ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2165 2 November 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD - 0177) 28 October 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KIM, Yu Hung (金裕興) (김유흥) |
| RANK: | Lt (中尉) |
| AGE: | 22 |
| DUTY: | Medical Apprentice |
| UNIT: | 578 Unit (75 Inf Regt) 45 Div |
| EDUCATION: | PYONGYANG Medical College - 3 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | KOKCHANG |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 16 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMKYONG NAMDO, SHINHUNG KUN, SHINHUNG MYON SHINHUNG LI (咸南新興郡新興面新興里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMKYONG PUK DO, NANAM SHI, HAIBANG LI, #84 (咸北羅南市解放里 #74) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HAMASU (ATIS) |
Information obtained is considered reliable. Informant was cooperative and replied to all questions without hesitation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
7 Jul 50: PW with about 120 other medical students was taken into the army at PYONGYANG. Commissioned a Lt.
9 Jul 50: PW and 5 others were assigned to the 578 unit (75 Inf Regt) in HAMHUNG.
20 Sep 50: PW moved with 578 unit to UIJONGBU, and arrived 5 days later. 1st & 2nd Bns of the 578 unit met the UN Forces & were defeated.
29 Sep 50: Due to heavy losses, the entire unit retreated to YONCHON.
3 Oct 50: The 578 unit fought again in YONCHON, and due to heavy artillery concentrations and air attacks the 578 unit was routed.
14 Oct 50: The remainder of the 578 unit arrived in KOKSAN, and regrouped, but were overrun by ROK Troops the next morning. PW and 5 others surrendered.
Unit Organization & Strength:
Original Organization & Strength:
The 45th Div was composed of 3 Regts. The 578 unit was known as the 75th Regt or 1st Regt under the 45th Div. The 75th Regt (578 unit) was an independent unit until the early part of Oct when it was reorganized and attached to the 45th Div. The 578 unit was made up of 3 Bns, with 3 Cos to each. The approx strength of the unit was 2,000 men.
Equipment (75 Regt) As of 25 Sep 50:
120 mm mortars, 45 mm antitank guns, 10 trucks, 76 mm cannons, HMG’s, LMG’s; number unknown. 7 trucks & some HMG’s & LMG’s remained 14 Oct 50.
Unit History:
20 Jul 50: The 578 unit (75 Inf Regt) was activated with 3 Bns, 6 Reserve Bns, drafted from the vicinity at HAMHUNG.
20 Sep 50: 578 unit, with 3 Bns went to defend UIJONBU.
25 Sep 50: The 1st & 2nd Bn of the 578 fought at UIJONBU and suffered over 50% casualties.
29 Sep 50: Due to losses the remaining men of the 578 Unit retreated to YONCHON where they fought a losing battle and were routed.
Personalities:
75th (1st) Regt CO - LEE, Yong Col, age -. Formerly of the Manchuria 8th Route Army.
75th Regt Chief of Staff, CHA, Chan Il, Maj, age -.
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of Unit was very low, due to the defeat at UIJONBU. They also resented the abusive treatment received while being drafted.
4. GENERAL:Sanitation Officer (medical apprentice):
Duties:
PW performed simple surgery of the wounded brought in from the Bn hospital. He was assigned an operating room, with a medical officer who explained the methods of operating while PW stood nearby and learned as well as gave assistance. Major surgical operations were sent to the Div Hospital.
In HAMHUNG, PW gave cholera & typhus shots. The PW and 3 others (medical officers) went around the Bn encampment giving shots to every man, systematically by platoon. There was no record kept of those who took shots. The medicine used for typhus & cholera shots was produced in North Korea. The hypo needles were those used by the Japanese about 7 years ago.
For the Commanding Officer:
GERARD
