ATIS-ALLIED TRANSLATOR & INTERPRETER SECTION-FEC
ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1700 9 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADV ECH ATIS - 0009) 8 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHUNG, Chol Ho (張訍鎬) |
| PW NO: | 3665 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Machine Gunner |
| UNIT: | 635 HMG Unit |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | KOYANG GUN, PYUK TSEY MYON |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 1 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HWANG HAE TO, HWANJU GUN, PONAM LI 1232 |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HWANG HAE TO, HWANJU GUN, PONAM LI 1232 |
| INTERROGATED BY: | Cpl HAMASU |
Information is fairly reliable. PW was expelled after 1 yr Middle School in Feb 1942.
He deserted the NK Army and surrendered to UN Troops.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
Forced into the army on 15 Aug 1950. Took basic training at KUMCHON from 16 Aug 50 to 18 Sep 50 with 600 other men.
PW and 600 men were sent to KYANG KUN, PYUK TSEY MYON on 27 Sep 50. These 600 men organized the 635 HMG Bn.
Original Strength:
2 HMG os, 2 Inf Cos, 1 Eng Co, 1 Arty Co and 1 Independent AT Plt. Each Co had 5 Officers, armed with pistols.
Actual Battle Strength:
Same as above.
Equipment:
PW actually saw 1 AT Gun and 8 HMG. There was 1 rifle for every 5 men. There were four (4) HMG per company.
Unit History:
635 HMG Bn was formed on 18 Sep 50. Officers were graduates of the Officers Training School in PYONGYANG.
Disposition of Unit:
Bn Hqs was located about 2 km north of PYUK TSEY MYON.
Communucations:
Railroad from SARIWAN to KUMCHON was a double track. Approx 30 telephone lines ran parallel to the RR track.
Morale:
Very low because everyone was forcibly inducted.
Propaganda leaflets were very effective. PW thinks everyone has a secret desire to use a safe conduct pass.
4. GENERAL:PW heard on July 1950 at his home town (HWANJU) that Koreans who served in the CCF were moving into N Korea from MANCHURIA. This was heard from the Communist Propaganda Bureau.
There was a Democratic Party in NK until 1947, but they were forced underground at that time. One leader of the Democratic Party was CHO, Man Shik, now imprisoned in PYONGYANG.
The Political Communist Leader in NK is CHOE, Yong kun who prior the 15 Aug 45 served in the CCF Guerrillas.
Russian forces were in NK until about the latter part of 1947. When the Russians left UNK, the weapons, tanks, trucks, etc which they brought with them all remained. The PW warmly feels that these are the weapons, the tanks and the trucks the NK troops used and are still using to fight the UN troops. This informant from heresay-believes that Russia sent aid to North Koreans until the day the NK invaded the South, He based his opinion on the fresh unused tanks of Russian make, and also the weapons that have been handed to him, which also were not used. According to rumors, he states that these tanks have been sent from Russia through MANGHURIA through SINUIJU to NK. There also have been Soviet Advisory Officers in NK until the outburst of war. PW saw about 3 Soviets (unknown rank) from faraway during the time of basic training in KUMCHON. It was understood later on from his officers that these were Russian Advisors who were here to inspect the training. PW believes, these three (3) advisors went p North again. This was about the 5th of Sep 1950. PW thinks Soviet soldiers are not participating in this war (The Soviet Advisors wore green uniform)
For the Commanding Officers:
BATEMAN
Executive
