ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2010 25 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1188) 18 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KU Cha Il (具滋一) (구자일) |
| PW NUMBER: | 22061 |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Plat Ldr |
| UNIT: | 26th Brigade, HMG 2nd Bn, Ind Plat |
| EDUCATION: | 12 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CHONGOK (全谷) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 8 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HWANGHAEDO, SONGWHA-Gun, P’UNHAE-Myon, SONGSANG-Ni, #75 (黃海道 松禾郡 豊海面 城上里 七五 番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | P’YONGYANG, MANSONG-Ni, #1 (平壤市 晩松里 一) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt SASAKI (ATIS) |
PW was cooperative and willing to give information. Reliability good.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
1 Nov 50: Sent to #1 Military Academy at P’YONGYANG. Received 10 days infantry training and graduated a Jr Lt. Assigned to 26th Brigade HMG 2nd Bn, Ind Plat as a platoon leader.
13 Aug 50: Arrived at NAMCH’ON (南川) With 400 Officers. Assigned to 26th Brigade HMG 2nd Bn, Ind Plat as a Platoon leader.
20 Aug 50: Arrived at HAMP’O (2km S of P’YONGSAN (平山), and trained for 20 days in combat training with wooden rifles.
19 Sep 50: Bn arrived at PAEKHAK (白鶴).
26 Sep 50: Bn Hq and Ind Plat arrived at YUCH’ON-Ni (柳村里).
5 Oct 50: Arrived at CHONGOK (全谷), and on 8 Oct 50 were combined to form one Ind Plat. The Platoon was captured.
(26th Brigade) HMG Bn Chonkok (全谷)
Observation Aug 50-8 Oct 50
The 26th Brigade was activated on 18 Aug 50 at NAMCH’ON (南川). PW heard that there were 9 battailions, each with a strength of about 700 men. this brigade had no arms and only a few troops had rifles.
The HMG 2nd Bn consisted of: 1st Inf Co, 2nd Inf Co, Engr Co, 1st HMG Co, 2nd HMG Co, 45mm mortar Co, 82mm mortar Co and five (5) independent sniper platoons (PW commanded one), Signal, supply, antitank, and antiaircrafy machine gun platoons. There were only 10 rifles and no ammunition in the PW’s platoon.
Brigade Hqs remained in NAMCH’ON when battalions were sent out.
Battalion arrived at PAEKHAK (白鶴) and all companies were sent to positions within 6 km of Bn Hqs. The Five (5) independent platoons remained in PAEKHAK. The HMG 2nd Bn Hq received orders to move to YUCH’ON-Ni (柳村里) and the Hqs sent out orders to the various companies to move to CHONGOK area near the 38th parallel. At YUCH’ON-Ni a small number of rifles, submachine guns and antitank rifles and some ammunition were received.
Weapons were preserved in thick grease but appeared to have been used before.
The Battalion Hqs received orders and move to CHONGGOK with the five (5) independent platoons on 5 Oct 50. Received more weapons and ammunition. Various companies of the battalion had already arrived.
The Battalion went into action in the CHONGGOK Area and PW heard firing from about 1 a.m. 8 Oct 50. All troops in the battalion were now armed. There were 8 HMGs, one 45mm mortar and 3 antitank rifles in the battalion. The Engineer company was engaged in laying mines. Artillery fire started around 0800 and the men were separated from the other companies and were captured around noon on 8 Oct 50. HMG 2nd Bn commander was KIM Kyong Hwa (김경화), a 26 year old major (少佐), formerly with the Chinese Red Army in MANCHURIA. Following is the organization of the HMG 2nd Bn:
HMG 2nd Bn Hq
26th Brigade Hqs YONCH’ON ( )
Observation o/a 1 Oct 50
PW went to the above Hqs as courier officer to receive sealed orders for the 120mm field artillery Bn adn 76mm Field artillery the HMG 2nd Bn by PW. At Brigade Hqs saw 2 Russian advisers in civilian clothes. When at this hqs US F-80s bombed the area about every 30 minutes and the Russians and Korean Officers had to hide and very little was done.
American PsW Camp P’YONGYANG
Hearsay: o/a 20 Jul 50
Heard that an American PW Camp was located approximately 1km NW of the west P’YONGYANG RR station. This camp was the #18 primary school and there were 2 or more Japanese (probably Nisei) in this camp.
During air raids the prisoners waved a large American flag and the planes did not bomb that area. Korean civilians gathered around the camp whenever there was an air raid. It was heard that the flag waving by the prisoners has since been prohibited.
#1 Military Academy P’YONGYANG
Observation 1 Aug 50-10 Aug 50
While at the #1 Military Academy PW was trained in firing rifles and light machine guns. He fired 3 rounds with the rifle, 8 rounds with the light machine gun and threw one hand grenade. There were 3 Russian advisers at the school who wore civilian clothes.
The Ordinary school term here was 1½ yrs but since the cut-break of the Korean war the students were graduated rapidly. Since the war, practically all the men attending this academy were high school students, university students and technical school students.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
