ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1717 9 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1015) 3 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHO, Ui Son (趙義善) (조의선) |
| RANK: | Sr Sgt (上士) |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Clerk |
| UNIT: | 9th Div, Medical Section, Rear Supply Section |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School 3 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CH'ONGJU (淸州) (1040-1530) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 28 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HWANGHAEDO, P'YOUNGSAN-Gun SOBONG-Myon, MANT'ANNi #969 (黃海道 平山郡 西峰面 晩灘里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (FEAF) |
PW talked freely but was not observant. Stated that he was forced to join the NKPA and does not favor Communism. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
30 Jul 50 - Inducted in NKPA at SEOUL. Assigned to 9th Div, Medical Section, Rear Supply Section.
26 Aug 50 - Arrived TAEJON with Div. Worked in NKPA Hospital as ration clerk.
15 Sep 50 - Arrived KOCH'ANG (居昌) with Div. Worked in Div Hospital.
20 Sep 50 - Arrived CH'OGYE (草溪) with the Div Hospital. The Div crossed the NAKTONG River.
22 Sep 50 - Evacuated with hospital to KUMCH'ON (金泉).
25 Sep 50 - Hospital again evacuated to TAEJON.
26 Sep 50 - The Div Hospital was disorganized and orderd to retreat to CHOCH'IWON.
The hospital personnel were separated and PW with a fellow soldier arrived at CH'ONGJU. Changed to civilian clothes. Captured by ROK Forces.
Unit Organization and Strength:
PW heard that as of 26 Sep 50, the strength of the 9th Div was 2,500 men.
The Medical Section (220 men) consisted of a Hospital Section and a Dispensary Section. The Hospital Section consisted of 20 doctors and pharmacist (Head doctor, Maj. Other, Lts) and 17 female nurses (Five Jr Lts and 12 Sr Sgts). The Dispensary Section was broken down to a ration section (20 men), two stretcher Co's (75 men per Co) a Sanitation Team (5 men) and a Culture Section (4 men).
As of 26 Sep 50, there were 150 men in Medical Section. Heavy casualties were suffered in the two stretcher companies.
Equipment:
The medical Dept was not equipped for operations or amputations. First aid and emergency treatment only were obtainable at the Div Medical Section.
Dispositions:
The Div Medical Section did not receive any medical supplies after departing SEOUL, where most supplies were obtained.
The Div medical Dept had a sufficient supply of US made penicillin, morphine and other medicinals.
Communication:
Communication between the front line combat unit and the medical dept was made by runners.
Wounded were brought to the medical section hospital from the Regtl Field Hospitals on stretchers. Serious casualties were sent to TAEJON from the Div Hospital at KOCH'ANG whenever trucks were available and from TAEJON the casualties were sent to hospitals in SEOUL by train.
Since it took at least two days before casualties were able to get transportation to be transferred out of the Div Hospital, two-thirds of the serious casualties died before they could be transferred.
Personalities:
Head of Medical Section, also Head of Dispensary: CHONG, Tal Bu (정달부); Maj (少佐); Age 35 years.
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of personnel of the Medical Section became quite low in early Aug due to intensive air raids. The Div Medical Section Hospital did not have Red Cross markings on the roof but only on the door of hospital, and was frequently strafed by UW aircraft. Increasing casualties were also cause of low morale.
Morale and Propaganda:
PW frequently read UN propaganda leaflets and Safe Conduct Passes during the months of Aug and Sep. PW stated that the leaflets were quite effective and most personnel except for Communists believed the statements made on the leaflets.
NKPA propaganda was as follows:
1. The US Imperialists are invading KOREA.
2. The UN is only a Puppet Organization controlled by the United States.
3. The Japanese Army is fighting for ROK.
4. RUSSIA is the benefactor of the NK people.
5. The CCF are the fellow democrats of the NKPA and will join them in near future to fight the invaders.
4. GENERAL:PW observed wounded US PsW being treated at the 9th Div Medical Section Hospital at KOCH'ANG on 20 Sep 50.
Observed approximately 200 US PsW marching in streets of SEOUL o/a Aug 50.
Heard of the INCH'ON Landing by the Forces o/a Sep 50, from a rear liaison soldier at KOCH'ANG. This was considered secret.
Observed 17 wounded US PsW boarding train at SEOUL for P'YONGYANG on 1 Aug 50.
Estimated 500 killed, 250 wounded per 1,000 men in the NKPA.
Stated that most casualties were caused by artillery fragments and nepalm bombs.
Stated that in Mid-Aug several men of 9th Div ate poisoned watermelons.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
