ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2454 1 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (AVATIS Special Report 0179) 2 November 1950
PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LA, Chol Ju (羅喆柱) (리철주) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 14779 |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 24 |
| DUTY: | Platoon Leader |
| UNIT: | TAEJON (大田) Brigade, 120 mm Mortar Ind Bn, 1st Co, 2nd Plat |
| EDUCATION: | Elementary School |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | MIWON (米院) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 1 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, CHOLLA NAMDO, NAJU-GUN, MUNP'YONG-MYON, OYONG-NI (全羅南道羅州郡文坪面五龍里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl OUCHI (ATIS) |
PW was cooperative. Appeared to be fairly intelligent and had a fairly good memory. Gave information to the best of his knowledge. Acquired information was not too reliable.
CHRONOLOGY:
Mar 38 - Dec 43 - Engaged in farming at TUNGHUA-SHENG.
Aug 46 - Mar 47 - Volunteered and asgd to the 3rd Army, 8th Div, 24th Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co. Engaged in combat with the CN forces. Hospitalized.
4 Jul 47 - Mar 48 - Discharged from hospital and asgd to the Security Bn, 1st Co, 3rd Plat at TUNGHUA-SHEN, MANCHURIA.
23 Mar 48 - Unit was asgd to the 4th Ind Div; PW to the 497th Inf Regt, 82 mm Mortar Co, 2nd Plat, 4th Sqd at KAOSHANTUN (高山屯).
Jan 49 - 4th Ind Div redesignated the 166th Div. Personnel were almost all Korean.
o/a Jul 49 - The entire 166th Ind Div moved to NAMSINUIJU (南新義州) from HUANGKUCHU (皇姑区), MANCHURIA. Upon arrival at NAMSINUIJU, the former 166th Ind Div and components were changed to 6th Div. PW was assigned to the 657th Regt, 120 mm Ind Mortar Co, 2nd Plat, 3rd Sqd. PW was a Sqd leader.
10 Aug 49 - PW's unit, the 657th Regt moved to KECH'ON (价川), KOREA. PW's duty was same as above.
15 Sep 49 - Above unit departed from SARIWON (沙里院), KOREA. Duty was same as above.
20 Jun 50 - Above unit departed to a site 8 km N of KAESONG (開城), KOREA. Preparations were made to encounter the UN Forces.
25 Jun 50 - PW's unit departed to an unknown place, North of the IMJIN (臨津江) River.
27 Jun 50 - PW's unit departed for SEOUL.
30 Jun 50 - PW's unit departed for KUNSAN (群山).
8 Jul 50 - PW's unit departed for MASAN (馬山).
20 Aug 50 - PW departed for TAEJON (大田) and was assgiend to the TAEJON Brigade, 120 mm Ind Mortar Bn, 1st Co, 2nd Plat. PW was a Plat leader.
1 Oct 50 - Captured at MIWON (米院).
PERSONALITIES:
PANG, Ho San (方虎山) Korean
Rank - unknown
CO of the 4th Ind Div.
Age - 40
Remarks: Ht - 5'5" Wt - 60 kg Build - Slender
White complexion with high cheek bones.
Last obs - May 1949 MUKDEN (奉天).
PAK, Chang Hyon (朴昌鉉) Korean
Rank - unknown
CO of 82 mm Mortar Co, 4th Ind Div.
Age - 24
Remarks: Ht - 5'4" Build - Medium. Oblong face Hair - Short
Gold filling on tooth (L - 3)
Married
Last obs - May 1949 MUKDEN (奉天).
SIN, Chong (申請) Korean
Rank - unknown
CO of 1st Co, 23rd Regt, 8th Div.
Age - unknown
Remarks: Ht - 5'4" Build - Medium Hair - Short
Single.
FORMER CHINESE COMMUNIST UNIT: Aug 1946
3rd Army, 8th Div, 24th Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co, 2nd Plat, 6th Sqd.
MAJOR CAMPAIGNS:
WANGCHAO (汪精), MANCHURIA - Nov 46.
With two regiments, attacked the advancing Chinese Nationalist Army but withdrew after overnight attack.
HUANTEN (桓仁), MANCHURIA - Nov 46.
The security battalion and the 1st Bn of PW's unit defended HUANTEN (桓仁) from the advancing Chinese Nationalist Forces for a period of one (1) day, and then withdrew to PATAOCHIANG (八道江), MANCHURIA. PW did not know locations of other major battles in which his unit participated.
RECRUITING PROGRAM:
Individuals were requested to enter whatever unit or units were stationed in their area. The unit's commander turned in a report to the battalion commander stating the original strength, and the number of new personnel
PAY OF PERSONNEL:
Privates received 50 yen per month. PW heard that the platoon leaders also received the same as privates. Other pay scales were unknown.
CHINESE RECRUITING IN MANCHURIA:
PW's unit, the 1st Co of the 8th Div, was entirely composed of Koreans. These Koreans all volunteered for the local security unit for the purpose of protection from robberies, public riots, and other dangers. Later, the personnel of the local security unit were gradually integrated into the Communist Forces.
RATION AND CLOTHING:
One pair of cloth shoes per month.
Two (2) summer uniforms.
One (1) winter uniform.
One (1) winter and summer cap.
One (1) overcoat.
One pair gloves.
One pair of cotton-stuffed winter shoes.
One cotton-stuffed comforter.
Food consisted of corn, rice, kaoliang, millet and barley powder.
PROPAGANDA:
There was one (1) political officer in each division regiment, battalion and company.
The PW constantly heard the following propaganda stated by the company political officer.
"We must overpower the Chinese Nationalist Forces. Although we are withdrawing, eventually we will defeat the Chinese Nationalist Force."
ATTITUDE OF CIVILIAN POPULATION:
PW heard farmers stating that the CCF would lose the war because they couldn't forces the Chinese Natoionalist Forces to withdraw.
The people did not have complete confidence in the CCF because they were always withdrawing.
FORMER CHINESE COMMUNIST UNIT: Mar 1948
4th Ind Div, 497th Inf Regt, 82 mm Mortar Co, 2nd Plat, 4th Sqd.
MAJOR CAMPAIGNS:
TUNGNIN (東陵), MANCHURIA - Nov 48.
The whole division attacked the Chines Nationalist Force and two days later captured MUKDEN (奉天).
LOCATION OF UNIT AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE FOR KOREA:
HUANGKUCHU (皇姑区), MANCHURIA.
The 4th Ind Div was redesignated to the 166th Ind Div. About July 1949, the unit departed for NAMSINUIJU (南新義州), KOREA. However, PW and 1,000 other Koreans departed about 23 May 49, trained for two (2) months, and rejoined the 166th Ind Div on or about August 1949. At NAMSINUIJU (南新義州), KOREA, once again, the 166th Ind Div was redesignated the 6th Div. PW was assigned to the 657th Regt, 120 mm Ind Mortar Co, 2nd Plat, 3rd Sqd.
CCF MILITIA AND PUBLIC SECURITY UNIT
PW was assigned to the Security Bn, 1st Co, 3rd Plat, 9th Sqd during the period from 4 Jul 47 to Mar 48, at TUNGHUA-HSIEN (通化縣), MANCHURIA.
The primary duty of the Security Bn was to maintain law and order in the area in which they were stationed.
PAY OF PERSONNEL
Private - 150 yen, Plt ldr - 300 yen at KAOSHANTUN (高山屯), MANCHURIA. However, pay scale increased when the unit arrived MUKDEN (奉天), MANCHURIA. Private - 500 yen, Plat ldr - 1,000 yen.
CAPTURED NATIONALIST TROOPS
An unknown number were captured at MUKDEN.
PW's could go home or join the CCF depending upon their own personal desires.
Although the officers were granted the above choice, they were given political education for an unknown period.
PROPAGANDA
PW heard that the Chinese Nationalist Force looted the belongings of the farmers.
DAILY SCHEDULE OF TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION
PW and 200 others were trained daily in the use of the 82 MM Mortar. The hours of training were from 0800 to 1800 hours.
About 800 men in groups of three, were trained on the 76 MM Regimental and Division Guns, 120 MM Mortars and 45 MM Anti-tank Guns.
FOR THE COMMANDING OFFICER:
SHAPPELL
