ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1507 30 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0926) 27 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | SIN, Yong Uk (申榮旭) (신영욱) |
| RANK: | Lt (中尉) |
| AGE: | 28 |
| DUTY: | AT Gun Plt Ldr |
| UNIT: | 13th Div, 21st Regt, 18th Bn, 45-mm AT Gun Plt |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 years) |
| OCCUPATION: | Carpenter |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | SIMGOK-TONG, (審谷洞) (1147-1468) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 24 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KYONGSANG PUKTO, UISONG-Gun, PONGYANG-Myon, KUMI DONG #282 (慶尙北道 義城郡 鳳陽面 龜尾洞 二八二) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMKYONG BUKTO, MUSAN Gun, MUSAN-Myon, CHANG YOL-Dong #43 (咸鏡北道 茂山郡 茂山面 彰烈洞 四三番地) |
| INTERROGATOR: | TAKESAKO (FEAF) |
PW, of average intelligence, was reluctant to talk. In expressing himself, he was not bitter but seemed to have a feeling of complete resignation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Present Disposition:
a. PW's own unit and CP: As of 18 Sep 50, 13th Div covered a front of approx 4 km with the 21st Regt CP located 2 km E of TABU-DONG (多富洞).
b. Artillery emplacements including 4 or 5 x 122-mm M1938 Howitzers, 10 x 76-mm M1927 and M1942 Guns, 6 x 120-mm Mortars (made in NK), 20 x 45-mm M1937 and M1942 AT Guns, located along the hills 5 km E of TABU-DONG covering the road leading to TABU-DONG.
c. Armor: In mid-Aug 50, the 13th Div had 26 x T-34/85 and T-34/76 tanks but by the time PW was captured, the number had decreased to one (1) T-34/76 tank.
Other Units:
Facing the enemy, the 3rd Div was to the 13th Div's right with Hqs at WAEGWAN, and the 1st Div was to the 13th Div's left. This line is as of 3 Sep 50. These divisions comprised the Ill Corps which had its Hqs at SANGJU (尙州).
Psychological:
Most of the unit personnel believe the US propaganda leaflets and cease fighting but they have been told constantly that capture meant certain death. With these two conflicting forces, it is difficult for one to come to a decision. Another factor is that surrender means indefinite internment which, in turn, would mean indefinite separation from family.
The average soldier fears artillery most.
PW believes the reason RUSSIA does not give concrete aid to NK like the UN Forces are doing is because the present conflict would lead to World War III. He stated that the UN is justified in assisting ROK in that ROK is a UN member while NK is not; that if RUSSIA gave support to NK, it would turn world opinion against her.
PW believes that two-thirds of NK soldiers and general public would surrender immediately if they were aware of the true war situation. He stated that this two-thirds is composed of the simple men who fully realized that the longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be to obtain material things. The other one-third or "die-hard" Communists are those who are aware that losing the war means relinquishing their power and position.
Effect of UN Propaganda:
Even when he read US propaganda leaflets, PW was still undecided. These leaflets had a great effect on the soldiers but they withdrew rather than gave up.
Mental and Physical Fatigue:
Reaction to pressure from above: As far as the PW was concerned, he was resigned to his fate. On one occasion when he was struck several times by the Div Political Officer, his reaction to this was, not of bitterness, hatred, or fear, but of resignation. He thought death was preferable to such treatment.
Diseases, mainly malaria, less than 1/10 of his Division infected.
For the Commanding Officer;
WEELDREYER
Executive
