ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2471 1 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1217) 13 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHO, Ch'on Kuk (趙天國) (조천국) |
| RANK: | Pvt (战士) |
| ORGANIZATION: | 105th Tank Div, 1st Regt, 2nd Bn, 1st Co, 3rd Plat |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| AGE: | 34 |
| OCCUPATION: | Fruit Peddler |
| ADDRESS: | SEOUL CITY, SO TAE MUN KU, KYO BU TONG (서울市 西大门区 교부洞) |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 101100 1 Nov 50 at PAKCHON |
PW was cooperative and frank, and was in good physical condition. PW is a slow thinker and information is limited because of his brief service and lack of education. He and the others deserted his unit because of hunger and fear of getting killed. Two of his comrades were killed by his platoon leader while deserting.
Not recommended for further interrogation.
PW claims that he was in the tank outfit but has never had tank training and saw only 10 tanks in the 105th Tank Division.
3. T/O & E AND STRENGTH OF UNITS:105th Tank Division was composed of 3 Rifle Regiments.
1st Rifle Regiment was composed of 3 Rifle Battalions.
1st Company was composed of 3 Rifle Platoons.
1 Medical Company was attached to the 105th Tank Division.
PW claims that the 105th is a Tank Division, but saw only 10 tanks.
| 1st Company | original | present |
| A. Personnel: | ||
| EM | 110 | 80 |
| Officers | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 113 | 81 |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| AT Gun (45 mm) | 3 (rds unknown) | |
| LMG | 3 (47 rds ea) | |
| M1891/30 Rifles | 100 (45 rds ea) | |
| TORKAREV Pistols | 1 | |
| Grenades | 2 per man | |
Medical Company
10 officers and 160 EM.
| 2nd Battalion | original | present |
| A. Personnel: | ||
| EM | 330 | 280 |
| Officers | 9 | 5 |
| Total | 339 | 285 |
| B. Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| 3 Mortar (120 mm) | 3 | |
| 3 Field Gun (76 mm) | 3 | |
Surprise shelling frightened the PW and caused him to desert. The UN mortar and field gun surprise shelling started one hour after the 105th Tank Division reached PAKCHON. The 105th Tank Division did not have time to set up their C.P. nor defensive positions. The mission of 105th Tank Division was to hold the UN troops from entering PAKCHON. No defensive lines were established at PAKCHON due to the surprise attack.
5. PERSONAL AND UNIT HISTORY:PW was inducted on 2 Aug 50 at SARIWON.
Received one and half months training. PW was assigned to the 105th Tank Division, 1st Regt, 3rd Bn, 1st Co, as a LMG gunner 16 Sep 50 at PAKCHON.
PW was assigned as a light machine gunner but was a rifle man due to illness. Most of the time he dug fox holes and stood guard two hours every day. The 105th Tank Division was at PAKCHON for 12 days.
28 Sep 50, the 105th Tank Division moved by foot to SUKCHON and reached the destination on 6 Oct 50. After reaching SUKCHON he was transferred from the 3rd Battalion to 2nd Battalion. His duty at 2nd Battalion was rifleman. The 105th Tank Division remained at SUKCHON for two days and moved back to PAKCHON to stop UN troops from obtaining PAKCHON. After deserting his unit he hid from house to house and came into UN troops line and surrendered 10 Nov 50. PW does not know when and where the 105th Tank Division was activated.
6. PERSONALITIES:PW does not even know his Company commander's name. The 105th Tank Division kept officers' names secret.
7. FOOD AND AMMO SUPPLIES:Food was obtained from farmers' homes.
For the AC of S G-2:
HONG
