ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3137 3 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD #3-0006) UNK
| PW NAME: | KANG Tong Ch’ol (姜東喆) (강동철) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| DUTY: | Laborer (Hauling of food supplies) |
| UNIT: | 7th Div Arty Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Btry |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, CHONGSONG-GUN, PUNGGOK-MYON, TONGPO-RI (咸北道 鐘城郡 豊谷面 東浦里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| AGE: | 20 |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (2 yrs) |
| LENGTH OF SERVICE: | 2 mos |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt SASAKI |
Though PW was cooperative, he appeared to be in a weaken condition due to wound in left arm and could not recall the dates. He lacked detailed information. Reliability, fair.
13 Nov 50 - Inducted at HOERYONG (會寧) into 1st Bn of Arty Regt, 7th Division.
18 Nov 50 - The 1st Bn together with other NKA units departed HOERYONG by train and arrived at WONSAN (元山) about 10 days later. Movement was slow due to air attacks and they travelled only at night. At WONSAN the 1st Bn alone detrained and the other NKA units continued travelling south. After spending one day at WONSAN the 1st Bn alone departed WONSAN on foot. After travelling for several nights the 1st Bn arrived at HWACH’ON (化川). Here at HWACHON the Bn rested for about 3 days. And after this rest period at HWACHON the 1st Bn alone departed and arrived at CHUNCH’ON (春川) about 2 days later and bivouacked in nearby mountains.
29 Dec 50 - After 5 days of rest at CHUNCH’ON the 1st Bn alone departed and continued marching south. AT HONGCHON (洪川) PW observed an estimated 1 Regiment of NKA troops resting along the road.
15 Jan 51 - 1st Bn arrived at TANYANG (丹陽) during the early morning hours. Here PW and another fellow soldier became separated from their unit while sleeping alongside the road when they were captured by UN troops this date. 1st Bn was believed to have climbed nearby mountain to make camp.
7th Div:
Arty Regt - “IMJIN GANG” (臨津江)
1st Bn - “CHONCH’ON GANG” (淸川江)
PW believes the code names were changed frequently as the above units moved southward.
HAN Myong Son (Unk) (한명수); About 25; Capt (?); 1st Bn CO.
CHI Yul Su (Unk) (지을수); About 26; Sr Lt; CO, 1st Btry.
6. ORGANIZATION:PW could not give detail information on the organization and strength of the 7th Div. He believes that there are 2 Rifle Regts and 1 Arty Regt in the 7th Div.
The artillery regiment was poorly armed and PW observed only one 81mm mortar with about 5 rounds of ammo and 1 LMG in his battalion. There was one telephone at Bn CP but no vehicles. The men were provided with Russian type rifles, approx 50 rounds of ammo and one hand grenade each.
Morale was low, due to exhausting marches, cold, lack of sleep, and insufficient food. The food was of poor quality and usually they ate only 2 meals per day. Although the men did not talk about it was they were closely watched by the officers PW believed that most of them have no desire to fight and wanted to escape.
At HOERYONG (會寧) PW observed approximate 100 ROK PsW. These PsW seem to be free to roam around and PW heard that they were receiving some kind of training by their captors. These ROK PsW wore ROK summer uniforms.
Mission of the 1st Battalion was unknown. The whereabouts of the other 7th Div units unknown.
For the Commanding Officer:
TEN EYCK
