ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2993 24 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1287) 19 January 1951
| PW NAME: | KIM, Tae Hyon (金泰鉉) (김태현) |
| PW NUMBER: | 124447 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 18 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | NKA, 12th Div, 3rd Regt, 1st Bn |
| EDUCATION: | 5 yrs Middle School |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HONGCH’ON (洪川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 31 Dec 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, HAMGYONG NAMDO, TANCH’ON-GUN (咸鏡南道 端川郡) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Lt KWAK, Sang Su (ROKA) |
Intelligent, cooperative. Reliability - Good.
a. Chronology:
7 Jul 50: Enlisted in NKA as a private at HAMHUNG (咸興) and started for SEOUL by train.
13 Jul 50: Arrived SEOUL and assigned to the 101st Independent Regt which was part of the North Korean guard Hqs. (北朝鮮 警備司令部).
16 Jul 50: Moved to WONJU (原州) by train and rifle marksmanship for one week.
End of Jul 50: Moved to a place 30 km E of YONGYANG (英陽) on foot and trained for two weeks.
9 Aug 50: Moved to KIGYE (杞溪) on foot. Engaged ROK Army three times. 101st Regt suffered 30% casualties.
20 Sep 50: Arrived ANGANG (安康) and started to retreat.
End of Oct 50: Arrived KANGGYE (江界) via CHUNCHON (春川) and MAENGSAN. Trained for a month. 101st Regt was deactivated and PW was transferred to the 12th Div strength about 5,000.
25 Nov 50: Received supplies of small arms, ammunition and winter clothes and started southward on foot.
30 Dec 50: Arrived HONGCH’ON (洪川). No combat.
31 Dec 50: Captured by US troops vicinity of HONGCH’ON (洪川).
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
| Unit | T/O | Present Strength (31 Dec 50) |
| 12th Div | 5,000 | 4,700 |
| 1st Regt | 1,500 | unk |
| 2nd Regt | 1,500 | unk |
| 3rd Regt | 1,500 | 1,400 |
| Recon Co | 80 | unk |
| Medic Co | 80 | 80 |
Organization of the 12th Division:
There were three Regts, a medical company and a reconnaissance company, comprising the division. Three battalions, a guard platoon, a recon platoon, a sanitary platoon and a stretcher platoon made up one Regt. There were three companies, a HMG company and a 82mm mortar company in one battalion.
Equipment:
82mm Mortars: 5 in each 82mm Mortar Co. Russian made.
7.62mm M-1910 HMGs: One in each HMG Co. Russian made.
7.62mm “DEGTYAREV” DP LMGs: 4 or 5 in each Inf Co.
7.62mm “SHPAGIN” PPSH M-1941 SMGs: 3 in each plat.
Usually squad leaders carried them.
7.62mm “MOSSIN-NAGANT” M-1891/30 Rifle: 1 per man.
No American weapons. Unit received all equipment at KANGGYE (江界), KOREA.
c. Unit History:
12th Div was originally organized at KANGGYE (江界). The 7th Div and the 101st Independent Regt belonging to the North Korean Guard Hqs were absorbed by the 12th Div. Division consisted of three Inf Regt (1st, 2nd and 3rd), Recon company and Medical company, at total of about 5,000 troops.
d. Personalities:
CH’OE, A Lip (崔아立) (최아립), Maj Gen (少將)
Age: About 30, CG, 12th Div. He was formerly with the 8th Route Army in MANCHURIA. Before being CG of 12th Div, he was CG of 7th Div.
e. Disposition:
When last observed (30 Dec 50) 12th Div was about 4 km N of HONGCH’ON (洪川) perimeter and was moving toward HONGCH’ON (洪川). 1st Regt leading, 3rd Regt center.
f. Intentions:
12th Div was to attack HONGCH’ON (洪川) 31 Dec 50.
g. Morale:
High - Because of the various spoils of victory which they can get when they occupy a place. EM were always talking about spoils which will come with their victory.
h. Supply:
Each men carried 3 days ration and 300 rds for the 7.62 M-1891/30 rifle.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
