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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2483　4 December 1950

FIELD REPORT (521 - MISD - 0330)　27 November 1950

PW was very happy to find himself treated well and spoke freely.

Reliability: Fairly Good

Length of Service: 4 mos

Education: Primary School (3 yrs)

Age: 26

Physical Condition: Left arm and leg wounded

2 Jul 50 - PW was inducted at his home in TAIKWAN (大館) and was sent to SAKCHU (朔州) by train for physical examination.

3 Jul 50 - PW left SAKCHU for SINUIJU (新義州) by train Assigned to the Ind 73nd Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co to receive basic training.

10 Jul 50 - PW was transferred to the medical Plat due to his previous background. He was given medical first-aid training.

1 Aug 50 - The 73rd Regt received small arms, one rifle and 80 rds of ammo to each man, and 3 (maybe 2) HMGs to each Bn.

3 Aug 50 - The 73rd Regt left SINUIJU by train.

O/a 15 Aug 50 - The 73rd Regt arrived at WONJU (原州) and started marching south.

O/a 20 Aug 50 - The 73rd Regt arrived at CHUNGJU and continued march.

O/a 12 Sep 50 - The 73rd Regt arrived at CHACNON DONG (慈川洞) via ANDONG (安東).

O/a 25 Sep 50 - The 73rd Regt started an orderly retreat. After the Regt'l and Battalion Commanders went north in jeeps, the 73rd Regt became disorganized and headed north in small groups.

15 Nov 50 - PW was wounded and left behind.

22 Nov 50 - PW picked up a UN propaganda leaflet and decided to surrender.

23 Nov 50 - PW surrendered to the UN troops at SACHANG (社倉).

The 73rd Regt was newly organized at SINUIJU 5 Jul 50 and consisted of 3 Bns. The total strength upon departure at SINUIJU 3 Aug 50 was 3,000. PW believes that the total strength at CHACHON DONG o/a 25 Sep 50 just before retreating was about 1,500.

PW was told that the 73rd Regt was sent to the front to replace elements of the 15th Div that had been suffering heavy casualties.

The troops received no order as to where to assemble upon retreating.

CHE Hak Son (崔学善) (최학석), Maj, 28, CO 1st Bn.

LEE Kyon Che (李京済) (리경재), Lt, 22, Med Plat leader, 1st Bn.

574th Unit: 73rd Regt

O/a 10 Sep 50 at CHACHONG DONG, there were deserters than wounded. Wounded were given first aid and sent to rear by available transportation. Wounded who were able to walk, had to walk.

At least 50% of wounded are believed to have died due to insufficient medical treatment and lack of transportation.

22 Nov 50 at SACHANG, PW observed many UN propaganda leaflets which convinced him to surrender.

PW observed numerous groups from the 15th, 12th, 7th, 8th, 5th, 17th and other Divs going north. The route taken by these stragglers is from ANDONG, SOPEKSAN (小白山), ODAESAN (五臺山), TAMPAL YON (断髮嶺) and into HUICHON - KANGHYE (熙川 - 江界) area. These stragglers usually walk under cover of darkness in groups of 5-10. When crossing a dangerous area, they would wait until the number increased, or individually depending upon the situation.

Stragglers, in general, have no will to fight and majority have thrown their weapons away. Officers were trying to collect whatever men they could to organize small units. PW saw one Sr Lt Col (name unk) with about 500 men somewhere in OTESAN o/a 15 Nov 50.

He was assembling whoever passed. About 50% of his troops of 500 men were soon armed with rifles and some PPSH SMGs.

The stragglers were afraid of being caught by NKA officers because they would have to follow them. After joining the groups with officers men trying to desert were shot. Stragglers that changed their uniform to civilian clothes and who were caught by officers were also shot.

PW stated all, with the exception of communists, would surrender if they definitely know they would not be killed, and if the officers did not shoot them. The stragglers look at the leaflets with doubt due to their previous indoctrination.

To obtain food, the stragglers had to either attack small villages in great number with weapons, or go in small groups.

For the AC of S, G-2: