ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2998 24 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MISD - 0211) 5 January 1951
| NAME: | LEE Hwa Song ( ) |
| AGE: | 29 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | 60mm Mortar-Ammo Bearer |
| UNIT: | 4th Field Army, 40th Army (Corps), 118th Div, 353rd Inf Regt, 2nd Bn, Hvy Weapons Co, 3rd Plat, 8th Sqd |
| DATE CAPTURED, PLACE: | Deserted in vic of TOKCHON NI on 021200 Jan 51 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| EDUCATION: | Primary (3 yrs) |
PW, a deserter, was cooperative during interrogation and information, although limited due to his low rank, is believed to be reliable.
He deserted his company and surrendered to UN Forces because of his hatred of the CCF. His father was killed by the 8th Route Army in Manchuria because he was formerly a member of the Chinese Nationalist Army.
a. The 40th CCF Army consisted of the 118th, 119th and 120th Div. It entered KOREA at SINUIJU o/a 1 Nov 50 and travelled in a SE direction for approx 40 kms where the 118th Div separated and proceeded to the SE, the 199th Div to the right, while the 120th Div turned to the left. The 118th Div then travelled over mountain trails and passed through P’YONGYANG o/a 24 Dec 50. From here it took mountain trails and arrived at their jumping off point on 1 Jan 51.
b. 118th Div, which consisted of the 353rd, 354th, and the 355th Inf Regts (3 Rifle Bns of 400 men each. Each Bn consisted of 3 Rifle Companies of approx 100 men each and a heavy weapons company of 110-120 men) crossed the IMJIN River at approx 012200 Jan 51 at an unknown point and proceeded approx 8 kms south via mountain trails. Here the 353rd Regt, which spearheaded the drive contacted and engaged the enemy vic TOKCH’ON NI at 020300 Jan. At which time his company was forced to break contact with the enemy at approx 0700 hrs, when it suffered heavy casualties from enemy artillery. 20 to 30 men were killed and a larger number (No. unknown) wounded. During the utter confusion that followed (Unit commanders were trying desperately to reorganize their scattered troops) he deserted his company and proceeded south along a main road, to the west of which and running parallel was a railroad. After walking with a group of refugees, who appeared from the hills, for approx 8 kms, he was picked up by an enemy (ROK) vehicle at approx 1200 on 2 Jan 51. He had in his possession a UN surrender leaflet. PW believed that CP’s from Regt level on down accompanied the front line troops and is therefore unaware of the disposition and location of them, after contact was made with the enemy
c. PW heard from his battalion Cultural Officer that the 118th Div was assigned to the center of the 40th Army Sector with the 119th Div on its left flank and the 120 Div on its right flank.
PW heard from his battalion Cultural Officer that the 118th Divs mission was to attack southward to its front, after the 119th Div had enveloped the enemies right flank and the 120th Div enveloped their left flank. He stated that this was a fixed policy of the 40th Army in attacking an enemy.
d. PW heard from an officer that the 43rd CCF Army was deployed on the 40th Armies right flank and the 39th Army on its left flank.
e. Attached to the 40th Army was a Heavy Mortar Company with 4 Mortars, believed to be 120mm Mortars.
Attached to each Regt was a 82mm Mortar Company with 4 Mortars each.
PWs Heavy Weapons Co was armed with 9 x 60mm Mortars and 4 HMGs. Each Rifle Co carried 6 LMGs.
Each Rifleman was supplied with only 30 rds of ammo due to transportation difficulties encountered by enemy air attacks. Each man was armed with 2 or 3 Grenades. Each 60 mm Mortar had 10 shells, each LMG had 500 rds and each HMG 500-600 rds.
For the AC of S, G-2:
IIDA
