ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2427 30 November 1950
FIELD REPORT (IX Corps LDI 0159) 11 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | O Hak Kun (吳學群) |
| UNIT: | 7th Div, 74th Regt, 3rd Bn, 7th Co, 1st Plat, 4th Sqd |
| AGE: | 30 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Infantryman |
| CIVIL OCCUPATION: | Barber |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 6 years |
| DATE OF CAPTURE, PLACE: | 091800 K Nov 50, surrendered to Home Security Forces at CHOSAN |
PW was cooperative during interrogation and the information obtained is fairly reliable. PW had a very good memory, however, due to his limited service, he is not recommended for further interrogation.
3. OWN UNIT:PW was inducted into the service at HAEJU, 4 Aug 50, and was assigned to the 7th Regt of the 7th Div, where he was issued his uniform and arms. He believed that the Regt was newly organized since nearly all the men in the unit did not have any previous military experience. Here the PW went through about a mouth of basic training. 9 Sep, PW and 10 others were ordered to proceed to MANPOJIN to get 35 horses for the Regt. They departed by train requiring 10 days for the trip, since the train was not able to move during daylight hours due to enemy air attacks, and remained hidden in tunnels. 19 Sep, the group arrived at MANPOJIN, but found no horses, upon which they were told to go to MANCHURIA to get them. After waiting for two weeks for entry papers and notifying the Chinese Forces, they, on 3 Oct, proceeded to CHIAN in MANCHURIA. The following morning they started back with 35 horses on train.
During PW's two weeks waiting in MANPOJIN, and his overnight stay at CHIAN, MANCHURIA, he observed that the Manchurian border was heavily fortified with what appeared to be AA positions. These positions were approximately 1,000 meters inland and parallel to the YALU River. He noticed 6 guns (cal unknown) which he believed were AA guns since he observed flack over MANPOJIN whenever enemy planes appeared over the city, and which he found was not fired from the Korean side of the border. He heard from the people in town that the firing was from the Manchurian border. Also, on 4 Oct, at CHIAN, he observed 7 tanks (T-34), and about 30 trucks loaded on flat cars heading for MANPOJIN. On the same day he also saw a large number of CCF troops near the fortified area, who he believed had arrived recently because of the neat and new appearances of their winter uniforms.
PW heard from a local fisherman that the depth of the YALU River at MANPOJIN was about 15 feet. A 200m by 7m single track steel RR bridge spanned the river near MANPOJIN from MANCHURIA. The bridge had about 20 piers, 10m apart.
On 5 Oct, PW's group departed by train for HAEJU, along with the horses. Early the following morning, upon arrival at CHONCHON, one station south of KOCHON, the RR station was attacked by enemy planes, resulting in the destruction of four freight cars. PW's group and the horses took cover in the vicinity. That night the group left on foot with the horses and arrived at CHASAN 10 Oct. Here they heard from retreating North Korean troops from an unknown unit that enemy forces were approaching SARIWON, and also finding out that their Regt had left for an unknown destination, they gave the horses away to the local farmers. He, thereafter worked as a barber, until the Home Security force picked him up for being a former North Korean Army soldier, and handed him over to the UN forces.
4. ENEMY SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT:a. Supply
Food consisted of 800 grams of rice, and pork or beef when available. PW did not know the source of food.
PW was not issued ammo during training, but received three rounds for his rifle for the trip to MANPOJIN.
b. Equipment
PW stated that his Plat had on LMG, a SMG for the Sqd Ldr, and rifles for the rest.
5. ENEMY LOSSES:PW stated that o/a 18 Aug, an ammo warehouse (former Mitsubishi Steel Mill) destroyed by strafing and bombing.
6. PERSONALITIES:CHON Hu Chu (全後致), Lt, Co CO
KIM Chu He (金秋熙), Jr Lt, Plat Ldr
7. MISCELLANEOUS:Civilian populace was used in digging air raid shelters at HAEJU.
PW stated that morale among the men was low for they were forced into the service, he claimed about two thirds of his Plat were anti-communists.
O/a 27 Oct 50, at MANPOJIN, he saw approximately 50 US prisoners near the river. He believed they were enclosed in an ordinary house about 4 km north of the bridge and about 200 meters in from the river. He heard from people in town that every time there is an enemy air raid these prisoners are taken to the river bank.
For the AC of S, G-2:
YAMADA
