ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1469 29 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0910) 25 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE Im Do (李壬道) (이임도) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 4740 |
| RANK: | Former ROK Army Staff Sgt |
| AGE: | 29 |
| DUTY: | Criminal Investigation |
| UNIT: | ROK 1st Div, 12th Regt, KAESONG MP Detachment |
| EDUCATION: | OSAKA University Law School (JAPAN) (3yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | HAMAN Coal mine office worker |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CHUNGAM-NI (1130-1360) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 20 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KYONGSAN NAMDO, HAMAN GUN, SANIN MYON, UNGOK NI #280 (慶尙南道 咸安郡 山仁面 雲谷里 二八0番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | KYONGSAN NAMDO, HAMAN GUN, GUNPUK MYON, CHUNGAM NI #1/30 (慶尙南道 咸安郡 郡北面 中岩里 一三0番地) |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA (FEAF) |
This man states that he is not a prisoner of war. He was separated from his MF detachment in KAESONG on the outbreak of war. He was trying to rejoin the ROK Army when he was captured and imprisoned for lack of evidence on his status. He seemed to be sincere and was told at MASAN that the validity of his claim would be verified in PUSAN. He stated that he underwent hardship until now, so he could rejoin his unit. He does not wish to be treated or called a PW. Recommend for further interrogation to determine this man’s status.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
| 18 Jun 50: | PW was stationed in KAESONG in the KAESONG MF Detachment of 12th Regt of the 1st ROK Div. |
| 25 Jun 50: | PW because the squad leader of the 1st Squad of the KAESONG MP Detachment. PW’s squad was ordered to a defensive position 4 miles N of KEASONG. Before the PW’s squad could reach their position, they found that the mountain was already occupied by NKPA troops. PW ordered the squad to return to the KAESONG Detachment Headquarters. When PW returned to KAESONG the town was already overrun by NKPA troops and tanks. PW changed his clothes, hiding his uniform in a house, and ordered the men of his squad to try to work their way toward SEOUL independently. PW remained in KAESONG three days studying the NKPA Army. |
| 28 Jun 50: | PW left KAESONG by foot as a refugee. |
| o/a 1 Jul 50: | Arrived in SEOUL and went to a friend’s home. Here he tried to have his name forged into their family registry as a resident of SEOUL, but since the NKPA had control of the registry he could not have his name entered, he passed himself as a relative of this family. Here his wife from KAESONG joined him. She had been beaten by the NKPA for not disclosing the whereabouts of the PW. PW nursed his wife until her death 30 Aug 50. While in SEOUL no pass was required of SEOUL residents. |
| 1 Sep 50: | PW escaped from SEOUL and crossed the HAN River walking to SUWON. He walked along the main road as a refugee and avoided NKPA check points. |
| 1 Sep 50: | Arrived in SUWON. |
| o/a 4 Sep 50: | Arrived in P’YONGTAEK. |
| o/a 5 Sep 50: | Passed through CH’ONAN. |
| o/a 8 Sep 50: | Arrived in TAEJON. |
| o/a 13 Sep 50: | Arrived in KUMCH’ON. |
| o/a 17 Sep 50: | Arrived in KORYONG. |
| o/a 19 Sep 50: | Arrived in UIRYONG via HYOPCH’ON. |
| o/a 20 Sep 50: | Swam across a river and entered CHUNGAM-NI which was at that time in UN hands. The line at that time was between the river and CHUNGAM-NI. At a farm house on a road to CHUNGAM-NI PW ran into a NKPA soldier who started to question him, The PW told him he was in no position to question him, since he was surrounded by UN troops and talked him into changing into civilian clothes and going behind the UN live as a refugee. Then the PW entered CHUNGAM-NI and went to a ROK police guard post. They asked him where he came from and he told him his plight, but they could not believe him, since he had no evidence to prove his status. He was sent to MASAN and questioned. He was told he would be questioned in PUSAN and would be investigated to prove his status as a ROK soldier. |
Information on NKPA troops:
1. SEOUL, as of 1 Sep 50:
Heard that there were two (2) divisions stationed in SEOUL. From his observation he noted that the units were composed of volunteers from SEOUL with NKPA officers. Observed eight (8) tanks within the city of SEOUL. Heard from a NKPA soldier that there was one (1) division at INCH’ON.
2. T’aejon, as of 8 Sep 50:
Observed about two (2) companies of troops in the red brick school near the TAEJON RR station. He heard that there was one (1) Division in the T’AEJON Area.
3. UITYONG, as of 19 Sep 50:
When PW arrived in UIRYONG on 19 Sep 50 he asked for food at a farm house and was told that there had been two (2) divisions of NKPA troops in UIRYONG and that they departed for CHINJU 3 days earlier and had taked all available food. Observed two (2) tanks moving toward CHINJU on the night of 19 Sep 50. PW saw no large movements of troops behind the enemy lines.
4. GENERAL:Heard that the total casualty of civilian and NKPA troops in TAEJON by US air raids was 7,000. No troops other nations seen in SEOUL. Did not hear of any PW camps in SEOUL. South Korean currency is still in use, but PW stated that prices have risen. Does not know whether North Koreans are printing currency. There is no military currency in use.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
