ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2824 9 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD #1 - 0294) 7 January 1951
| PW NAME: | KANG, In Koo (Korean) (姜仁球) |
| RANK: | Jr Sgt (下士) |
| AGE: | 33 |
| DUTY: | Ass’t Sqd Ldr |
| UNIT: | 12th Div, 2nd Regt, Ind Stretcher Bearer Plat |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CHANG BONG-NI (蒼峰里) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 31 Dec 50 |
| UNIT MAKING CAPTURE: | 23rd Inf |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, KYONGSONG GUN, CHUBUK MYON, UNKOK DONG (咸鏡北道 鏡城郡 ■■面 운곡동) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | CHIEN TAO-SHENG, HOLUNG-HSIEN, TUNG SUNG-CHU, KOSONG-TSUN, MANCHURIA (間島省 和龍縣 東成品 吉成村) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl MIYOSHI (ATIS) |
PW was of low intelligence, however, cooperative. Information may be considered reliable.
Chronology:
Apr 50: Men of TUNGSUNG-CHU, ages from 25 to 33 were ordered to return to KOREA. Approx 30 men departed from PW’s village, and arrived at YONGJONG (龍井) RR Sta. There were approx 4,000 men assembled here, and they boarded two trains (2,000 to each train).
16 Apr 50: Train arrived at WONSAN (元山). PW did not know the disposition of the other train which had 2,000 men aboard. 2,000 men from PW’s train assembled at a training center and were trained for approx 25 days. PW received close order drill for approx 10 days and approx 30 men were trained as stretcher bearers for the rest of the training periods. Upon completion of the training, the 30 men were assigned to the newly organized 2nd Regt, 12th Div as a Ind Stretcher Bearer Plat. PW believed the other Regts of the 12th Div were also organized.
May 50: PW estimated approx 15,000 troops were ordered to move out, believed to be the entire 12th Div. They marched during the night.
Jun 50: Entire 12th Div arrived at YANGGU (楊口). PW’s platoon was ordered to prepare their stretchers, so tree branches were cut to construct stretchers. The men were told that the duty of the unit was to guard the 38th parallel and to have everything prepared for an emergency.
24 Jun 50: 2200 hours, the entire 2nd Regt were assembled and the Regimental commander, announced that they were going across the 38th parallel.
26 Jun 50: 0500, the 2nd Regt, 12 Div crossed the 38th parallel and began an offensive push through HONGCHON, with little resistance.
Jul 50: The 2nd Regt arrived at CHUNGJU (忠州) and was engaged in combat near the river at CHUNGJU for 3 days, then entered the city. 2nd Regt met the 3rd Regt in the city. PW and platoon was engaged in transferring wounded from Regt’l Hosp to Div Hosp, located approx 16 km N of CHUNGJU, meanwhile regiments of 12th Div kept advancing.
Aug 50: The Regt’l field hospital (including PW’s stretcher plat) arrived at KILTONG. PW’s plat was engaged in transferring wounded from Regt hospital to the rear where they were met by the Div hospital stretcher bearer who in turn took the wounded to Div hospital at ANDONG (安東).
Sept 50: 2nd Regt ordered to retreat, entire regt retreated to ANDONG, and encountered fire from UN forces during the night, and the entire 2nd Regt was disorganized and men dispersed. PW and 7 other men retreated toward north, traveling day and night obtaining food at villages.
Nov 50: PW and 7 men arrived at KANGGYE (江界), here PW observed posters stating the men of the 12th Div were to meet at CHAGANG-DONG (자강동).
20 Nov 50: PW and 7 men arrived at CHAGANG DONG. Here, the men from the Div, security police of South and North Korean villages, and South Korean PsW, were integrated and the 12th Div was reorganized. PW estimated that total strength of the unit was not equal to that of the original 12th Div. PW was again assigned to the 2nd Regt Ind Stretcher Plat.
31 Dec 50: While the 12th Div was passing through CHANG BONG-NI, heading toward HONGCHON (洪川), PW’s plat stopped for food and were captured by UN Forces. Further disposition of the 12th Div was unknown.
Unit Organization and Strength:
12th Div - 3 Regts, Medical Bn.
Regt - 3 Bns Medical Sec (12 men), Stretcher Plat, and Supply Plat.
Unit Duties:
Stretcher Plat, 2nd Regt platoons’ duty was to transport the wounded from Regt’l field hospital to Div hospital which was located approx 16 to 30 km to the rear. Wounded were carried by two stretcher bearers. The Regt’l hosp was set up in village houses. Wounded were transferred to the rear after one day at Regt’l hospital. There were 2 doctors, 12 nurses at Regt’l hosp. Minor wounds were only temporarily treated until transferred to Div Hosp. The wounded were temporarily treated at the Bn field hosp prior to entering the Regt’l hospital. There were no patients who were able to return to battlefield.
Communication:
Communication between Div and Regt Hosp was by runner.
Personalities:
CO of 2nd Regt, 12th Div called by number 31.
Morale:
Morale of the men was low due to insufficient food and clothing.
No propaganda leaflets were seen by PW.
For the Commanding Officer:
BATEMAN
