 Jul 50 - Arrived SEOUL via UIJONGBU (議政府). Stayed 10 days with Regt Hqs at NAMSAN(南山) in SEOUL.
12 Jul 50 - Departed SEOUL on foot.
22 Jul 50 - Arrived MUN'GYONG (聞慶) via SUWON (水原), ICH'ON (利川), CHINCH'ON (鎭川) and CH'UNGJU (忠州).
24 Jul 50 - Departed MUN'GYONG for HAMCH'ANG (咸昌). The Regt was attacked by UN forces for 4 days between these two towns. PW was not engaged in battle as he was with Regt Hqs but heard that Regt suffered heavy casualties from artillery. Marched through mountains with Regt Hqs.
2 Sep 50 - Arrived at 19th Regt Hqs located 4 km N of KASAN-Myon (25 km NNW of TAEGU).
7 Sep 50 - Transferred to 2nd Bn, 6th Co, 3rd Plt, 1st Sqd, but could not find the 2nd Bn so he joined the 1st Bn.
9 Sep 50 - Arrived at KASAN-Myon.
12 Sep 50 - Ordered to evacuate a wounded NKPA soldier to a collecting station. PW was not able to locate collecting station so he stayed in a small village just N of KASAN-Myon for one week. There were eleven soldiers in this village.
19 Sep 50 - PW captured by ROK forces with 7 other soldiers while cooking. PW stated that he told the ROK forces about the wounded soldier in the house.
Unit Organization and Strength:
Original Organization and Strength: The 13th Div (12,000 men) consisted of the 19th, 21st, 23rd Rifle Regts and an Arty Regt. The 19th Regt (3,000 men) consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bns and a Regt Hqs Bn. The Regt Hqs Bn consisted of a Signal Co, PPsh M1941 SMG Co, 76-mm M1938 Gun Co, and a 120-mm Mortar Co.
A Bn (700 men) consisted of four companies
A Co (160 men) consisted of four platoons
A Plt (40 men) consisted of four squads
A Sqd consisted of ten men
The SMG Co (90 men) consisted of three platoons. Each platoon (30 men) consisted of three squads.
PW believed that the strength of the Signal Co, 76-mm Gun Co and 120-mm Mortar Co was approx same as the SMG Co.
Present Organization and Strength:
PW heard that 1/3 of unit was lost.
Dispositions:
PW believed that the 13th Div has retreated from KASAN.
As of 19 Sep 50, the 19th Regt (SIC) was located just E of the 13th Div and 1st Div was located E of the 19th Div (SIC). The 3rd Div was located to the W of the 13th Div and the 4th Div was located W of the 3rd Div.
Communications:
Roads were in fair condition but all bridges were destroyed. PW's unit crossed the NAKTONG River by wading.
All telephone lines were destroyed. Communication between Regts and Bns was by field telephone.
Intentions:
The mission of the 13th Div was to capture T'AEGU.
Personalities:
13th Div CG - CH'OE, Yong Jin (崔龍鎭) Rank u/k; Succeeded by Maj Gen LEE, Ik Son (리익선) on 2 Jul 50 at SEOUL.
19th Regt CO - Maj IM, Pyong Ch'ol (林柄哲); Age 30. Succeeded Lt Col LEE Tu Ch'an (리두찬) on 15 Jul 50 at CHINCH'ON.
SMG Co CO - Lt CHO, Ok Nae (조옥내); Age 30
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of the 19th Regt was quite low as the soldiers were afraid of the US artillery. PW never saw UN propaganda leaflets. The most effective anti-American propaganda spread by the NKPA was calling the American “Imperialists” and “Invaders”.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
