ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 2952 22 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD #1 – 0322) 17 January 1951
| PW NAME: | BYONG, Ok Sun (邊玉順) (변옥순) (Female) |
| RANK: | Sgt (上士) |
| AGE: | 19 |
| DUTY: | Nurse |
| UNIT: | Guerrilla Unit |
| EDUCATION: | 5 years Primary School |
| OCCUPATION: | None |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | PONGWHA (奉化) approx. 37° N, 128° 50’ E |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 3 Jan 51 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KYONGSANG-PUKDO, SANG-JU-GUN, RAKDONG-MYON, YUKOK-RI (慶尙北道 尙州郡 洛東面 有谷里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG-NAMDO, HAMHUNG, TONGMUN-NI 27 (咸鏡南道 咸興市 東門里 27番地) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl T. KATO (ATIS) |
PW talked freely. Information seems to be fairly reliable.
Chronology
Apr 48 – PW came to KOREA from LIAOYANG-SHENG, SSUPHING-HSIEN in MANCHURIA with her parents.
Aug 48 – Entered Army Nurses school in P’YONGYANG and studied for three months. PW was attached to the Army hospital in P’YONGYANG as a nurse.
Sep 50 – Stationed in YONGDONG (永同) with Rear Service Hospital as nurse. Unit withdrew to TAEJON as the UN offensive started and scattered at that point. PW escaped into the hills where she met a band of guerrillas. This band of approximately 400 men, later split up into bands of 100 men hid in the mountains, gradually moving northward.
3 Jan 51 – PW got tired of guerrilla life, came out of the hills (CHANG-KUM BONG-SAN (長金奉山)) and surrendered to the local police at PONGWHA approximately 12 km N of the mountain.
Guerrilla Units (as of 31 Dec 50)
Approximately 200 men, mostly armed with Russian carbines, submachine guns, and LMG’s, were located on CHANGKUMBONG-SAN mountain. The only ammunition in the unit was that carried by the individual and this was expended carefully.
During raids on villages, if the local police fired back or attacked, the unit withdrew to attack some unarmed village. These raids were principally to gather food.
The unit was well organized with a leader and platoon and squad leaders.
This unit of 200 men, which could very easily split into two x 100 man units and carry on, was one part of a 400 man unit. The location of the other 200 men unit was unknown, but the CO of this unit had overall control over the 400 men. A shortwave radio was at headquarters and information that harassing action should be conducted, was delivered by runners.
The other 200 men unit was called the KYONGSANG PUKTO ARMY GROUP (慶尙北道 兵団) and the PW’s unit the KYONGSANG PUKTO GROUP (慶尙北道団).
Other Guerrillas.
Approximately 2,500 men, called the CHIRI-SAN UNIT (知里山 部隊) were seen o/a 1 Dec 50 in the hills near SOBAEK (西白). The local police were engaged in action, while this unit went through this village going South.
Fellow guerrillas were heard talking about the fact that this unit was well armed, including mortars.
Remarks:
Food was obtained, usually by force, from farmers who were too frightened to resist.
No new members were allowed into the unit for fear of spies. Strict security measures were taken to keep from revealing each other name. Getting “friendly” with each other was discouraged and even though PW was the only female, she did not receive special treatment.
Though PW’s (usually the local police) were taken, these were later released after they (the police) promised to go back to farming.
Reason given for her desertion was:
1. PW was lonely and homesick for her parents.
2. PW was very weak physically and could not keep up with the unit.
3. Grew to hate what the guerrillas were doing and what they stood for.
For the Commanding Officer:
BATEMAN
