ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2480 2 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (521 - MISD - 0321) 26 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CH'OE Tai Ho (崔泰鎬) (최태호) |
| PW NO: | X Corps 649 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Infantry man |
| UNIT: | 588, 1st Bn, 1st Co, 1st Plat |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | KAPSAN BRIDGE |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 19 Nov 50 US 17th RCT |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYON PUK-DO, MYONCHON-GUN, HAU-MYON. HAMJIN-RI, 105 PONJI (咸北道 明川郡 下雲面 咸鎭里 105) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | SHIGEKUNI |
PW was fairly intelligent, but his knowledge of military information was limited.
Reliability: Fair
Age: 22
Education: 1 yr (HUMNAM Tech University)
Occupation: student
3. MILITARY HISTORY:16 Jul 50 - Inducted into service at WONSAN (元山). Received approximately 60 days of 76mm Gun M-1942 training with 80 newly conscripts. (Six students received commissions at the end of the course) PW was attached to the 588th Unit.
13 Oct 50 - Company fell back to SOHO (西湖). Arrived approximately one week later after marching only at night and joined other elements of the 588th Unit which were already there.
23 Oct 50 - The 588th Unit, with an estimated strength of approximately 500, fell back to HYESANJIN (惠山鎭).
4 Nov 50 - The entire unit arrived in HYESANJIN. Remained in that area for approximately 4 days. The unit was issued rifles.
9 Nov 50 - The 588th Unit departed for KAPSAN (甲山) each company travelling separately.
16 Nov 50 - Upon arriving at KAPSAN, source observed only 70 of the original 500 troops. The whereabouts of the remainder was unknown.
19 Nov 50 - Ordered to take defensive positions. PW with 6 others remained when ordered to retreat because of the UN Troops advance and was captured.
4. PERSONALITIES:KIM Sung Tak (金俊澤) (김준택) Col, 31, 588 Unit CO.
5. CODE NUMBERS:588 Regt - APO #4886
6. WEAPONS AND PERSONNEL:The original strength of the 588th was estmated at about 1700.
The unit lost all its artillery in WONSAN. PW believes that elements of the 588th Regiment remained in HYESANJIN. Troops were armed with rifles, and about 100 rounds of ammunition at HYESANJIN. Only a few were issued hand grenades.
7. FOOD AND AMMO SUPPLIES:No supplies were available to Troops.
Food was obtained in local villages by requisitioning. Source does not know if payment was made for such food.
8. ENEMY INTENTION:PW believe that the remainder of the unit will retreat to HYESANJIN.
9. MORALE:Most of troops of the 588th Unit desired to desert but were thwarted by the vigilance of their officers.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SHORT
