ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2932 19 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1266) 11 January 1951
| PW NAME: | LEE, Chong T’ae (李鐘太) (이종태) |
| RANK: | Sr Sgt (上士) |
| AGE: | 18 |
| DUTY: | SMG Man |
| UNIT: | NKA 10th Div, 29th Regt, 3rd Bn, 7th Co, 3rd Plat |
| EDUCATION: | 6 yrs Primary School - 3 yrs Middle School |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HWACH’ON (華川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 23 Dec 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, KANGWON DO, YONCH’ON-GUN, KWANIN-MYON, SAMYUL-RI #248 (江原道 連川郡 官仁面 栗里 二四八番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | KOREA, KANGWON DO, CH’ORWON-GUN, YONGBUK-MYON, UNCH’ON-NI (江原道 鎭原郡 永北面 雲川里) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl ONO (ATIS) |
PW was cooperative and seemed intelligent. Reliability - Fair.
a. Chronology:
9 Apr 50 - Conscripted into the NKA at SUKCH’ON (肅川). Received training at the #2 Young People’s Training Center.
7 Jun 50 - #2 Yong People’s Training Center changed to the NK Army and the unit was organized as the 10th Div.
17 Jun 50 - 10th Div moved to P’YONGYANG where it trained in the mountains until 24 Jul 50.
5 Aug 50 - 10th Div moved to CH’ONAN (天安) by train. The 10th Div fought and entrenched on the NAKTONG river bank near CH’OGOK-DONG (草谷洞).
18 Sep 50 - 10th Div ordered to retreat.
20 Sep 50 - Reached SONGJU (星州) and stayed one day and then retreated toward the mountains.
6 Nov 50 - Arrived KUMHWA (金化). Rested for 5 days.
11 Nov 50 - Started advancing south toward HWACH’ON (華川) where they battled with the ROK army for three days.
17 Nov 50 - 29th Regt separated from the rest of the 10th Div and went to KAP’YONG (加平) where they defeated a ROK unit. They then dug in there.
17 Dec 50 - 29th Regt returned to HWACH’ON and the 27th Regt of the 10th Div replaced them in KAP’YONG (加平). The 29th Regt after a few days went into the mountains in preparation for a battle. In the mountains the 29th Regt dug in beside an Artillery Regt of the 10th Div. Here they defeated a ROK unit and dug in in the newly won position.
23 Dec 50 - When the 3rd Bn of the 29th Regt was moving from one mountain to another, PW’s 7th Company was separated from the others and marched right into a unit of the ROK army and 19 men including PW were captured.
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
Organization of the 10th Division as of Dec 50:
c. Unit History:
The 10th Div was originally organized in SUKCH’ON (肅川) from the men in the #2 Young People’s Training Center in Jun 50. It consisted of 3 Inf Regts (25th, 27th and 29th) and one Artillery Regt. A total of about 10,000 troops.
This Div suffered heavy losses in the NAKTONG River battle from bombing and artillery. Approx 20 men per Co were left after this battle. At present, the Regt strength is below 1,000.
d. Personalities:
CH’OE, U (崔禹) (최우), Col (大佐), 38, CO, 29th Regt.
IM, Kuk Chin (林국진), Lt Col (中佐), 24, Staff Officer, 29th Regt, was a former messenger of the Youth Army in MANCHURIA.
PAK, T’ae Jin (허태진), Sr Lt (大尉), 26, CO, 7th Co.
e. Code and APO Number:
29th regt - 751
f. Communications:
Company - Runners.
Battalion - 5 field phones.
Regiment - Had a communication Co consisting of wireless telephones.
Division - Had a communication Bn consisting of wireless transmitters.
Fire direction by field phones and walkie - talkies.
g. Disposition:
The 10th Div was last seen (23 Dec 50) in the mountains near HWACH’ON (華川).
h. Intentions:
29th Regt was planning on attacking CH’UNCH’ON (春川) in the latter part of Dec 50.
i. Morale:
Low because of shortage of supplies and ammunition, no replacements, and because the men were suffering from frost-bite due to the cold.
j. Evacuation and Treatment of Wounded:
The wounded were evacuated to the Regt hospital located 8km to the rear of the forward echelon of the 29th Regt. The Regt CP was located 4km to the rear of the front. Seriously wounded were cared for in the Div hospital.
During a retreat, the wounded were evacuated by trucks to the rear.
k. Supply:
Each man carried 3 days rations and used them only when their regular daily ration did not come. The men carried 150 rds and 2 hand grenades. 80% of a Co carried rifles and 5 men of the Co carried SMGs.
Pay of Personnel:
Pvt - 50 won per month.
Cpl - 70 won per month.
Jr Sgt - 100 won per month.
Sgt - 150 won per month.
Sr Sgt - 200 won per month.
M/Sgt - 300 won per month.
Jr Lt - 1400 won per month.
Commodity Prices:
1/10 of the prices in South KOREA.
Food and Clothing Ration in North KOREA:
Rice: The job a person holds determines the amount of rice he receives. On the average, a person receives 3.5 HOP/day. Also .5 HOP/day of millet and soy beans were distributed. (1 HOP = 180cc)
Weapons Feared Most:
Napalm bombing and strafing by jets feared most.
Artillery fire.
Recon planes.
Whereabouts of other Units:
PW saw the 2nd Div go through HWACH’ON (華川) on 2 Dec 50 heading toward YANGGU (楊口).
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
