ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1610 4 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0961) 30 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | PAK, Kwan Hyok (朴寬赫) (박관혁) |
| RANK: | Sr Lt (大尉) |
| AGE: | 26 |
| DUTY: | Medical Officer |
| UNIT: | 8th Div, 2nd Regt, 2nd Bn, Medical Plt |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School - 6 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Worked in father's hospital |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | TANCH’ON (丹川) located 8 km N of UISONG (1160-1490) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 25 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | P'YONGAN PUK-To, KANGGYE-Gun, KANGGYE-Myon, HWANGGUM-Ni #225 (平安北道 江界郡 江界面 黃金里 二二五番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, HOERYONG-Gun, POL-Myon, YUSON-Ni #11 (咸鏡北道 會寧郡 甫乙面 遊仙里) |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (FEAF) |
PW stated that his family owned the hospital but all equipment of the hospital was taken over by the NKPA Govt.
PW was not observant. He desired to join the ROK Army in order to regain his family's property. Recommended for further interrogation on NKPA Medical affairs.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
10 Oct 48 - Joined Internal Affairs, Security Bn at CH’ONGJIN. Assigned to medical platoon as Jr Lt. No training.
1 Jun 49 - Departed by train with Security Bn.
15 Jun 49 - Arrived KANSONG (杆城). Assigned to NKPA 2nd Regt, 2nd Bn, Medical Plt (Border Security Guard) as Plt Ldr.
25 Jun 50 - Departed KANSONG by truck with 8th Div.
25 Jun 50 - Arrived YANGYANG. Departed same day on foot.
3 Jul 50 - Arrived KANGNUNG, 2nd Regt received 1300 reinforcements. After five days stay departed by foot with 8th Div.
o/a 25 Jul 50 - Arrived CHECH’ON through mountain trails, attacked by US aircraft on 6 occasions. 6 x trucks, 6 x 120-mm Mortars destroyed, 11 wounded and 8 killed in 2nd Regt. From this day the Div made no movements during daylight.
o/a 28 Jul 50 - Arrived TANYANG with 8th Div. 8th Div was counterattacked by ROK Forces and US aircraft. Fought for three days. 2nd Regt suffered the loss of 80 dead and 30 wounded.
o/a 1 Aug 50 - Arrived YONGJU. 2nd Regt fought one day. No casualties. Departed on foot after 2 days.
o/a 7 Aug 50 - Arrived ANDONG. Departed same day.
o/a 12 Aug 50 - Arrived at hill located 8 km NW of UISONG.
o/a 14 Aug 50 - At point 2 km S of above mountain, the 8th Div was counterattacked by ROK Forces for three days. Also attacked by 20 US single engine aircraft 5 times a day. 60 wounded and 20 killed in 2nd Regt.
o/a 26 Aug 50 - Arrived 12 km S of UISONG. 2nd Bn received 700 replacements. Counterattacked by ROK Forces. The 8th Div fought on a hill for approx 25 days. Heavily shelled by artillery and intense aircraft strafing and bombardment. 4 tanks of the 8th Div and 7 other tanks from the 17th tank Brigade were destroyed while retreating. 200 wounded and approx 4,000 killed in 8th Div during this battle.
10 Sep 50 - The crippled 8th Div left this hill in small groups. PW departed with 2nd Bn (150 men). Was told by Bn CO that the 8th Div was to regroup at ANDONG. Walked over narrow mountain trails during night.
25 Sep 50 - Arrived at hills 4 km S of TANCH’ON and 8 km N of UISONG. The 8th Div assembled at this point and the 8th Div C/S told troops that the 8th Div was to retreat to ANDONG.
The Div was unable to use road to ANDONG as the ROK Army tanks and vehicles were observed advancing northward along this road. The Div departed for ANDONG in Bn groups. PW with 17 soldiers left the Div for the mountains. PW stated that he led the men in his group to the ROK Army 8th Div, 21st Regt, 2nd Bn Hqs and surrendered.
Unit Organization and Strength:
The 8th Div originally consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regts. 8th Div Arty Regt, Signal Bn, Training Bn, Medical Bn, HMG Bn, Engr Bn, Recon Co, AT Rifle Co, AA Co, Security Guard Co.
The 2nd Regt (3,000) men consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bns, a Signal Co, Recon Co, Engr Plt, Medical Plt, Security Guard Plt.
The 2nd Bn consisted of three rifle Co’s, Signal Plt, Engr Plt, AT Rifle Plt, Medical Plt, Recon Plt.
As of 25 Sep 50, the 8th Div strength was 1,300 men. The division did not have any artillery or tanks.
Equipment:
As of 25 Sep 50, the Div had 10 x 82-mm Mortars, 10 x HMGs, 10 x AT Rifles.
Intentions:
8th Div was regroup at T’AEGU.
Personalities:
Ⅱ Corps CG: MU Chong (武亭); Lt Gen (中將) Age u/k Formerly with CCF 8th Route Army in MANCHURIA.
8th Div CG: O, Paek Yong (吳白龍); Maj Gen (少將) Age 50. Formerly with CCF 8th Route Army in MANCHURIA.
2nd Regt, CO: SA, Saeng (사생); Col (大佐); Age 30
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of troops was low due to intense artillery and aircraft bombardment. However, the Regt and Bn COs told troops that they were to fight again after regrouping.
PW saw UN Safe Conduct Pass leaflet on 17 Sep 50, 12 km S of UISONG. PW stated that the leaflets were quite effective and PW himself made up his mind to surrender after reading one.
4. GENERAL INFORMATION:Personnel of 8th Div were to receive Cholera immunization in mid-Aug 50 as it was said that there was a Cholera epidemic in T’AEGU. However, 8th Div was unable to obtain serum.
PW’s medical Plt was very short of medications. Medical Plts were only equipped for first aid. Bandages were the most critical item.
Seriously wounded solders were sent to Corps Field Hospital. Operations and amputations were done only at the Corps Hospital. Ⅱ Corps Field Hospital was located approx 12 km N of ANDONG as of 1 Sep 50. Chief of Corps Hospital was a Sr Col.
Head Medical officer of 8th Div was a Col. Regt’l Medical officers were Majors.
Red Cross arm bands were used in NKPA.
Wounded soldiers were sent to Regt medical sections and from Regt to hospitals by trucks.
Artillery shell fragments accounted for 60% of the wounds. Aircraft strafing was next highest on the list.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
