ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2919 18 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (2 - LDI - 0038) 23 November 1950
| PW NAME: | CHO, Song Ha |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Recruit training |
| UNIT: | 53rd Regt, 3rd Bn, 2nd Co, 2nd Plat, 2nd Sqd |
| PLACE AND DATE OF CAPTURE: | KAECH’ON, 20 Nov 50 |
Evaluation: PW was very cooperative and talked freely.
Information fairly reliable, possibly true. Recommended for further interrogation.
PW and men in KAECH’ON (YD5595) age ranging from 17 to 41 were promised government employment. Upon assembling in KAECHON 13 Oct 50 as requested, they all were issued winter uniform, then announcement was made by NKA officer that they were now part of the 53rd Regt of the brave People’s Army and ordered them to commence marching toward MANCHURIA. Destination TONHWA, MANCHURIA, mission unk.
Approx 5000 men started from KAECHON and enroute north was joined by other units from UJU (XE3050), SINUIJU (XE 1940) and SAKJU (XE7373) brining the approx total to 20,000 men of which 100 were female nurses age 17-18. PW estimated this unit strength to be 20,000 for they marched 4 abreast with column approx 6 KMs long with 4 meters interval between each platoon of 50 men.
All men were unarmed except for small arms carried by officers. Route traveled by this unit to MANCHURIA were YONGBYON (YE 4011), TAECH’ON (YE1322), KUSAN (XE9328), TAEGWAN (XE8735), OKSANG MYON area (XE6058), CHONGSAN JIN (XE5574), KWANJUN, MANCHURIA and HWANG IN HYON, MANCHURIA where PW made his escape 2 Nov at 0400 hrs. Traveled mostly at night and at times during the day.
The unit crossed the YALU River at night over concrete bridge located at CHONGSON JIN (XE5574) o/a 30 Oct 50.
Following information observed during the PW’s travel home to KAECH’ON:
8 Nov 50 (night) saw approx 10,000 unarmed NK troops marching in 2 long columns towards MANCHURIA. This column were approx 8 KM long traveling between SIN CHON DONG (YF4231) and CHOSAN (YF3724)
9 Nov 50 (1100 hrs) observed approx 3000 NK’s receiving training 2 KMs S of CHOSAN (YF3724), all unarmed.
10 Nov 50 (1000 hrs) observed approx 1000 CCF at PUNGJAN (YE4488), equipped with rifles and PPsh SMGs. Believed to be guarding this village and vicinity.
11 Nov 50 (1400 hrs) observed approx 1000 CCF troops in village houses vicinity of YE 4681 (village name unk). This small village located 8 KMs SSE of PUNGJAN (YE4488).
13 Nov 50 (1700 hrs) PW came to a small village (name unk) located approx 2 KMs S of HYONGGYO DONG (BV5138) on the small road leading south to KUJANG (BV4617). PW asked villagers to let him take refuge there for the night but was refused. This villager explained that village houses were kept vacated for the CCF who came each night to the village from the nearby mountains to sleep.
14 Nov 50 (1030 hrs) in the PUK SIN MYON area (BV5832) he saw approx 1000 CCF along the narrow road leading from I HYON CHAN (BV5235) to WONCHAM (BV5226).
14 Nov 50 (1630 hrs) at approx location (BV4624) saw 1000 CCF troops and freshly dug caves near the foothills of the mountain. The entrance of the caves were camouflaged with tree branches and dirt.
On 15 Nov after crossing the CHONGCHON River at KUJANG DONG (BV4517), he reached the KANJONG village (YE5311) at 1100 hrs where he saw roadblock established by CCF troops. These soldiers were stopping and searching all refugees passing through this village. Estimate strength 500. At 1600 hrs of the same day PW saw approx 2000 CCF troops in the mountains 5 KMs south of KANJONG. However they were retreating north because of Artillery bombardment by the UN Forces.
Since PW heard from other refugees that the road directly south was being heavily bombarded he traveled 8 KMs SE and reached a small village TA RI KOL (coord: unk) in the PUNG MYON Area (BV4708). PW stayed here 3 days when this village was occupied by the UN Forces.
On 19 Nov PW left TA RI KOL and surrendered himself to the KAECH’ON MYON police 20 Nov 50.
All CCF mentioned in this report were armed. PW did not see any heavy Arty or tanks all through his travel.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OJI
