ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2446 1 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD - 0248) 26 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | PAK, Chang Yun (朴昌允) (박창윤) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 23 |
| DUTY: | Medical Officer |
| UNIT: | 239th Unit |
| EDUCATION: | Chongjin Medical University - 3 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | SUNAN (順安) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 22 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, KYONGSONG GUN, KYONGSONG MYON KUTOK-TONG #545 (咸鏡北道鏡城郡鏡城面九德洞 545) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl YAMAMOTO (ATIS) |
PW was very cooperative. Spoke Japanese fluently. Information fairly reliable.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
23 Aug 50: PW was conscripted at the point of a gun at CHONJIN (淸津) and on the same day departed for CHINNAMPOO (鎭南浦) by train.
25 Aug 50: Arrived CHINNAMP'O and assigned to 239th Unit Med Plat, where PW received medical training.
1 Sep 50: Departed CHINNAMP'O on foot.
3 Sep 50: Arrived PUNGCHON (豐川). While PW was here he was an acting Plat Ldr of the Med Plat.
15 Oct 50: Received orders to depart from PUNGCH'ON and return to CHINNAMP'O.
17 Oct 50: When PW arrived CHINNAMP'O the main body of the 239th Unit had already retreated further north. The Med Plat had to remain to care for the patients who were left behind.
22 Oct 50: Captured by UN Forces.
Original Organization and Strength:
239th Unit composed of 4 Bns. Each Bn had approx 500 men. Each Bn was composed of 3 Inf Co's. 1 HMG Co and Reconn, anti-tank, and Med Plats.
Last Known Composition of Unit:
At time of PW's capture the 4th Bn was in ANJU (安州) moving towards SINUIJU (新義州). PW heard that while retreating north the 239th Unit met and participated in battle with a US Paratroop unit. PW was not positive but stated that the 239th Unit had probably been annihilated after the above battle. Also heard that Bn and Co Comdrs & Staff fled to MANCHURIA long ago.
Equipment:
4th Bn, 1 st Co - 16 × SMG, 10 × LMG.
HMG Co - 16 × HMG
Anti-tank Plat - 2 × AT Gun
Unit Duty:
To prevent a UN Force from landing at PUNGCHON (豐川).
Communications:
Each Co had 1 field phone. EM were used as couriers for communication between Bn and higher Hq.
Morale:
4th Bn morale was low due to conscription of the men. Lack of training and limited rations.
4. GENERAL INFORMATION:PW stated that while attending Med College in CHONGJIN there were 6 Russians assigned to the school. Two were doctors, instructing in Surgery and Medical courses. Two were the above doctors assistants and the other two were post-grad students from USSR, studying Korean and at the same time teaching Russian to others.
It was compulsory for all students to take 1 hours of communist indoctrination (MARX & LENIN) everyday. A Korean named KIM, Chong Il (金鍾一) lectured. Anyone missing these classes or making reactionary comments would be severely punished by the school authorities.
There were approx 300 students in this school, 50% communists and 50% non-communists. Many of the non-communists were beaten up by the communists. PW was a member of the non-communists.
PW stated that there were several hundred Russian residing in CHONGJIN. Most of them being military advisers or supervisors in the various industrial plants; such as an iron mill, textile plant etc. These plants were still operating at time of PW's departure.
The Iron mill located in CHONGJIN was originally built by the Japanese but during World War II it was bombed out. After the war, all the useable machinery and tools were removed by the Russians. In 1948 this mill was being rebuilt and was in operation again in the late 1949. The machinery and tools were obtained from RUSSIA. While the raw materials were obtained in KOREA. Most of the finished products were transported to the USSR.
Plant was located near a beach approx 1.3 km S of CHONJIN.
No further details available.
For the Commanding Officer:
GERARD
