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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2538　5 December 1950

FIELD REPORT (Ⅸ CORPS LDI - 0151)　9 November 1950

PW was cooperative and willing to give information. However he was seemingly unobservant. Information seems fairly reliable. Not recommended for further interrogation.

PW volunteered 13 Apr 48 at P’YONGYANG, and received two months of basic training in the Security Co of the P’YONGYANG Officers Training School in CHINNAMP’O. PW’s Co guarded this school. He was there until 18 Sep 49 and was assigned to the 1st Plat, 2nd Co, 3rd Bn, SUHE Marine Regt which was activated in Jul 49 in CHINNAIP’O. When the activation was announced the Regt strength was approx 2,500 troops and the composition was as follows: 3 Rifle Bns (1,350), Mech Bn, Comm Co, and a Rcn Co. Rifle Bn was composed of 3 Rifle Co’s, 1 HMG Co, Rcn Plat, 1 Comm Plat, and 1 Sup Plat. Composition of the Mech Bn was unknown, but, there were Cos of 82mm & 120mm Mort, 76mm & 45mm gun, and a Rifle Co. Rifle Co was composed of 3 Rifle Plats, 1 HMG Plat, and Med Sqd. Comm Co was composed of 3 Plats.

20 Dec 49, he was reassigned to 1st Co, 1st Bn of the Brig which was located at MONGGUIP’O (XC-5627) while the 1st Bn Hq vas stationed at CHANGYON (XC-8435). The 1st Co was at MONGGUMP’O until o/a 27 Jun 50. O/a 28 Jun 50 the whole 1st Bn moved to HEIJU (YC-3813) and stayed there till 20 Jul 50. Then he was commissioned. Jr Lt and assigned as 3rd Plat Ldr. 20 Jun 50 Bn (700 troops) departed for KUNSAN to be assigned to the NAMHAE Brig. Arrived CHOCHIFON (CR-4751) o/a 27 Jul 50 by rail, and arrived at KUNSAN o/a 8 Aug on foot. There they were to secure the city and the coast line of the area. O/a 15 Aug 50 approx 200 troops were sent to the NAMHAE Brig which was located at KWANGJU. As of 30 Sep 50 the Bn strength was approx 1,200 as the Arty Co was being assigned and approx 500 SK forced volunteers were obtained. 30 Sep the Bn (1,200 troops) retreated to UNJANG-SAN (CQ-5275). 1 Oct 50 the 1st Co of the Bn were attacked by UN Forces while they were retreating and practically wiped out at IMPA (CQ-0684). As PW was in this Co, he fled into the mountains with 8 other survivors. Arrived at UNJANG-SAN 9 Oct 50. There he found approx 2,000 troops (including his Bn) in the mountain. O/a 12 Oct 50 the Bn and the other troops left there for TAEBAEK-SAN. They passed through PAEGUN-SAN (CQ-8782) and arrived at an unknown village near CHUPUNGNYONG-NI (DR-1104) o/a 1 Oct 50 after crossing the main road and RR track. However, as they were having supper, they were suddenly attacked by UN troops from the front and they dispersed into the mountains, crossing the RR track. 18 Oct his Bn was assembled at an unknown mountain approx 3 Km WSW of CHUPUNGNYONG-NI. There were then approx 500 survivors. 18 Oct they departed, passing CHUPUNGNYCNG-NI and, KUMCHƠN. (DQ-2197) and arrived at SONGNI-SAN (CR-9944) o/a 21 Oct 50. Just before arrival at this mountain they were fired upon and they scattered into the mountains. PW separated from the unit. 24 Oct he gave himself up.

PW heard from his friend that approx 200 troops out of the 500 troops of the 1st Bn, which vas attacked by UN forces at SONGNI-SAN passed through PAEKWA-SAN o/a 22 Oct 50. He was told that they were armed with 20 rifles (100 rounds per rifle), 25 SMG (70 rounds per gun), 10 pistols (50 rounds per gun) and everyone had 1 or 2 hand grenades.

When PW’s unit were at UNJANG-SAN from 9 to 12 Oct, he observed approx 700 troops. He heard that they were from the 57th Inf unit and they were going to stay there because they could not get through to NK as the UN forces had blocked their way. They would fight till the end. They were armed with more than 200 rifles (100 rounds per rifle), 70 SMGs (200 rounds per SMG), 20 LMGs (300 rounds per LMG), 12 pistols (50 rounds per pistol), 15 AT grenades and everybody had 1 or 2 hand grenades.

He did not know what the present mission of the Bn is, however, he believed that their intentions were to go to ODAE-SAN (DS-5982) via TAEBAEK Mt range. Upon their arrival there they were to join the other troops and get further information about the assembly points.

He heard survivors of 1st Bn (200 troops) had NK food with them. Ammunition situation was difficult and the only supply they had was what they carried themselves before departure from KUNSAN.

Before departing KUNSAN they were so excited about escaping that they left or destroyed equipment which was too heavy to carry with them. These included 4×45mm, 2×76mm guns, ammo, and communication equipments. They left or destroyed equipment in the cave located approx 12 Km SW of KUNSAN.

Whenever they got lost or did not know the mountain trails they vent into villages and picked one or two villagers to guide them. The Bn commander warned them not to smoke, cough, nor talk while marching. When some soldiers was sent out to patrol they changed into civilian clothes. When in need of civilian clothes they stole them from villagers. Patrols was sent out when they got lost or thought UN forces were to the front.

IM Cholu (임철), Col, age 36, PW heard that he was with the Chinese Communist Eighth Route Army for approx 14 years, SUHE Marine Regt commander.

LEE Song In (이송인), Maj Gen, age about 47, NAMHAE Marine Brig commander.

LEE Il Hui (이일히), Capt, age about 26, Ass’t 1st Bn commander.

KIM Hyon Che (김현재), Maj, age about 28, 1st Bn commander, NAMHAE Marine Brigade.

KIM Won Bae (김원배), Maj, age about 27, Recon Officer, NAMHAE Marine Brig.

KIM Yong Yon (김용연), Lt, age 26, CO 1st Co, 1st Bn, NANHAE Marine Brig.

Morale was very low among the soldiers and be came disordered when they started retreating. As the result, when they were attacked by UN forces, they threw away their weapons and ran away.

O/a 18 Oct near SONGNI-SAN PW heard a broadcast from an airplane but he could not understand what was being said but when he came down to the village he learned what it was about from the villagers. He presumes that the cause was strong wind and echo.

Bn or Co commanders told them that if they were captured by the UN forces, they would have to work hard without any food and later be killed.

They were told that the Chinese Communists and RUSSIA will help them by sending war materiel and that the Chinese Communist Eighth Route Army will send their troops to help them.

For the AC of S, G-2: