ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2439 30 November 1950
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS - LDI - 0161) 11 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | KIM Chang Ha (金昌河) |
| AGE: | 20 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | Unknown Air Force Unit, 1st Bn, 3rd Co, 3rd Plat, 1st Sqd |
| DATE CAPTURED, PLACE: | 091830K Nov 50, at CHASAN-MYON (YD-5159) |
| CIVIL OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 6 years |
PW was cooperative during interrogation and gave information freely. Due to his brief education background, his information was limited. He is not recommended for further interrogation.
3. OWN UNIT:PW was conscripted into service 19 Sep 50, at SANGKYONG PUNRI, approx 12 Km south of SONGNAERI, NORTH KOREA, and sent to KOWON, NORTH KOREA. He and other conscriptees were then sent to HAMHUNG by train and on foot, arriving there around 23 Sep 50, where they were to receive physical examinations, but from there they were sent to P'YONGYANG by train and on foot, without being examined, arriving 1 Oct. PW and about 100 others were assigned to the 1st Bn, 3rd Co, 3rd Plat, 1st Sqd of an unknown unit, however, was known as an air force unit. It was newly organized and the Bn Hq and all Co under it were at P'YONGYANG. The Bn composed of 3 Cos (100 men each) of three plats each. Training in aiming, sighting, and disassembling a rifle, were given in the air raid shelter for a period of about 17 days, because of continuous air attacks made schooling out in the open impossible. 18 Oct, his Co CO told his men that he received orders to report to SINUIJU, whereupon the Co, on the same day, started out, keeping to the main road. When Co arrived at OPA (YD-2866), 20 Oct, he and three others deserted and hid on a mountain approximately 2 Km east of OPA. There they remained in hiding until 22 Oct, but had to escape because of the approach of the UN forces into the vicinity. They arrived at CHOUNNI (YD-3263) on the same day where he and the three others parted company for the others had their homes in the vicinity. PW remained there until 9 Nov. During his stay at CHOUNNI, PW assisted the Home Security guards in checking the refugees for North Korean soldiers dressed as civilians. There he received an identification card and was told to return to his home. On his way home he was stopped at the Hq of the Home Security Guards at CHASAN-MYON, on 9 Nov, where he begged for food and lodging and was turned in as a PW.
4. PRESENT STRENGTH OF ENEMY:PW's Co had about 100 men. Only his Co CO, Plat Ldr, and Sqd Ldr had Russian SMGs. They had two drums of ammo each.
OTHER UNITS:
On 19 Oct at an unknown place on the road between PYONGYANG and OPA, he observed about 300 North Korean troops and learned from one of them that they were heading for SINUIJU. He estimated that approximately 1/3 of the men were armed with Russian rifles, and all were in uniform.
5. MISSION:Present mission of PW's Co was to proceed to SINUIJU.
6. ENEMY SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT:While retreating PW confiscated food from the villagers.
7. PERSONALITIES:SIN Hyong Su (申형수), Sr Lt, age 30, Co CO
8. MISCELLANEOUS:a. ENEMY METHOD
Communication between his Co and Bn was by runners.
On the march to SINUIJU, the Co moved at night with a file on both sides of the railroad tracks.
b. MORALE
Morale in his Company was low because most of the men were conscripted since October and knew that they did not have a chance of winning the war and because they were subjected to frequent enemy air attacks.
c. PROPAGANDA
PW observed many UN leaflets dropped at P'YONGYANG during the period 10 Oct to 18 Oct 50. Everyone including military personnel were told that they would be punished if they were caught picking it up or reading them.
d. US PRISONERS
o/a 14 Oct 50, at P'YONGYANG, PW observed about 10 US prisoners marching to an unknown place with 2 guards, one in the front and one in the rear.
For the AC of S, G-2:
YAMADA
