ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2871 16 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD #1 – 0301) 12 January 1951
| PW NAME: | LEE, Sang Hwa (李尙鎬) (이상호) KOREAN |
| RANK: | Pvt (戦士) |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | NKA 27th Div, 7th Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Co |
| AGE: | 20 |
| EDUCATION: | 3 years Primary School |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | WONJU |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 7 Jan 51 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | P’YONGAN NAMDO, SUNCHONGGUN, SHINCHANG MYONG, AMPYONGKI #156 (平安南道 順川郡 新倉面 安平里 156) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl M. KOMURA (ATIS) |
PW was very cooperative and spoke freely. Intelligence was fair and he had a fairly good memory on dates and places. Information considered fairly reliable.
Chronology:
O/a 20 Aug 50 – Inducted into army at P’YONGAN NAMDO, SUNGCHONGGUN, (平安南道 順天郡) and received 22 days basic training with the 106th Regiment, 1st Bn, 1st Co. After basic training unit was sent to P’YONGYANG 15 Sep 50.
Sep 50 – Retreated to KANGGYE(江界) because of UN attack.
O/a 20 Nov 50 – Unit made an attack on KANGWANGDO (江原道). During the attack PW was wounded and was hospitalized in the village of CHANGPYONGRI(창평리) for about 25 days.
O/a 15 Dec 50 – Since PW didn’t know where his own unit was, PW joined the 27th Div, 7th Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Co. at CHANGPYONGRI (창평리).
O/a 16 Dec 50 – Unit departed from CHANGPYONGRI (창평리) for HWACHON (黃川) which took them 10 days by mountain paths. From HWACHON (黃川) unit went to HONGCHON (洪川) and reached there on 4 Jan 51. Later went toward WONJU (原州).
7 Jan 51 – PW stated that since his squad did not have any weapons, they were in the rear of their unit at WONJU while other squads were fighting. PW ran away toward the West and when confronted by UN troops, surrendered. PW states that most of his 9th Co was annihilated.
Unit Organization and Strength:
The 27th Division was in the V Corp.
V Corp was composed of 27th, 32nd Divisions, and other unknown divisions.
27th Division composed of 3 Regiments
7th Regiment composed of 3 Battalions
3rd Battalion composed of 3 Companies (7th, 8th and 9th)
9th Company (as of 7 Jan 51)
Personnel:
Officers – 5
EM – 65
Total 70
Equipment and Weapons:
SMGs – 10 (50 rds each)
US Carbines 5 (rds unknown)
IMGs 3 (200 rds each)
US Ml Rifle 15 (70 rds each)
Russian Rifles 35 (50 rds each)
Handgrenades 5 per squad
3rd Battalion
Personnel:
Officers – 50
EM- 200
Total 250
Equipment and Weapons:
Mortars (60mm) - 3 (Rds unknown)
HMGs – 2 (Rds unknown)
Field Telephone – 1
Communications:
A runner was used for communication between platoon and company, and 2 runners between company and battalion. A field telephone was used for communication between battalion and regiment.
Morale:
The morale of the personnel in the PW’s unit was low due to lack of clothing and because they didn’t stop to rest.
Did you surrender? If so, why?
PW surrendered because as he stated; he thinks the UN Forces will win this war in due time because the NKA has few weapons and no airplanes.
Did you see any UN leaflets or hear any loudspeaker broadcasts?
PW stated that he saw some UN leaflets that were written in English.
What did the leaflets look like or what did the loudspeaker say?
Because the leaflets were written in English PW had a fellow soldier who attended Seoul University who could read and understand English to translate it. It said “If you don’t want to die lay your weapons down and surrender.”
What was the effect on you?
After hearing what the leaflets said PW thought of deserting when he had an opportunity.
Did you hear any talk about leaflets or broadcasts? If so, what was said and what happened?
Negative.
For the Commanding Officer:
BATEMAN
