ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2449 1 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - FWD - 0251) 27 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHONG, Kil Hwan (鄭吉桓) (정길환) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | Plat Ldr |
| UNIT: | 45th Div, 99th Regt (596) 76mm Arty Co |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School, 4 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Middle School Teacher |
| PLACE OF CPATURE: | SUNCHON (順天) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 23 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, KYONSON GUN, O-LAN MYON, SUCHUNTAE LI #561 (咸鏡北道鏡城郡漁郞面水中台里#561) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HAMASU (ATIS) |
Information obtained considered reliable, cooperative.
Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
26 Jul 50: While teaching at a middle School, PW and 18 other teachers were conscripted and sent to the 1st OTS at P'YONGYANG.
11 Aug 50: Commissioned Jr Lt and assigned to the 45th Div, 99th Regt, 76mm AT Co, 1st AT Plat as a plat ldr. Received Arty training.
11 Oct 50: 45th Div was ordered into action, 99th Regt left CHINNAMP'O, and moved to KANDONG (BU 52-36) to defend that area. The two remaining Regts of 45th Div, defended the western coast-vicinity of CHINNAMPO.
18 Oct 50: On the way to KANDONG, the 99th was attacked by UN Forces. PW and about 200 men retreated as far as SUNCH'ON (YD 5468) where they were attacked by US airborne troops.
23 Oct 50: After two nights in the Mt, PW and 9 others surrendered to the invading UN Forces.
Unit Organization and Strength:
Original Organization and Strength:
It is believed that 45th Rifle Div was composed of 3 Rifle REgts. 99th Regt (Code No - 596) one of the 3 Rifle Regts of the 45th comprised of 3 rifle Bns; about 2,000 men. There were eleven sub-units directly attached to the 99th Regt. Namely: 76mm Co, 120mm Mortar Co, Signal Co, Sanitation Plat, 45 mm AT Gun Co, Food Supply Co, Engr Plat, Ammo supply plat, Recon Plat and SMG Co. Aside from these, there were the intelligence section, political section and the staff section, all in Regt Hq.
Each Bn consisted of 3 Co's (rifle).
76mm Howitzer Co, one Recon Plat, 2 Gun Plats and one Ammo Plat. There were approx 85 men in this Co.
Equipment: (99th Regt) As of 11 Oct 50:
There were 3 × 45mm Anti-tank gun; 3 × 120mm mortar, 1 × 76mm Howitzer (barrel - 1260mm in length) and about 85 sub-machine guns.
Unit History:
The 99th Regt was activated at CHINNAMP'O o/a the 14 Aug 50, with fresh men recruited from various training centers in P'YONGAN NAMDO. Prior to being ordered to battle in KANDANG, (11 Oct 50) the men in 99th dug gun emplacements, trenches, on the Mt, 10 km (approx) northeast of CHINNAMP'O RR sta.
18 Oct 50 - 99th was unexpectedly attacked by UN Forces, about 24 miles E of P'YONGYANG on way to KAN DONG. 1st Bn was routed, and the 2nd & 3rd Bn with sub units retreated N.
23 Oct 50 - The routed 1st Bn was assimilated into the 2nd end the 3rd Bns, faced another attack near SUNCHON by the US Airborne. Heavy weapons were all lost in their first attack, the 99th had no alternative but to surrender or hide. About 80% of the regrouped 99th Regt, surrendered to the UN Forces. The remainder either fled N to Manchurian territory as they planned or were captured by oncoming paratroopers.
Personalities:
99th Regt CO - HWAN, Chae Pyong, Col, - 45 (?). Hearsay - Formerly in the Chinese Guerrillas.
99th Regt Chief of Staff - CHAN, Il Hyon, Lt Col - 35 (?).
76mm Howitzer Co CO - KIM, Chun Koe, Sr Lt - 24 (?). Graduate 1st Pyongyang OTS.
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of unit was low, since losing the war was evident. Secondarily, the abusive treatment received during induction lowered morale considerably.
4. GENERAL INFORMATION:Foreign Elements:
5 Oct 50 - CHINNAMP'O, saw two Russian Advisors (officer - rank unk) at the Regt Hq.
For the Commanding Officer:
GERARD
