ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2429 30 November 1950
FIELD REPORT (521 - MISD - 0304) 24 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KIM CHAE LYON (金載鍊) (김재련) |
| PW NO: | 471 |
| AGE: | 22 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Ammo Bearer |
| UNIT: | 588th Unit, 2nd Bn, 5th Co, 1st Plat |
| LENGTH OF SERVICE: | 4 months |
| EDUCATION: | Primary school (6 yrs) |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | SAMNAM MYON (三南面) |
| DATE CAPTURED: | 16 Nov 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMKYONG PUKTO HOERYONG GUN YONG PUNG MYON KEHARI (함北 會寧郡 永豐面 溪下里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl NAKAGAWA |
PW was very cooperative.
Reliability: Fair
Physical Condition: Good
3. MILITARY HISTORY:1 Jul 50 - Inducted at KEHARI (溪下里) located about 30 miles West of HOERYONG (會寧).
2 Jul 50 - Received his physical examination at HOERYONG (會寧) and was sent to WONSAN by train the following day.
4 Jul 50 - Reached WONSAN with about 150 conscripts who came aboard the train at CHONGJIN (淸津) and HAMHUNG and was assigned to the 588th Coast Arty Unit. The 1st and 3d Bns of the 588th were in WONSAN, but the inductees were not assigned to Bn. PW was taught the mechanics of the 76mm Gun for 8 days.
O/a 15 Jul 50 - 50 EM were sent by rail to HUNGNAM (興南) and assigned to the 2nd Bn of the 588th Unit. The other inductees (about 100 men) were assigned to the 1st and 3d Bn of the 588th Unit in WONSAN. PW was taught about the 76mm Gun, rifle and gun emplacements for about 30 days.
O/a 15 Aug 50 - The HUNGNAM area began to be attacked by UN planes.
15 Oct 50 - PW's Company (5th Company of the 2nd Bn of the 588th Unit) was sent to HOEAN-NI (會安里) located about 9 miles S of HAMHUNG, by truck with four 76mm Arty pieces. 3 of the artillery pieces reached the destination but the fourth 76mm Gun which was at the end of the convoy of 4 trucks was lost on the way.
16 Oct 50 - Arrived at HOEAN-RI (會安里) and PW's Co joined a company of infantry (45 men).
19 Oct 50 - PW's Unit received artillery fire from all directions so the infantry and the artillery retreated, leaving their guns.
20 Oct 50 - PW's company (45 men) reached SINHUNG (新興) and headed for HYESANJIN (惠山鎭).
28 Oct 50 - PW's Company arrived at HYESANJIN (惠山鎭) and by the 30th of October, what was left of the 1st and 3d Bns of the 588th Unit (about 200 men) arrived in HYESANJIN. Total Strength 300 men.
1 Nov 50 - The 588th Unit (about 300 men) marched out of HYESANJIN with rifles and PPSH SMG's only. Their objective was WONSAN.
o/a 2 Nov 50 - Arrived at KAPSAN (甲山) and were ordered to prepare for action. PW's unit was ordered to defend a mountain (MADONG NYONG 馬洞嶺) located between KAPSAN (甲山) and PUNGSAN (豐山).
o/a 5 Nov 50 - Due to intensive aerial and artillery attacks of the UN Troops the 588th retreated from MADUNG YONG (馬洞嶺) to SAMNAM MYON (三南面) located about 30 miles N of KAPSAN (甲山). The 588th Unit defended this area for about 8 days.
13 Nov 50 - The 2nd Bn guarding a road received word that the UN troops were attacking the 1st and 3d Bns located on a hill S of the road. The 2nd Bn attacked the rear of the UN Troops. During the battle the officers could not be located so on the morning of the 16th of November, PW and 7 men headed N towards the original road that they were guarding. There they met a convoy of enemy trucks and tanks and surrendered.
4. PERSONALITIES:PAEK Kyon Chun, 26, Company Commander of the 5th Co, 2nd Bn, 588th Unit. Last seen at SAM NAM MYONG (三南面). Rumored to be wounded in the leg.
HAN In Hak, 27, Battalion Commander of the 2nd Bn of the 588th Unit last seen at MADONG NYONG (馬洞嶺) located between PUNGSAN (豐山) and KAPSAN (甲山). Rumored to be wounded in the leg.
KIM Chun Taeg, about 30, 588th Unit Commander. Last seen at MADONG NYONG (馬洞嶺).
PAK Yon Chun, about 27, 588th Unit Chief of Staff. Last seen at MADONG NYONG (馬洞嶺).
5. WEAPONS AND PERSONNEL:4 Jul 50 - 15 Jul 50 - The 1st and 3d Bns of the 588th Unit (Coast Arty) were located at WONSAN. PW estimates that there were about 230 soldiers to each Battalion. There were 2 companies to each Battalion and 3 Platoons to each Company.
PW thinks that there must have been 8×76mm guns to each Battalion because the 2nd Bn had 8×76mm guns. Each man had a rifle.
15 Jul 50 - 15 Aug 50 - The 2nd Bn of the 588th Unit was located at HUNGNAM (興南). The strength and T/O was similar to that of the 1st and 3d Battalions located in WONSAN at that time.
1 Nov 50 - The 588th Unit after regrouping at HYESANJIN (惠山鎭) marched out of HYESANJIN with 3 Battalions (1st, 2nd, and 3d) 100 men to a Battalion. The T/O was the same except that there were fewer men and there were no artillery pieces. All the men were from the original 588th Unit. There were 2 trucks carrying ammunition and food for the 588th Unit.
6. PRESENT STRENGTH:PW estimates that there may be about 150 stragglers from the 588th Unit remaining with only rifles and 150 rounds per piece. Estimates of the stragglers were based on the NKA officers tendency to keep their men together whenever they retreated.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SHORT
