ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2693 12 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS LDI - 0190) 25 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| NAME: | CHO Sang Ha (趙相河) |
| AGE: | 40 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 53rd Regt, 3 Bn, 2nd Co, 2nd Plat |
| DATE AND PLACE CAPTURED: | Surrendered at KUNU RI on 201300 Nov 50. |
| OCCUPATION: | Plasterer |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (2 yrs) |
Although PW was cooperative and answered all questions willingly, his information was limited due to his short military service and lack of education. It is not recommended that he be further interrogated because of the nature of his information.
3. TO/E, DISPOSITION:A. OWN UNIT
PW conscripted near PIHO SAN (YE5401) 10 Oct 50 and sent to CHONDONG, which is located 8 kms S of KUNU RI (YD4898), where the 2nd Plat, of the 2nd Co, 3rd Bn, 53rd Regt, unk Div was located. He was assigned as a rifleman without arms or training. 12 Oct 50 the platoon departed and arrived at KUSONG (XE9328) 15 Oct 50 via WON NI (YE5105), YONGBYON (YE4010) and TAECHON (YE1322) where they joined the 2nd Co. They departed and arrived at CHONGSONG JUN (XE5674) 24 Oct 50 via OKSONG MYON (XE6058), Here they joined the 53rd Regt. After a stay of 2 days, they marched into MANCHURIA, from this point
26 Oct 50. They marched as far as SANNIM, a village located approx 140 kms NE of KUAN TIEN, via KUAN TIEN arriving on 2 Nov. Here PW deserted his unit on 3 Nov 50, deciding to go back to N KOREA. He passed through a village called HON DO CHUN, MANCHURIA. He followed the YALU River until he came to a village called TAEDO CHON, MANCHURIA, where he crossed the river by ferry 8 Nov 50 and arrived. at ANGTO DONG (YF3927) (NK). He travelled through CHOSAN (YF3624), PUNJANG (YE4488), KYO DONG (YE3353), PUKSINHYON AITON (BV6235), KUJANG DONG (BV4517), PUNG MYON (BV4708) and arrived at KUNU RI on 20 Nov 50 where he surrendered 20 Nov 50.
When PW deserted his unit on 3 Nov 50 at a village called SANNIM, MANCHiJRIA; there. were approx 21500 troops in the 53rd Regt (Unit breakdown unknown) and an additional. 10 - 15 nurses. There. were 50 men in his platoon at that time,
Troops of the Regt were armed very lightly. There were approximately 4 - 5 Rifles and SMGs in his Plat. No other weapons observed. Those with Rifles and SMGs had some arruno with them but the rest carried none.
No food was taken with them at all on their march into MANCHURIA. It seemed that some sort of prearrangement had been made with the villagers since they ate prepared meals upon arrival.
2nd Plat was issued one pair of NK Army uniforms and a pair of shoes at CHONDONG on about 13 Oct 50. When PW was at PUNG MYON o/a 2 Oct 50 he observed that each house made three pairs of NKA winter uniforms. The material (Cloth, cotton & thread) were delivered to each house and they were forced to make a uniform within 5 days.
No communication equipment seen in the unit. PW believes all communication was by runners.
No trucks were observed in his unit. He saw one loaded with Mess Equipment when they were heading for MANCHURIA.
Since he deserted the unit on 3 Nov at SANNIM, MANCHURIA he was unable to tell what actually happened to his unit. However, he heard from a fellow soldier that the 53rd Regt was going to TUNGHWA, MANCHURIA.
B. OTHER UNITS:
When the PWs unit (53rd Regt) crossed into MANCHURIA from CHONGSONG JIN 26 Oct 50, there were approx 20,000 troops, including his unit and approx 100 nurses, entering MANCHURIA with them, Unit identification unknown. Troops of the other units were seemingly lightly armed with approx 4 - 5 small arms per platoon. PW believed that approx 10,000 NK troops (Unit unk) were at area between CHOSAN and ANGTO DONG on 8 Nov while he was traveling south on his way home.
22 Oct PW observed approx 1500 CCF troops marching southward on the main road while he was heading for CHONGSONG JIN. Due to darkness was unable to tell how they were armed. No heavy weapons believed in their possession. He observed 20 horses believed to be carrying food and ammo, At PUNJANG o/a 10 Nov PW observed approx 1,000 CCF troops. He also observed another group of approx 1,000 CCF troops on a mountain called SAEKO GE, located approx 2 kms SSE of PUNJANG. They were seen either laundering clothes or wandering around the area. Info on armament unobtainable. On 14 Nov when PW was seeking lodging for the night at KYO DONG (YB3455) it was refused. He heard from a villager that approx 1,000 CCF troops were coming down to the village after nightfall.
4. MISCELLANEOUS:From 26 Oct to 8 Nov, while in MANCHURIA, no CCF troops or military equipment was observed.
5. PERSONALITIES:2nd Plat Leader: KIM Yon Shi (金永히) Lt, age 23.
6. MORALE:Morale was very low among the troops because practically everybody was inducted by force. Most of them cried at night after entering MANCHURIA because they realized that they had been fooled by the higher authority and were very homesick.
7. REMARKS:When they entered MANCHURIA, they were ordered to remove all the designations of rank and insignias. Reason for entry into MANCHURIA was also unknown.
For the AC of S, G-2:
IIDA
