ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2811 6 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1254) 4 January 1951
| PW NAME: | CHON, Song Hyon (全成鉉) (전성현) |
| PW NUMBER: | T-100116 |
| RANK: | Sgt (上士) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | Interpreter |
| UNIT: | CCF, 4th Field Army, 13th Army Gp, 38th Army, 112th Div Hq |
| EDUCATION: | 6 years of primary school - 2 years of middle school |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | TOKCHON (德川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 27 Nov 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, HAMGYONG PUKTO, HOERYONG-GUN, YONGHUNG-MYON, SOBUNG-NI (咸鏡北道 會寧郡 竜興面 西北里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | SFC LEE (FEAF) |
Intelligent and cooperative. Reliability - excellent.
a. Chronology:
15 Sep 50: PW took examination as a Korean interpreter at CHILIN, MANCHURIA. Classified as a 3rd class interpreter and assigned to the 4th Field Army, 38th Army, 112th Div Hq. PW departed by RR for TIEHLING (鐵嶺) MANCHURIA.
19 Sep 50 - 22 Oct 50: Arrived at TIEHLING and received advance course in Chinese.
22 Oct 50 - 24 Oct 50: 112th Div departed by RR from TIEHLING and arrived at CHIAN (輯安) MANCHURIA. Crossed the YALU River that night and arrived at MANP’OJIN (滿浦津) N KOREA. Troops were loaded on troop train and headed southward.
25 Oct 50: The 112th Div arrived at KANGGYE (江界). On arrival PW learned that the 114th Div was located on the E of KANGGYE with the 113th Div on the W. That night the 112th Div marched toward HUICH’ON (熙川) following the main highway, with the 113th Div on the W flank, and the 114th Div on the E.
30 Oct 50: ROK forces in HUICH’ON (熙川) retreated toward KUJANG-DONG (球場洞) before the 113th and 114th Divs could close an enveloping trap just S of TAEP’YONG (泰平). The 112th Div was deployed for battle just 3.5 miles N of HUICHON (熙川) ready for a frontal attack. News of the ROK’s retreat was received, so the 112th Div entered HUICHON (熙川) then headed for KUJANG-DONG (球場洞), with the 113th Div on the W and the 114th Div on the E flank.
4 Nov 50: 112th Div arrived at KUJANG-DONG. Remained there for a brief rest. The 113th, 114th Divs continued on toward KAECH’ON (价川) with the intention of blocking the main road leading South from KAECH’ON.
22 Nov 50: The 38th Army was ordered to retreat toward PIROBONG Peak (昆盧峰) MYOHYANGSAN (妙香山). 112th Div retreated and was located just N of the peak with the 113th Div to the W and the 114th Div on the E. While regrouping in the mountain area, the 112th Div CO notified his officers, that the 40th Army was to protect their W flank and the 38th Army was to attack TOKCHON (德川).
25 Nov 50: 112th Div was assigned the mission of making a frontal attack into TOKCHON with the 113th Div on the W and the 114th Div on the E flank. The 113th and 114th Divs were to close the trap and cut the RR and main road leading south from TOKCHON.
26 Nov 50: TOKCHON was taken. PW’s 112th Div Hq was located just 3.5 miles NW of the city, with a small guard force.
27 Nov 50: PW was captured by a ROK party that attacked the 112th Div Hq and escaped with PW toward KUJANG-DONG.
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
T/O (Up to Sep 50, unit still had full T/O strength.)
112th Div - approx 10,000
334th Regt - 2800
335th Regt - 2800
336th Regt - 2800
Div Arty Bn - 250
Engr Bn - 300
Guard Bn - 300
Hq Section - 50
Political Sec - 100
Hospital & Litter Bearers|200
All CCF troops of the 112th Div of the 38th Army were battle tested and classified as veterans. Only the 200 Korean interpreters attached to the 112th Div had never been in battle up to 30 Oct 50.
c. Personalities:
112th Div CO
Name: Unk Known as “No. 101” up to 27 Nov 50
Rank: Maj Gen
Age: 35
112th Ass’t Div CO
Name: Unk Known as “No. 103” up to 27 Nov 50
Rank: Sr Col
Age: 32
112th Div Political Officer
Name; Unk Known as “No. 102” up to 27 Nov 50
Rank: Maj Gen
Age: 37
112th Div Ass’t Political Officer
Name: Unk Known as “No. 104” up to 27 Nov 50
Rank; Sr Col
Age:34
d. Code and APO Nos:
1. When the 112th Div first entered N KOREA it was referred to as the “1st Bn” (一大隊) which was a code name.
2. 23 Nov 50 the 112th Div changes its code name to the “PYONGNAM Unit” (平南部隊), prior to the TOKCH’ON (德川) battle.
e. Communications:
1. Army to Regt level
Wireless - 1 ea
Radio - 1 ea 2 way set
Telephone - 5 ea
Walkie Talkies - 1 ea Range unk
Messengers on horses - 12
2. Regt to Bn level
Telephones and runners
3. Bn to Co level
Runners
4. Co to Sqd
Runners
f. Disposition:
Last known disposition of units 27 Nov 50
112th Div was the city of TOKCH’ON (德川)
113th Div in line SW of the city
114th Div in line SE of the city
g. Morale:
112th Div morale high
h. Replacements:
No new replacements as of 27 Nov 50
i. Evacuation and Treatment of Wounded:
Troops wounded in battle front areas are given immediate first aid. First aid consisted of merely trying to stop the bleeding by using compresses. Wounded is then taken to Bn level, approx 2 km back of the lines. Wounded then given further attention by Bn doctor. Attention given, mainly to stop further bleeding, then sent to the rear, approx 4 km from the front. This is known as the Regt aid station, where the serious cases are then given further attention, such as medicine and re-bandaging the wound. From this level, the wounded are carried by litter bearers to Div level. At this level, the less seriously wounded are taken care of and sent back to their units. The more serious cases are then sent to the Army field hospital. Those that can’t be taken care of by Army field hospital, are sent back to MANCHURIA for medical care.
j. Supply:
Each man carries 3 days rations of rice and 3 days rations of biscuits, 100 rounds of ammo per man, and four hand grenades. Arty shells were transported on horseback, and horse cart, during the night. Closest ammo depot to front line arty positions is approx 4 km to the rear. Arty Bns move with the Div. Ammo from rear ammo dumps to forward ammo depots is hauled by trucks spaced approx 50 meters apart. These trucks usually move only at night, but if the situation is serious, they work around the clock. Ammo from the front line depots to arty positions is hauled by pack horses, spaced approx 5 meters apart, according to the situation and terrain.
k. Other Units:
The CCF, 40th Army was located just W of KAECH’ON (价川) as of 22 Nov 50.
1. Weapons most feared:
1. Strafing
2. Napalm Bomb
3. Arty fire
When troops are on the march, fragmentation bombs are feared over H.E. Arty fire. When in fox holes, H.E. is feared over fragmentation bombs.
a. Arty Fire Control:
1. Each battery has a survey section composed of a fire direction NCO and 2 EM. This section only controls the fire of its battery when assigned separate firing missions.
2. Each section is equipped with a field glass, a field phone, a range finder, a compass and a periscope.
3. In Bn mass fire, the Bn survey section, consisting of the Bn CO and 5 EM furnishes all fire data for all batteries. Bn survey sections are equipped similarly to battery survey sections, except the range finder is a bigger set. All batteries are connected to Bn survey section by field phones.
Types of Arty fire:
Mass fire is not popular with the 112th Div Arty Bn. Each battery usually has an assigned target. If attacks are made at night, adjustments are made the preceding day. Usually just before sunset.
b. Foreign Advisors:
Unk, but Japanese doctors were used in Army Hospitals in MANCHURIA.
c. Pay of Personnel:
| Pvt | 60,000 Yuan (Chinese) |
| Plat & Ass’t Plat Ldr - | 160,000 〃 |
| Co CO | 200,000 〃 |
| Ass’t Co | CO 200,000 〃 |
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
