ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1708 9 October 1950
| NAME: | McCARVER, Billy M (USA) 0-62228 |
| RANK: | 1st Lt |
| ORGN: | Co L, 19th Inf, 24th Div |
| STATUS: | Escaped PW CIRCUMSTANCES Returned to Japan for hospitalization, patient at 128 Sta Hosp, Zama, APO 201. |
| INTERROGATORS: | Lts NUNLEY and GARRETT Central Interrogation Center |
| DATE: | 6 and 7 Oct 50 |
This American officer (Source) was captured on 12 Sep 50 near POHANG. He was interrogated first by a Russian Capt at 12th NK Div Hqs, This Russian was tall, heavy built, with high cheekbones, a heavy-boned frame, deep set eyes, very well kept finger nails, and was about thirty years of age. He had a strictly military bearing.
Source was interrogated next by a Russian Lt Col. "This Lt Col had feminine feature, and was 5 ft 7 or 8 inches tall with black eyes and black hair. He used a Korean woman interpreter, a South Korean called Anna, from PUSAN.
Source was interrogated on 22 Sep 50 by a Russian Sr Col. The first interrogation was held in the morning at a little place called PORGGOH (a temple) near KUMCHON, and lasted about 10 minutes. That afternoon the interrogation (by the sane Sr Col) was held in KUMCHON at the police station and lasted several hours. The Russian Sr Col was about 5 ft 6 or 7 inches, weight 160 to 165 lbs, bad blue eyes, was very active and about 60 years old.
Source was told by a NK interpreter named RYU (?) that General Dean was alive and that he had interpreted at a meeting between Gen Dean and NK premier KIM IL SUNG at PYONGYANG on 21st Sep 50. He said Gen Dean had a knife wound and had been shot. He had escaped once but had been apprehended in a refugee column by NK police and taken to PYONGYANG.
Another interpreter, CHI, a graduate of Columbia University told Source that Gen Dean was alive.
Source was under the control of the so-called Soviet-Police from time of capture until after the final interrogation by the Soviet Sr Col. On the night of the 22nd Sep, he was turned over to NK police. These Soviet police were a special secret police, trained in NKVD school at PYONGYANG. They wore civilian clothes.
Source was forced to make false statements on three separate occasions.
Source said that a Major, name unknown, former Bn Cmdr of 3nd Bn, 34th Inf was coordinator of PW propaganda for the North Korean 2nd Corps. This major was believed by the Source to have deserted to the enemy around 20 Jul 50.
Source was told by the Sr Col that the Soviet Alliance would not recognize any further U.N. mandates if the U.S. crossed the 38th parallel. He was told that the Soviet Alliance would definitely come into the war if the U.S. crossed the 38th. Then Sr Col told Source that the U.S. would not be able to cope with all the little troubles that they would start in various hot spots all over the world. He specifically mentioned INDO CHINA, IRAN and GERMANY as strategic spots where the Soviets were going to stir up trouble. The Russian Col ridiculed the U.S. occupation of S Korea and said that the Russians had changed the people of South Korea into communists right under the nose of the American occupation. "The Sr Col made the statement that if U.S. forces crossed the 38th parallel, their present losses would be nothing compared to what they would encounter there. He made the statement that NK losses south of the 38th could be considered neglible.
The Sr Col said he had 17 officers on his staff as advisors to NKPA. He himself was attached to Army. The Lt Col was attached to Corps and each Div had a Capt as advisor.
The Russian showed Source a picture of a new Russian tank which he stated would stop any American armor. Source said that the tank had an extremely low silhouette, was very large and had a low, box-like turret. The gun was rifle-type of unknown caliber with two muzzle-breaker. The tank had 8 bogie wheels.
The Russians made no mention of either atomic bomb or bacterie-logical warfare.
Source could not learn names of the Russians.
The interrogators knew everything about Source down to the most minute details. They knew all the members of his family, what their jobs were, etc. This information was evidently obtained from a Form 643 turned in by Source at Fort Sam Houston, Texas where he applied for RA in 1946. On this particular form, Source had given his brother's address as Div Arty, 24th Div. This was the only time that he had given this info on a Form 643 or any other official form. His brother was in 24th Div Arty from late 1945 until sometime in 1946.
Source states that he was interrogated continuously. North Koreans (and Russians) tried continuously to indoctrinate Source with Communism. Source stated that the Russian Sr Col acted highly indignant over the fact that a well educated American officer could not speak Russian, and was unfamiliar with the complete works and theories of Lenin and Marx.
Interrogators of NK Army are all majors. Political Culture officers practically command each Co, although each Co has a Capt as comdr.
North Koreans accused U.S. of all types of activities. They had documentary evidence and pictures. Source stated that he was shown the pictures and that they were very poor and indistinct.
North Koreans have a lot of PW propaganda. Source stated that prisoners are forced to sign false statements. They are forced at gun point to make wire recordings swearing that they are being treated well, etc.
Source stated that North Koreans were unable to utilize U.S. captured artillery. They could not understand the functionings of the weapons. They were continuously trying to make Source teach them how to set time fuses, etc.
Most of the older people in Korea are strictly pro-American. Since the fighting as a general rule was confined to the main highway arteries and comm-routes, the people in the country and side villages hardly realized that a war was going on. The people realized that the U.S. airforce was interested only in military targets.
Lt McCarver escaped from the North Koreans at 1705, 27th Sep 50. He was picked up by advance American units.
For the Commanding Officer:
AURELL
