ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2959 23 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS – 1276) 16 January 1951
| PW NAME: | SONG, Yong Ch’un (宋榮春) (송영춘) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 25 |
| DUTY: | Mortar Man |
| UNIT: | NKA 12th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, Mortar Co |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | SOJA-MYON (召滋面) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 2 Jan 51 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, HAMGYONG NAMDO, CHANGJIN-GUN, CHUNGNAM-MYON, PAEKAM-NI (咸鏡南 長鎭郡 中南 白岩里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pfc MARUMOTO (ATIS) |
Cooperative but uninformed, memory fair. Reliability – Fair.
a. Chronology:
7 Jul 50 – Conscripted into the NKA at KAESONG (開城) and assigned to the 9th Div, Arty Regt, 2nd Bn.
26 Sep 50 – Retreated from the vicinity of MIRYANG (寧陽).
8 Nov 50 – Assigned to the reorganized 12th Div, 3rd Regt, 3rd Bn, Mortar Co at KANGGYE (江界).
12 Dec 50 – Left KANGGYE (江界).
27 Dec 50 – Arrived in the vicinity of HONGCH’ON (洪川).
29 Dec 50 – 2 Jan 51 – Hospitalized in the Bn field hospital because of frostbitten feet.
2 Jan 51 – Unit started toward SEOUL. Captured at SOJA-MYON (石滋面).
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
12th Div: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Arty Regts.
3rd Regt: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bns.
3rd Bn: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Rifle Co’s, Mortar Co and HMG Co.
Each Co had 3 Plats.
Each Plat had 3 Sqds.
Strength as of 29 Dec 50: 3rd Regt – 2,000.
Arms:
Mortar Co: 2 x 82mm M1936 and M1937 battalion mortars.
c. Unit History:
After heavy losses in the retreat in Sep 50, the 12th Div was reorganized Nov 50 at KANGGYE (江界) utilizing elements of the 12th, 9th and 7th Divisions.
d. Communications:
Company and below: Runners.
Battalion: Field phones.
e. Morale:
Low because of exhaustion and cold.
f. Replacements:
No replacements were received after reorganization in Nov 50.
g. Supply:
Each man carried 3 days rations and 300 rounds for small arms. 110 rounds mortar ammo in the company.
Weapon Feared Most:
Napalm bomb.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
