ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2991 24 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1285) 19 January 1951
| PW NAME: | LEE, Tae Won (李泰源) (이태원) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 114500 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 20 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | NKA, II Corps, 31st Div, 3rd Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co, 2nd Plat |
| EDUCATION: | 6 years Primary School; 6 yrs Middle School |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HWACH’ON (華川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 28 Dec 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, KYONGSANG PUKTO, KYONGJU-GUN, KANGDONG-MYON 164, YANGDONG-NI (慶尙北道 慶州郡 江東面 良洞里 164番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl SAKAI (ATIS) |
PW was cooperative, but vague. Information is considered fairly reliable.
a. Chronology:
8 Sep 50: Inducted into the NKA at SEOUL. Received 15 days of basic training in the vicinity of SEOUL.
25 Sep 50: Assigned to 3rd Bn, 3rd Regt, 31st Div. Unit began retreat north.
O/a 5 Nov 50: Unit arrived at PONGSAN-MYON (風山面) located near the Manchurian border.
6 Nov 50: Unit, numbering approx 450 men, received new issue of clothing.
10 Nov 50: Reorganization and regrouping. Unit was redesignated the 1st Bn, 3rd Regt.
20 Nov 50: The 31st Division started its march southward taking high-way passing through CHONCH’ON (前川), NAMHUNDONG (南興洞) and SINPUNG (新豊). The mountain road was taken from this point and the unit passed a hot spring located near the provincial boundry of P’YONGAN PUKTO, HAMGYONG NAMDO. Unit traveled in a SSE direction and passed the vicinity of CHUNGHUNG-NI (中興里), vicinity of SONG-NI (城里), crossed the P’YONGWON (平原) RR tracks in the vicinity of INHUNG-NI (伊興里) and arrived at SUSAN-NI (秀山里). The unit proceeded to MAJON-NI (馬轉里), and headed for ICH’ON (伊川), then to P’YONGGANG (平康), KUMHWA (金化) and arrived at HWACH’ON o/a 25 Dec 50.
26 Dec 50: 1st Bn, 3rd Regt occupied a hill after leaving the high-way between HWACH’ON and YANGGU (楊口).
28 Dec 50: PW was captured by ROK troops in the vicinity of the hill after two days of battle.
b. Unit Organization and Strength: (6 Dec 50)
1st Bn, 3rd Regt, 31st Div, 2nd Corps.
| 3 Rifle Co’s | approx 100 men per company |
| 1 HMG Co | 36 men |
| 1 Mortar Co | 36 men |
| 1 Recon Plat | 10 men |
| 1 Signal Plat | 12 men |
| 1 Supply Play | 10 men |
| 1 Anti-tank Rifle Plat | 20 men |
| 1 Medical Plat | unk |
| Approx Total 450 men |
3rd Regt, 31st Div. Code name HALLASAN (漢羅山).
| 3 Bns | approx 450 men per Bn |
| Signal Co | unk |
| Recon Co | unk |
| Hq Regt’l Rear | unk |
| Medics | 30 men |
| Approx Total 1,450 men |
31st Div, 2nd Corps. Code No. 684
| 3 Regts | approx 1,450 men per Regt |
c. Equipment: (26 Dec 50)
1st Co, 1st Bn, 3rd Regt, 31st Div.
2 LMGs
40 M-1 Rifles
27 Russian Rifles
30 Jap M-99 M-1938
d. Intention:
Prior to leaving PONGSAN-MYON, the Regimental CO told his troops that their mission was to get to the rear of the UN troops to cut off the UN supply lines and route of retreat. No location or destination was given.
e. Replacements:
At KUMHWA o/a 20 Dec 50, the 31st Div consolidated its personnel and formed the 3rd Regt. The replacements for the 1st and 2nd Regt were members of the 15th Inf Div.
f. Supply:
Food for the troops were procured locally from the villages in which the troops were billeted. Each soldier carried a three days’ supply of rice as emergency rations.
Ammo was not issued since leaving PONGSAN-MYON. Intended to supplement their ammo by capturing enemy weapons and ammo.
g. General:
Camouflage:
Reversible uniforms were turned whiteside out when it snowed to blend with the area. Troops were quartered in villages during the day and did most of their marching under cover of darkness.
Troops were never quartered in school houses since they were primary air strafing targets.
UN PW:
O/a 10 Nov 50, the Bn CO gave a talk to encourage the troops. During this talk he mentioned the fact that all UN PsW were transferred safely from SEOUL to MANP’OJIN (滿浦鎭) which is a town located on the border of KOREA and MANCHURIA.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
