ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2640 8 November 1950
FIELD REPORT (528 LDI - 0135) 23 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | TING, Cheng-hsing (丁正興) Chinese |
| PW NO: | CD-15,504 |
| AGE: | 22 |
| RANK: | Pvt (上兵) |
| DUTY: | Ammunition Bearer |
| UNIT: | 40th Army, 119th Div, 356th Regt, 2nd Bn, 5th Co, Mortar Plat |
| EDUCATION: | 3 yrs Primary School |
| PLACE OF SURRENDER: | Vic YE489129 |
| DATE OF SURRENDER: | 211130 Nov 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HUPEH-SHENG, YINGCHENG-HSIEN, CHENHO-HSIANG, TINGCHIACHI (湖北省 應城縣 陳河鄕 丁家集) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
PW appeared to be in good physical condition at time of interrogation. PW was operating a grocery store prior to volunteering into the Chinese Nationalist Army. PW spoke freely and was very cooperative. PW was of average intelligence but being in a foreign country, he was unable to give exact names of locations. Interrogation was conducted through a Korean interpreter who has knowledge of Chinese, and evaluation of information obtained should be assessed accordingly. Recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:a. Chronology.
PW volunteered into the Chinese Nationalist Army in Aug 48 at HUPEH-SHENG (湖北省). PW received no training and was assigned to the 125th Army, 265th Div. In Nov 49, PW was captured by the Chinese Communist Army at KWANGTUNG-SHENG (廣東省). After capture, PW was sent to FEHAI (北海) and received 2 months of communist indoctrination. PW was then assigned to the 40th Army, 119th Div, 356th Regt, 2nd Bn, 5th Co, Mortar Plat. 18 Feb 50, the entire 40th Army moved to HAINAN-TAO (海南島) and fought against the Nationalist Army. After fighting for 15 days, the 40th Army returned to KWANGTUNG-SHENG. From KWANGTUNG-SHENG, the 40th, Army moved to ANTUNG (XE1942) by train, via HANKOU (漢口), arriving Aug 50. 40th Army remained at ANTUNG for approx 2 months apd on the evening of 20 Oct 50, the 119th Div of the 40th Army crossed the YALU River via a RR bridge. In crossing the river, PW observed 1 Div preceding his Div and believes that it was the 118th Div. PW heard from an officer that the 120th Div was to follow the 119th Div in crossing the river. After crossing the river, the 119th Div marched for 5 days. Travelling was done only during the night, PW's unit was engaged for one day. PW's unit withdrew to an unk location at which place it was again engaged for three days. PW's unit advanced to unk location and remained there for three days. PW's unit was then forced to withdraw to an unk location due to heavy arty firing by the UN Forces. PW remained at unk location for four days and 20 Oct 50, he deserted and surrendered in vic of YE 489129 on 211130 Nov 50.
b. Unit Organization and Strength.
40th Army consisted of the 118th, 119th, and 120th Divs. Each Div consisted of 3 Regts. The 119th Div consisted of the 355th, 356th, and 357th Regts, Designation of Regts assigned to the 118th and 120th Divs unk. The 356th Regt consisted of 3 Inf Bns, Sig Co, Arty Btry, and one (1) Guard Co. Each Bn consisted of 3 Rifles Cos and HW Co. Each Rifle Co consisted of 3 Rifle Plats and 1 Mortar (60mm) Plat.
Strength of the 5th Co, 2nd Bn, 356th Regt, when crossing the YALU River, was approx 120. Strength when PW deserted his unit on 20 Nov 50 was 105 men. PW stated that 15 men were KIA after entering KOREA.
c. Equipment.
When crossing the border, PW observed 4 horse-drawn arty pieces (size unk, 2 horses to a gun) in the Arty Btry. Each HW Co was equipped with 6 HMGs and 3 mortars (81mm and 82mm). Each Rifle Plat was equipped with 2 LMGs. Each Mortar Plat was equipped with 3 x 60mm mortars. The personnel were armed with Jap 38 rifles and SMGs. Each rifleman also carried 4 hand grenades.
d. Unit Assignment and Intentions.
PW heard from his Co Politic.al Officer that they came to KOREA to aid the NKA because the withdrawal of the NKA would endanger MANCHURIA.
After entering KOREA, PW heard that they will be able to return to MANCHURIA after South and North KOREA is unified.
e. Communications.
PW stated that he observed unk number of field telephones and telephone wires in the Sig Co when crossing the YALU River. No radio equipment was observed by PW. PW stated that CCF units are marking stones along the roadside with chalk to indicate location of the CCF units.
f. Knowledge of other Units.
Prior to deserting his unit, PW heard from an officer that the 38th CCF Army was also in KOREA. Details unk.
While at ANTUNG, PW heard from an officer that 5 CCF Armies were to aid North KOREA.
g. Personalities.
5th Co Comdr TSAO, Yeh-tsung (Phonetic, Chinese characters unk)
h. Morale.
Morale of PW's unit was low due to lack of food and to the severe cold. PW stated that approx 80% of the troops are former Nationalist soldiers. PW also stated that the majority of the troops had no intentions of fighting and wanted to desert but were unable to do so because of the strict surveillance by their officers.
4. GENERAL:a. Food and Ammo Supplies.
Food was scarce. When crossing the border, each man carried 3 days supply of food which consisted of rice, millet, and corn. Since then no additional food was received and PW's unit procured from Korean villages.
When crossing the border, each rifleman carried 78 rds of s/a ammo and 4 hand grenades. Each Rifle Sqd had one AT mine. No additional ammo was received since crossing the border.
b. Replacements.
No replacements were received by PW's Unit.
c. US PsW:
PW observed, approx 10 days ago, 70 ROK PsW at an unk location. The PsW were being marched towards an unk location. PW stated that all men in his Co were instructed by the CO to give humane treatment to all enemy PsW.
d. Uniform Worn at Time of Interrogation.
PW was wearing the CCF winter uniform and winter shoos which were issued to him at ANTUNG. PW stated that all men were ordered to strip their insignia and identification markings prior to entering KOREA. All officers did the same, with the exception of their red pipings on their shirt sleeves, collars, and trouser seams.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HIGASHI
