ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 2813 8 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1249) 3 January 1951
| PW NAME: | CHO, Yong Su (趙永守) (조영수) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt |
| AGE: | 18 |
| DUTY: | Plat Ldr |
| UNIT: | 8th Independent Regt, 3rd Bn, 3rd Co, 2nd Plat |
| EDUCATION: | 10 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YONCH’ON (連川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 13 Dec 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, P’YONGAN NAMDO, CHUNGHUA-GUN, HAEAP-MYON HUNGMUN-NI (平安南道 中和郡 海鴨面 興文里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pvt TSUDA (ATIS) |
PW was very cooperative. Reliability, good.
a. Chronology:
14 Sep 50: Inducted into NKA at P’YONGYANG, assigned 16th Ind Brigade, 1st Bn, 1st Co for basic training.
15 Sep 50: Brigade left P’YONGYANG for CHORWON (鐵元).
17 Sep 50: Brigade arrived at CHORWON and received one week of basic training.
o/a 24 Sep 50: Brigade issued uniforms, rifles with 50 rounds, and two hand grenades each. Brigade left for SEOUL by train with three days rations. PW promoted to Sgt.
o/a 28 Sep 50: Brigade received orders to withdraw to CHORWON before arriving SEOUL. Brigade marched only at nights.
o/a 29 Sep 50: Brigade changed course to N upon hearing of CHORWON’s capture by UN forces. During this withdrawal, Brigade became completely disorganized and became a band of stragglers.
26 Oct 50: Stragglers arrived at a small village located 12 km east of ICH’ON (伊川).
30 Oct 50: Stragglers from all units were assembled and organized into the 8th Ind Regt. PW assigned to 3rd Bn, 3rd Co, 2nd Plat.
1 Nov 50: Regt moved into ICH’ON to replace the 4th Div, 18th Regt. PW commissioned Jr Lt.
o/a 5 Nov 50: The 8th Ind Regiment retreated into the surrounding mountain for infiltration.
o/a 25 Nov 50: The 3rd Bn began moving south upon hearing that the CCF was following behind. Marched only at night.
o/a 28 Nov 50: Bn arrived near YONCH’ON (連川). The mission here was to make road blocks against the UN troops going south. Due to insufficient arms, road blocking was unsuccessful.
o/a 10 Dec 50: PW and one company of men set up an ambush on a road 12 km north of YONCH’ON upon hearing that a ROK Regt was moving south.
13 Dec 50: PW and three others surrendered to the ROK Regt while on patrol.
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
1. Strength when organized
8th Ind Regt 1250
1st Bn 330
2nd Bn 330
3rd Bn 330
Other Units 260
2. Present Strength (as of 13 Dec 50) (Hearsay from Co CO)
8th Ind Regt 1000
1st Bn Unk
2nd Bn Unk
3rd Bn 270
c. Unit History
8th Ind Regt was the last unit to be organized under the 2nd Corps on 30 Oct 50. It was engaged in guerrilla action around ICHON and YONCHON.
d. Personalities:
KIM, Song (金성) (김성); Korean; 8th Ind Regt CO (Sr Col); 40; height, 163cm; weight, 50kg; build, medium; complexion, tan; last seen between ICH’ON and YONCH’ON o/a 30 Nov 50.
KIM, Sa Am (金사암) (김사암); Korean; 3rd Bn CO (Major); age 30; height, 170cm; weight, 55kg; build, slim; complexion, tan. Last seen near YONCHON 10 Dec 50.
PAK, Chong Song (朴청송) (박청송); Korean; 3rd Co CO (Sr Lt); age 27; height, 170cm; weight, 55kg; build, slim; complexion, yellowish brown; irregular walk. Last seen CHOKGO-RI (YONCH’ON) 13 Dec 50. Remarks: Hearsay that he came from MANCHURIA.
KIM, Tok Won (金덕원) (김덕원); Korean; 3rd Bn Political leader (Major); age 37; height, 170cm; weight, 50kg; build, thin; complexion, yellowish brown; bony shoulders. Last seen between ICH’ON and YONCH’ON o/a 5 Dec 50.
e. Communication:
Company and below: Runners or field phones
Battalion: field phones (2 each in Bn CP)
Regiment: field phones
Communication between Regt and Corps Hq was by liaison officers. Due to shortage of wire, field phones were used only within the Regts where distances were less than 5 km.
f. Disposition as of 13 Dec 50
(See Sketch below)
g. Intentions:
To set road blocks up in YONCH’ON area against the UN troops.
h. Morale:
Due to the lack of weapons, food, clothing and other supplies, morale was very low. Consequently, the activities were slow and results poor.
i. Replacements:
No replacements were available due to isolation since organization on 30 Oct 50.
j. Supplies:
Supplies were very low and had to be carried by the troops. Ammunition supply was critical. Food was obtained from the farmers in the area.
k. Weapons:
With the exception of one 60 mm mortar, which still had 40 rounds as of 13 Dec 50, the only weapons were small arms such as SMGs (PPSH) (four to a co), 99 model rifles, 38 model rifles, and some US - M1 rifles and carbines. Only about 50% were armed and there were 15 hand grenades left to a company. Each rifleman had about 15 rounds.
Since the 8th Regt lacked arms and ammo, they ambushed only small convoys. Usually firing begins when 1/3 of the convoy passes a certain point. Information was obtained from scouts who usually were look-outs on the peaks of the mountains. No information was obtained from the villagers because of ill-feeling. Civilians hated the troops because they were forced to supply food and shelter to the troops.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
