ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1947 23 Oct 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1200) 19 Oct 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CH’AE, Tong Ch’ol (蔡東喆) (채동철) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 32 |
| DUTY: | Unassigned |
| UNIT: | 99th Inf Regt, 596th Unit |
| EDUCATION: | Grammar School (2 years), WASEDA Extension Course (3 years) |
| OCCUPATION: | Arc Welder (KONAM EDAKI-GUMI) (HAMGYONGNAM-Do) |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | SEOUL |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | O/a 10 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONGNAM-Do, KOWON-Gun, SANGONG-Myon, HANAM-Ni #629.7 (咸鏡南道高原郡山谷面花南里六二九犭七) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sfc KAWASHIMA (ATIS) |
PW was very cooperative but lacked power of observation. Was a self-educated man hungry for learning. PW’s sense of distance and direction must be regarded as only generally correct. Detail reliability poor.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
3 Aug 50 - PW was drafted on 3 Aug 50 P’YONGYANG and with about 200 others took freight train to CHINNAMP’O (鎮南浦). Arrived 5 Aug 50.
7 Aug 50 - Began basic training with 596th Unit, 99th Inf Regt. The unit strength was about 200. PW was told (hearsay) there were about 10 units (a total of 2,000Em). CO of the units was CH’A, Chung Hae (車仲海), Jr Lt. Trained for 1 week. Departed on 15 Aug 50, for SEOUL without weapons or packs on freight train that moved only at night.
18 Aug 50 - passed through SEOUL.
30 Aug 50 - PW arrived P’YONGDONG, sent to hospital with 8 others. From P’YONGDONG PW was returned with others by freight train to SEOUL.
8 Sep 50 - PW was again shipped by freight train to YONGDONG. Also marched on foot enroute. Movement was by night only.
15 Sep 50 - Passed through YONGDONG (永同) and arrived KUMCH’ON (金泉). PW was sick again and was returned to SEOUL on foot. On his return trip to SEOUL at CHOCH’IWON (鳥政院) PW saw retreating NKA troops.
10 Oct 50 - PW reported to police office in CHOCH’IWON and finally turned over to ROK MP’s in SEOUL.
Unit Organization and Strength:
PW’s unit was 596th Unit, 99th Inf Regt. Strength was 200.
PW claims this unit never engaged in combat. Present disposition of the Regt is unknown.
Equipment:
No weapons or pack were issued to PW.
Intentions:
PW claims this Regt was to be assigned to another unit to learn how to fight as replacements using the weapons and equipments of the casualties.
Morale:
Low morale due to:
1. Lack of training.
2. Felt war was unnecessary.
3. About half of the troops are anti-Communist.
4. REMARKS:2 or 3 Russian officers (Lt Col’s) were with the unit during basic training.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
