This report contains the result of interrogation of 125 Chinese Prisoners of War on the incident rate of cold weather injuries sustained by the CCF during the Korean campaign.
ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2913 17 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS Special Report - 014) 9 January 1951
This report contains the result of interrogation of 125 Chinese Prisoners of War on the incident rate of cold weather injuries sustained by the CCF during the Korean campaign.
The 125 interrogees were composed of two main groups:
A. Hospital Cases - 56 (31 Pre-surgery Cases 25 Post-surgery Cases)
B. Non-Afflicted - 69
Figures indicated by those two groups differed widely, with Group A indicating a much greater incidence rate (69.3%) as Group B (20.2%)
A
As of 4 Jan 50, a total of 68 CCF frostbite patients were reportedly under treatment at 3rd Field Hospital. Of these 56 PWs were interrogated. A further 3 PWs were placed under interrogation but due to dialect difficulties were dismissed. Remaining 9 cases were not available for interrogation.
Breakdown: (56 Interrogees)
| Unit | Pre-surgery Cases | Post-surgery Cases |
| 20th Army (3rd Field Army) | 23 | 24 |
| 58th Division | 2 | 4 |
| 172 Regt | 2 | 2 |
| 173 Regt | - | 1 |
| 174 Regt | - | 1 |
| 60th Division | 21 | 19 |
| 179 Regt | 2 | - |
| 180 Regt | 19 | 19 |
| 89th Division | - | 1 |
| 267 Regt | - | 1 |
| 26th Army (3rd Field Army) | 8 | - |
| 76th Division | 5 | - |
| 228 Regt | 5 | - |
| 77th Division | 2 | - |
| 230 Regt | 2 | - |
| 88th Division | 1 | - |
| 263 Regt | 1 | - |
| 40th Army (4th Field Army) | 1 | - |
| 120th division | 1 | - |
| 359 Regt | 1 | - |
| Total: | |
| 20th Army | 47 |
| 26th Army | 8 |
| 40th Army | 1 |
| 56 | |
Prevalence:
The range of prevalence figures indicated by the 56 PsW interrogated varied between 10% to 100% of Company strengths. However, 40 PsW substantially indicated incidence of frost bite between 30% to 70%; the most frequently indicated rate was “upwards of 50%”.
Mathematical average of the 56 reports: 69.3%
Types:
Trench foot was given as the most frequent, with relatively small numbers in hand and ear cases.
Amputations:
Treatment and amputation ratios under CCF care could not be obtained for lack of information. Under US care, amputations had to be performed on 44% of PWs suffering from frostbite up to 4 Jan 51 but hospital authorities indicated that the amputation cases were progressively increasing in number.
Medical Care:
Of the 56 interrogated only 2 indicated they had been treated by aidman with what appeared to be iodine or mercurochrome. No other treatment was given. Even tincture treatment was rare according to those who had been so treated.
Serious cases, when possible, were evacuated to the rear. Local villagers were pressed into litter services. There were indications that the combat wounded were given priority in evacuation, and the frost bite cases pressed into continued line service to the limit of their physical endurance.
When they could no longer walk, they were either evacuated or left behind to shift for themselves. Many were seen dead from exposure. Depending on the circumstances and upon the individual unit commander, men left behind were provided with a day’s rations but most frequently such men were relieved of both food and weapons, and generally abandoned. Interrogees appeared to accept such plights with typical resignation and without visible emotion. The Chinese expression, “there is no way” was a stock reply.
Causes:
Without exception, wet feet and prolonged exposure to extreme weather conditions were given as cause of wide prevalence of frost bite. Forced marches during night hours, and lack of opportunity to dry out during the day. Fires were strictly prohibited due to fear of air attacks. Officers and a few of the more fortunate ones managed to obtain shelter of one sort or another in surrounding villages. Footwear of most were rubber shoes, but whether rubber, padded cotton or leather shoes, all became equally wet and without the facilities to dry out, there was no way to prevent the frostbite.
Precautionary Measures:
No special instructions or training. Those from colder parts of China volunteered that no one needed special instructions for such things since it is obviously necessary to keep one’s feet warm and dry; when this is impossible, the consequences are accepted as inevitable
B
Breakdown: (69 Interrogees)
| Unit | No. | Unit | No. |
| 3rd Field Army | 34 | 4th Field Army | 35 |
| 20th Army | 13 | 38th Army | 11 |
| 59th Div | 1 | 112th Div | 4 |
| 60th Div | 5 | 113th Div | 6 |
| 64th Div | 1 | 114th Div | 1 |
| 89th Div | 6 | ||
| 26th Army | 16 | 39th Army | 3 |
| 76th Div | 4 | 115th Div | 1 |
| 77th Div | 6 | 116th Div | 1 |
| 78th Div | 6 | 117th Div | 1 |
| 27th Army | 3 | 40th Army | 4 |
| 79th Div | 1 | 119th Div | 3 |
| 81st Div | 2 | 120th Div | 1 |
| 29th Army | 2 | 42nd Army | 12 |
| 67th Div | 2 | 124th Div | 8 |
| 125th Div | 1 | ||
| 126th Div | 3 | ||
| 50th Army | 3 | ||
| 149th Div | 3 | ||
| 66th Army | 2 | ||
| 197th Div | 2 |
| Total: | |
| 3rd Field Army | 34 |
| 4th Field Army | 35 |
| Total | 69 |
Prevalence:
Incidence rate indicated per company ranged from 2% to 100%. Mathematical average of the figures indicated in the 60 reports was 20.%.
Medical Care:
Cold weather injuries were not treated in the field. 36 PWs rptd serious cases were evacuated, 28 had no information to offer; 1 reported abandonment, and 4 reported treatment being given at Field Hospitals.
Causes:
All were attributed to prolonged exposures to extreme weather conditions, resulting in wet feet without opportunity to dry out. Fires were prohibited due to fear of air attacks.
Precautionary Measures:
None prescribed.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
