ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2849 13 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (528 - MISPI - 0143) 26 November 1950
| PW NAME: | TSAO, To-ho (曹德和) Chinese |
| PW NO: | Jackson Temporary #157 |
| AGE: | 21 |
| RANK: | None |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | CCF, 66th Army, 196th Div, 586th Regt, 1st Bn, 2nd Co, 2nd Plat, 5th Squad |
| EDUCATION: | 11/2 yr schooling |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | SONGCHON-DONG |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 251200 Nov 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HOPEH-SHENG, TING-HSIEN, SANHUI CHAI-TSUN (河北省 歨縣 三■■村) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
PW appeared to be in good physical condition at time of the interrogation. PW was a farmer prior to joining the Chinese Nationalist Army. PW was cooperative, observant, and of average intelligence. 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.
a. Chronology.
PW volunteered into Chinese Nationalist Army 7th Div during May 48 at SHANSI-SHENG, TAIYUAN-FU (山西省大原府). Captured by CCF 66th Army during Apr 49 and was immediately assigned to the66th Army at TAIYUAN-FU. The 66th Army departed TAIYUAN-FU and arrived at TIEN-TSIN (天津) during Jun 49. The 66th Army was engaged in training at TIENTSIN until 22 Oct 50. 22 Oct 50, the 586th Regt departed TIENTSIN and travelled by train to ANTUNG, arriving on 26 Oct 50. 27 Oct 50, the entire 196th Div, 66th Army assembled at ANTUNG and entered KOREA. The 196th Div marched during the night of 27 Oct 50 and arrived at CHOLSAN (XE4303) during the morning of 28 Oct 50. 1 Nov 50, the 196th Div departed CHOLSAN and marched and marched toward KUSONG (XE9328), arriving on mountains near KUSONG 3 Nov 50. After staying at mountains near KUSONG for two days (to avoid air attacks), the 586th Regt, 196th Div departed and marched to SONGHON (XE6506), arriving 6 Nov 50. The 586th Regt departed SONCHON 8 Nov 50 and marched to NAMSI-DONG (XE3616), arriving 10 Nov 50. At NAMSI-DONG, the 586th Regt dug foxholes to avoid detection from the air. 24 Nov 50, the entire 586th Regt departed NAMSI-DONG and marched southeastward. PW deserted from his unit during the night of 24 Nov 50 and surrendered at SONGCHON-DONG (松川洞) 251200 Nov 50.
b. Unit Organization and Strength.
The 66th Army was composed of the 196th, 197th, and 198th Rifle Divs. The 196th Div was composed of the 586th, 587th, and 588th Rifle Regts and an Arty Bn. The 197th Div was composed of the 589th, 590th, and 591st Rifle Regts. The 198th Div was composed of the 592nd, 593rd, and 594th Rifle Regts.
The 586th Rifle Regt was composed of 3 Rifle Bns, 1 Guard Co, 1 Mortar Co, and 1 Special Duty Co. The Special Duty Co was composed of Sig Plat, Telephone Plat, and Recon Plat. Each Rifle Bn was composed of 3Rifle Cos and a HW Co.
| UNIT | ESTIMATED STRENGTH |
| 66th Army | approx 30,000 |
| 196th Div | 〃 9,900 |
| 586th Regt | unknown |
| Arty Bn (of Rifle Div) | 〃 400 |
| Rifle Co | 〃 150 |
| HW Co | 〃 150 |
| Guard Co (of Rifle Regt) | 〃 120 to 130 |
| Mortar Co (of Rifle Regt) | 〃 120 to 130 |
| Special Duty Co (of Rifle Regt) | |
| Sig Plat | approx 34 |
| Telephone Plat | 〃 34 |
c. Equipment.
The Rifle Co had 9 LMGs(700 rds ea), 3x60mm mortars (20 rds ea), approx 70 M38 rifles (140 rds ea), 2 machine pistols, and 5 handgrenades per man.
The HW Co had 6 HMGs, 4x82mm mortars, 12 M38 rifles, and unknown number of handgrenades.
The Guard Co (of Rifle Regt) had 9 LMGs, 3x60mm mortars, and unknown number of M38 rifles.
The Mortar Co (of Rifle Regt) had 6x82mm mortars and approx 12 M38 rifles.
The Special Duty Co (of Rifle Regt): Sig Plat had 34 M38 rifles and 5 hand grenades per man. No Sig equipment in the unit, troops were used as messengers. Telephone Plat had 8 field telephones and 5 handgrenades per man. Telephones were distributed as follows during an operation: 3 with Regt’l Hq, one with each Rifle Bn (of Regt), one with Telephone Plat, and one spare.
The Arty Bn (of Rifle Div) has 9 mountain guns (caliber u/k), unknown number of M38 rifles, and 45 horses.
PW observed the above equipment with the units in Korea.
d. Unit Assignment and Intentions.
No knowledge. PW believes that the 66th Army has not been committed in action in Korea as of 24 Nov 50.
e. Dispositions.
On 24 Nov 50, the 586th Regt departed NAMSI-DONG (XE3616) and was marching southeastward. No knowledge of other units in the 66th Army. PW stated that his unit was under the same chain of command after crossing YALU River.
f. Communications.
Telephone was used for communication at Div, Regt, and Bn. Lower echelon used messenger.
g. Knowledge of Other Units.
PW heard of an Arty Regt with the 66th Army, but he never saw the unit before or after crossing the YALU River. PW met troops of other Divs of the 66th Army in Korea, and were told that the entire 66th Army came to Korea.
h. Personalities.
HUANG, Ying (黃英) Asst Regt CO, 586th Regt
TSU, Tsung-bou (Phonetic) 1st Bn CO, 586th Regt
HOU, Te-san (候德?) 2nd Co CO, 1st Bn, 586th Regt
i. Armor and Artillery
PW did not see any armored vehicle after crossing the YALU River. PW heard while in China that a Tank Regt is with the CCF, but he never saw any tanks.
j. Morale and Propaganda.
Morale of the former Chinese Nationalist troops (approx 50%) with the 586th Regt, 196th Div, 66th Army had very low morale because they did not desire to fight. The morale of the other troops with the 586th Regt was fair to high. PW observed an UN leaflet once. Claims he deserted the unit because he was influenced by the leaflet. PW states that he cannot judge the reaction of other troops of the 586th Regt toward UN leaflets because they are afraid to converse on such matters.
a. Food and Ammo Supplies.
Food was believed to have been procured locally after the 4 days food supply brought with the unit from China was exhausted. Troops ate two meals a day and usually consisted of millets and kaoliang.
The 196th Div was issued ammo at TIENTSIN (天津) o/a 22 Oct 50. Unit never received any ammo after entering Korea.
b. Replacements - No knowledge
c. Mission of Present Unit
Troops were told that they must fight and help North Korea because in this way we are protecting our own country.
For the AC of S G-2
HIGASHI
