ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1427 27 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0897) 24 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | PAEK Song Yop (白聖燁) (백성엽) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 3915 |
| RANK: | Jr Sgt (下士) |
| AGE: | 28 |
| DUTY: | Asst Squad leader |
| UNIT: | 103rd Security Regt, 6th Bn, 3rd Co, 3rd Plt, 2nd Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (2 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | On a hill 2 km N of KUSAN DONG (1180-1480) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 21 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | P'YONGAN PUKTO, SINUIJU SHI, NAMMI RYOK RI (平安北道新義州市南彌綠里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA (FEAF) |
PW was cooperative and seemed to be of average intelligence. Reliability unknown.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
| 11 Jul 50: | Inducted into the NKPA at HWANGJU (黃州), received 2 weeks basic training. |
| 27 Jul 50: | PW and other conscripts arrived in SEOUL by train and the PW's Bn was formed with the addition of SEOUL conscripts. The PW was told he was a part of the 103rd Regt, but was never told what division he was attached to. |
| 30 Jul 50: | Departed SEOUL by foot. The entire Bn marched at the same time. |
| 31 Jul 50: | Arrived in YANP'YONG. |
| 1 Aug 50: | Departed YANP'YONG by foot. |
| 13 Aug 50: | Arrived in TANYANG via WONJU & CHECH'ON. The Bn underwent strafing by F-80's at CHECH'ON. 2 were wounded, number of deaths not known. At TANYANG the Bn received a second strafing from F-80's. No casualties suffered. |
| o/a 17 Aug 50: | Bn departed TANYANG. |
| 2 Sep 50: | Arrived in ANDONG. Here the Bn was separated by company. |
| 6 Sep 50: | The Bn assembled at UISONG. Here the Bn pulled security duty. The line at that time was near KUSAN DONG. The PW’s Bn had small detachments in various towns in the vicinity of UISONG. The Bn Headquarters was in UISONG. PW did not know where the Regimental Headquarters was located. The majority of the Bn underwent combat training in UISONG. |
| 20 Sep 50: | Security Bn was sent to KUSAN DONG to replace the 8th Div which was in KUSAN DONG at the time. The numerical strength of the 8th Div was at that time less than the strength of the Bn. While marching toward KUSAN DONG from UISONG, the PW saw the 8th Div marching toward UISONG. In the meantime the 15th Div was holding the line at KUSAN-DONG. PW's Bn marched to a mt 1-km S of KUSAN-DONG and dug defensive positions along the southern slope of the mountain. |
| 21 Sep 50: | At 0800 ROK troops attacked their position and the Bn CO ordered a withdrawal. PW’s platoon retreated to another hill 2 km N of KUSAN-DONG. He and eleven (11) others of his platoon were surrounded by ROK troops and received small arms fire. During the fire fight, six (6) men from PW's platoon were killed. PW and 5 of his men surrendered when the ROK troops raised their fire. |
Strength and Organization:
Security unit: 103rd Regt was composed of the 6th Bn, 12th Bn and 15th Bns (hearsay). The original strength of the 6th Bn was a little over 600, but PW believes present strength to be about 300. The 6th Security Bn consisted of 3 rifle companies with an original strength of 100 men, present strength unknown. In addition there was a heavy weapons company with an original strength of 40 men, present strength unknown. There were also a Signal Plt, Supply Plt, Medical Plt and a Recon plt.
Equipment:
The 6th Bn's heavy weapons company had 2 × 82mm mortars (M1941) and 1 × MAXIM HMG (M1910). Two DP LMGs were picked up and used by the heavy weapons company. The rifle co's carried US rifle Model 1917 captured in SEOUL. US-M-1 rifle cartridges were used in these rifles. The Ass't plt ldr of the PW's platoon carried an M-1 rifle.
Other units:
The 15th Div was in the KUSAN DONG front. The 8th Div was withdrawn from the KUSAN DONG front and was sent to the rear. The 8th Division's strength was less than a battalion (hearsay). At UISONG around 6 Sep 50 PW saw about the equivalent to two bn's of unarmed replacements. He heard that they were on their way to PUSAN.
Intentions:
The PW's security bn was acting as a security unit in the UISONG Area, when the 8th and 15th Divs became so depleted that the Bn was sent to the KUSAN DONG Area to take the place of the 8th Div.
Personalities:
Chief of Staff of the 6th Security Bn: KIM Chil Ho (金七호) rank Capt (總尉).
3rd Co Cmdr: CHO Man U (趙万遇), rank Sr Lt (大尉). Heard he was transferred to an infantry division because of his background.
Platoon leader: PAEK Im Bong (白林奉), Jr Lt (少尉).
Morale and Propaganda:
Since the troops were not properly trained they lacked the will to fight. Some of the men did not even have rifles. PW saw UN propaganda leaflets in UISONG and felt like surrendering. He heard from his CO that all that remained to be captured was PUSAN, but when he arrived in the UISONG Area he saw that even YONGCH'ON was not occupied and he states he realized he was given a lot of false propaganda, so he felt like giving up.
4. GENERAL:1. PW heard that there were 200 US PsW in P'YONGYANG PW camp. He heard this before he was inducted in the Army on 5 Jul 50.
2. When the PW's Security Bn was stationed in UISONG, the company commanders of the four (4) companies were transferred to infantry units at the front. They were supposed to have been experienced officers. The Ass't COs replaced them.
3. Although the 103rd Security Regiment was organized after the commencement of hostilities the officers and NCOs were all experienced in that they had security duty on the 38th parallel prior to the war.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
