ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1714 9 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1012) 3 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | PAK Won Ch'un (朴元春) (박원춘) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 29 |
| DUTY: | Mine removal plt ldr |
| UNIT: | 603rd Motorcycle Regt, Engr Co |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Coal Mine carpenter |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | In the city of CH‘ONGJU (淸州) (1040-1530) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 30 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KANGWONDO, HWACH'ON GUN, HANAM MYON, WONCH'ON-NI (江原道華川郡下南面原川里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA (FEAF) |
PW claims that he could not be promoted beyond Jr Lt because he was not a labor party member. PW was cooperative and talked freely.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
18 Jun 46: Volunteered for NKPA at HAMHUNG and was trained at P'YONGYANG.
30 Mar 50: Attached to the 603rd Motorcycle Regt.
30 May 50: Commissioned Jr Lt (少尉).
25 Jun 50: The 603rd Regt which was in INJE crossed the 380 parallel.
28 Jun 50: Arrived by jeep and motorcycle in HONGCH'ON (洪川).
o/a 9 Jul 50: Arrived CH‘UNGJU. The Regt remained 2 weeks before rubber pontoons could be brought forward so that the Vehicles could cross the NAM HAM-GANG. Here they were strafed by US jet aircraft. The Regt lost 12 x motorcycles and 4 x trucks. The 603rd Regt was split here. The 1st Bn and the 3rd Bn went to CHOCH'IWON. 2nd Bn was sent to KORYONG and the Regt'l Hq and the 4th Bn went to KWANGJU. The Arty Bn was split among the four (4) Bns. The reason for this split was not known. PW and his Engineer company was sent to CHINJU.
15 Aug 50: Arrived CHINJU. The 4th Bn and the 603rd Regt also arrived CHINJU via KWANGJU.
30 Aug 50: PW was sent to the field hospital in CHANGGYE-RI (長溪里) with a nervous breakdown. At that time the Regt'l Hq and the Engr Co were in PANSONG (班城).
26 Sep 50: While in the hospital in CHANGGYE-RI PW heard that the 603rd Regt Hq. Engr Co and the 4th Bn had evacuated PANSONG and gone to ANUI (安義)
26 Sep 50: The Field Hospital at CHANOGYE-RI was attached to the 603rd Regt. PW and 20 other patients were left behind Heard that the hospital was moving to CHOCH'IWON. PW changed into civilian clothes, thinking he would have less chance of being shot.
28 Sep 50 Arrived CHOCH'IWON looking for the Field Hospital but could not locate it. He heard that CH'ONGJU was occupied by the ROK Army.
30 Sep 50: Arrived CH'ONGJU and surrendered to ROK forces.
Organization and Strength:
603rd Motorcycle Regt (Independent):
Original strength of 3,600 men. As of 28 Sep 50 PW heard that the Regt had approx 200 men. 603rd Regt consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Bns, Arty Bn, Engr Co, Supply Plt, Signal Co, Medical Co, Cultural Section, Guard Plt and an Armored Car Bn.
Equipment:
Vehicles:
Original: (1) 900 x motorcycles with sidecars. A 7.62mm LMG mounted on each sidecar (3 occupants).
(2) 90 x armored cars (BA-64) armed with a 7.62mm LMG
(3) 180 x GAZ-67 jeep with a 7.62mm LMG
(4) 70 x (ZIS-151 and GAZ-51) trucks
Present: Believed to be none.
Intentions:
The 603rd Regt was supposed to be attached to the 6th Div for tactical purposes. After withdrawing the 603rd was to regroup in ANUI and take up defensive positions near ANUI (Hearsay).
Disposition:
Heard that the 6th Div was on the defensive near HAMYANG (咸陽). Believes the 603rd Regt is near ANUI.
Personalities:
CHON Mun Sop (全文変) Sr Col, Co 603rd Regt
KIM Song Ho (金成鎬) Capt, Co Engr Co
Morale & Propaganda:
Morale was low for the usual reasons - no food, loss of confidence, no hope of replacements, etc. UN propaganda leaflets were seen, but most of the old NKPA men would not believe them and seemed to have no desire to surrender.
4. GENERAL:1. The Engineer company was divided into three (3) platoons. The 1st Platoon's duty was to clear roads of obstacles, the 2nd Platoon cleared landmines off the road, and the 3rd Platoon prepared gun positions. During retreat the engineers prepared defensive positions and laid mines. The Engr Co had 7 x VIM 203 mine detectors.
2. Land mines used were POMZ-2 and PMD-6 anti-personnel mines. Anti-tank mines were of two types, one was enclosed in a wooden box which could not be detected by mine detectors, and required 5 kg pressure to detonate. The other was enclosed in a metal drum and required 7 kg weight to detonate.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
