ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2103 28 October 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD - 0155) 25 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHIN, Chun Shik (陳春植) (진준식) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt |
| AGE: | 20 |
| DUTY: | Supply (food) Officer |
| UNIT: | Marine Brig (239 Unit), 1st Indep Marine Bn |
| EDUCATION: | Chemical College 3 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HWANG-JU (黃州) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 17 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMKYONGNAM-TO, YONGHUNG-GUN, DOKHUNG-MYON, HANBONG-LI, #313 (咸鏡南道永興郡德興面鷳鳳里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMKYONGNAM-TO, YONGHUNG-GUN, DOKHUNG-MYYON, BUNNAM-LI (咸鏡南道永興郡德興面蚠南里) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HATTORI (ATIS) |
PW was very cooperative and of average intelligence. Being a supply officer in his unit he was somewhat restricted in his movements. Information obtained seems to be fairly reliable.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
5 Sep 49 : PW volunteered at CHINNAMPO (鎭南浦) as a Pvt and was assigned to 956 Marine Regt, 2nd Bn.
29 Jun 50 : 2nd Bn departed CHINNAMPO and arrived at CHANGYON (長渊).
26 Jul 50 : 2nd Bn departed CHANGYON and arrived at ONGJIN (瓮津).
? Aug 50 : PW was reassigned to newly activated Marine Brigade, 1st Indep Marine Bn.
10 Sep 50: Commissioned a Jr Lt and assigned as a Supply (Food) Officer to 1st Indep Marine Bn in ONGJIN.
17 Oct 50 : On retreat to PYONGANG, 1st Bn met UN Forces in SARIWON (沙里院). 1st Bn completely dispersed.
Unit Organization & Strength:
The Marine Brig (239 Unit) is under the Navy Hq, which in turn is directly under the Defense Ministry. Strength 9,000 men.
1st Indep Marine Bn - 900 men; Comm Plat - 15 men; Sanitation Plat - 9 men; Supply Plat - 20 men; Recon Plat - 40 men; 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Marine Inf Co’s - 150 men each; Marine HMG Co - 90 men; Marine Mortar (82mm) Co - 90 men; 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Indep Marine Bns - 900 men each. Mechanized Bn, Engineer Bn, Medical Bn, Communications Bn, Transportation Bn, Mortar (82mm) Bn, Mortar (120mm) Bn.
1st Indep Marine Bn was annihilated at SARIWON (沙里院) on 17 Oct 50. 5th Indep Marine Bn was last heard of in CHANGYON (長渊) on 17 Oct 50.
Equipment (Original Aug 50 allotment):
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Indep Marine Bns only: 150 sub MG; 100 LMG’s; 50 HMG’s; 4 mortars (82mm); and 2 trucks.
Indep Marine Trans Bn - 15 trucks.
Unit History:
The navy Hq in PYONGYANG (平壤), acting under the orders of the Defense Ministry, created two (2) Marine Brigs in Aug 1950. The 239 Unit (Marine Brig) was activated in CHINNAMPO (鎭南浦), while the other Marine Brig (code unk) was activated in WONSAN (元山). Both had an average strength of 9,000 men. The majority of the well-trained men who were in previous marine outfits, became officers.
The 239 Unit (Marine Brigade of CHINNAMPO) was, prior to its activation in Aug 50, the original CHINNAMPO 956th Indep Marine Regt with 4,000 men.
Above two brigades were the only components of the NK Marine Corps.
Intentions:
CHINNAMPO Marine Brig (239 Unit) was assigned the task of securing the harbor of CHINNAMPO in Aug 50 to prevent an invasion landing. The Brig dispatched its 1st Indep Bn to ONGJIN (瓮津) about the same time to secure that harbor. The Brig possessed no large calibre guns or ships of war.
PW in mid-Oct 50 heard that the Marine Brig in CHINNAMPO retreated to PYONG.
Personalities: (CHINNAMPO Marine Brig)
Sr Col LIM, Chul (林喆) (림철)
Brig CO up to early Sep 50. Replaced.
Col KIM, Tae Myon (金泰冕) (김태현)
Brig Staff Officer. Replaced in early Sep 50.
Lt Col PAEK, Tae Jun (白泰俊) (백태준)
1st Marine Bn CO
Maj CHOE, Wun Sob (崔雲変) (최운섭)
1st Marine Bn Propaganda Officer
Sr Lt HA, Yong Chul (河龍喆) (하용철)
1st Marine Bn Supply Officer
Morale and Propaganda:
The Morale of the PW’s unit was low, caused by the fact that the majority of the marines were conscripted forcibly and did not receive enough training. Another contributing factor was that many of the soldiers were composed of old men, who could not keep up with the younger men.
PW had no information on the effect of UN propaganda leaflets and broadcasts.
4. GENERAL:During the period Sep 49 to Jun 50, while PW was assigned to the 956 Marine Regt (later redesignated marine Brig - 239 Unit) in CHINNAMPO (鎭南浦), he observed a Russian military officer (Major) frequently. This Russian was attached to the PW’s unit as a military adviser. PW asserted that almost every NK unit had a Russian military adviser.
For the Commanding Officer:
BATEMAN
Executive
