포로신문
보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2309　20 November 1950

FIELD REPORT (521 - MISD - 0247)　15 November 1950

PW was very cooperative.

Reliability: Good

Age: 25

Education: 3 yrs primary school

Length of Service: 4 yrs 3 months

Physical condition: Fair

31 July 46 - Entered the Public Security Leaders' School (保安幹部學校) in PYONGYANG (平壤). This was actually a military unit giving military training. PW stated there. were approx 100 students. Only three Jr Lts administered the school. PW was mainly detailed to guard at PYONGYANG RR Station. No weapons used in this school.

o/a 12 Oct 48 - PW was assigned to the 25th Independent Artillery Unit in PONGUN (本宮) as a student. This unit consisted of three companies of approx 85 men each, 76mm, 45mm, and 120mm gun firing was taught in Separate companies. PW was assigned to a 76mm company. The unit commander was a major PAK U SOP (朴禹燮).

o/a 4 Dec 48 - 76mm company separated from the unit and went to PYONGGANG (平康) where it was reorganized and became the 7th Regt of the 3d Div expanding its number of men to 1,500. PW was assigned as a cook.

o/a 20 Dec 48 - Being considered a psychopathic patient, PW was sent to MUNCHON (文川). Here he was put into a Youth Training Camp (靑年訓練防) where approx 1,000 psychopathic patients were kept. Training was merely on former Japanese 99 model rifles and close order drill, Camp commander was a Capt SHIN YON-MIN (申龍民).

9 Mar 49 - The Youth Training Camp moved to YONPO (蓮浦). After three months of basic training, PW took an examination which he failed. At this time, there were approx 1,500 students of whom 1,200 passed. The students who passed ware all assigned to same unit outside the camp. 300 students who failed were left to guard the camp and its area.

23 Nov 49 - PW and 50 others wars sent to KANGGYE (江界) Youth Training Camp to train the youths (age 16-30) in this area.

26 Nov 49 - PW and seven others were sent to HICHON (熙川) Youth Training Camp. Youths were trained two hours daily. There were no weapons so wooden models were used. Approx 300 youths wore trained and there was no time limit for completion of training.

9 Jul 50 - PW received orders to report to NKA Hqs in PYONGYANG (平壤).

13 Jul 50 - Reported to Hq and was promoted to Jr Lt and was issued clothing.

14 Jul 50 - Left for NANAM (羅南) by train with 11 other Jr Lts. PW‘s orders were to go to NANAM where new units were being organized, and to become a Plat Ldr.

17 Jul 50 - Arrived at NANAM. Reported to #568 Unit and was assigned to 4th Bn, 10th Co, HMG Plat. At this time the 568 Unit had approx 1,500 men and trained every day. The training was mainly tactical.

15 Aug 50 - PW was transferred to 1st Bn, 1st Co, HMG Plat where ha trained 10 men on the 7.62 mm “MAXIM” M1910 HMG. The commander of #568 Unit was a colonel named CHA KYUN SOP (車奎錫).

4 Oct 50 - The 568 Unit moved out of NANAM to defend HAMHUNG (咸興). It carried no food and marched on foot. Supplies and other heavier equipment ware drawn by mules.

o/a 15 Oct 50 - Unit ordered to PUNGSAN (豐山) at a point near SINHUNG (新興).

o/a 31 Oct 50 - Arrived PUNGSAN. Unit laid out its defense line at a place called MEDONYON (name of Mt) (每東嶺).

o/a 1 Nov 50 - Fought its first battle with ROK. After two hours of heavy firing, the unit broke up and retreated disorganized, toward the North. PW believes the remaining unit strength was not more than 500.

4 Nov 50 - PW was captured by the local police in KAMTORI (甘土里)

NAME: CHA KYUN SOP (車均燮)

RANK: Col

AGE: 30

POSITION: CO of #568 Unit

NAME: KIM DON HO (金東浩)

RANK: Sr Lt

AGE : 30

POSITION: 1st Bn CO

PW saw one Russian Lt Col (name unk) in the #568 Unit Hq at NANAM occasionally. Russian was last seen o/a 3 Oct 50. He was said to be a technical supervisor.

Unit strength was originally 1500 and battalion strength about 500. Company strength was approx 120 and Plat strength around 30. There were three battalions in the unit, each consisting of three rifle companies, one mortar company and one signal platoon.

T/O for the Sig Plat was 1 Jr Lt, 2 Sgts, 2 Cpls and 8 Pvts. Officers were armed with 7.62mm "TOKAREV" TT 1930 automatic pistols, Sgts wth 7.62 mm "SHPAGIN" PPSH M1941 sub-machine guns, Cpls with either PPSH M1941 sub-machine guns or 262 mm "MOSSIN" NAGANT" M1991/30 rifles. This signal plat only had two field telephones and 4 coils of wire.

T/O for a rifle plat was 1 Jr Lt, 4 Sgts, 3 Cpls and 23 Pvts. Their arms were the same as the signal plat, and in addition one 7.62 mm "DIEGTYAREV DP LMG.

PW believed that a Mortar Company consisted of three (possibly four) Plats. Each Plat had two 82mm Mortars.

T/O for mortar plat was 1 Jr Lt, 2 Sgts, 2 Cpls and about 12 men. Jr Lts were armed with PPSH sub-machine guns, Sgts, Cpls, and Pvts with rifles. Co CO’s were Lts, Bn commanders were Sr Lts (T/O was Maj), and the Unit CO was a Col.

Activation (Hearsay). PW heard that this unit was organized in mid-Jul 1950, and, in general, consisted of non-battle experienced men. Weapons and equipment were all Russian made. This unit never fought until 1 Nov 50 at PUNGSAN where it was defeated. PW stated that upon the unit's retreat, most of the weapons and equipment were left behind.

Just before the battle, the unit had little ammunition. (2 rounds for each mortar, 15 rounds each for sub-machine guns, 40 rounds each for rifles, and 1,000 rounds for each 2 HMG.) Very few men had grenades. PW stated they were expecting to receive a truckload of ammunition but the truck was bombed by the UN Air Force. The origin of these supplies was unknown. Food was obtained through local people’s committees from the farmers. Usually, each man carried a two-day's rice ration,

PW stated he observed some Jr Lt's wounded and killed. Other officers made a disorderly escape to the north.

PW believed that the only possible place these officers escaped to could be KAPSAN (甲山). He believed most of the disorganized troops scattered and headed toward their homes. Since this unit was so badly defeated, it was impossible to reorganize. PW heard from Unit CO that they must go far to the North for re-organization upon retreating (place name was not mentioned).

Due to shortage of food and clothing, morale was very low. This unit consisted of green troops and appeared very timid during the battle.

The men didn’t seem to care who won the war, just so they could go home. Soldiers were most afraid of air raids.

At NANAM, propaganda leaflets were scattered by UN planes but the men were not given the opportunity to pick them up.

For the AC of S, G-2: