ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3139 3 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD #3 - 0009) 20 January 1951
| PW NAME: | LEE, Pyong Sop (李炳■) (이병섭) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 21 |
| PW NO: | 2276 |
| DUTY: | Unk |
| UNIT: | 10th Div, 29th Regt, 2nd Bn, 5th Co, 2nd Plat |
| BIRTH PLACE: | PANPYONG-NI, WONDONG-MYON, KUMHWA-GUN, KANGWON-DO (江原道 金化郡 遠東面 ■坪里) |
| PRESENT ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 16 Jan 51 |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | MACHONDONG (馬村洞) |
| EDUCATION: | 5 yrs primary school |
| PHYSICAL CONDITION: | Good |
| LENGTH OF SERVICE: | 1 mo |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pfc TSUDA |
PW spoke freely and was cooperative. Report obtained seems to be fairly reliable.
O/a 21 Dec 50 - PW was inducted into NKA at his home address.
O/a 24 Dec 50 - Upon completion of physical examination, PW was assigned to 10th Div, 29th Regt, 2nd Bn, 5th Co, 2nd Plat which was located at YANGU-GUN, KANGWON-DO (江原道楊口郡). At night, the 10th Div commenced marching southward.
O/a 1 Jan 51 - The 10th Div arrived at WONJU (原州) after marching mainly at night. The 10th Div continued marching southward.
5 Jan 51 - The 1st Bn of the 27th Regt made contact with the UN troops at MUNGYON-GUN (聞慶郡) and suffered heavy casualties. PW heard that the casualties were approximately one-third.
16 Jan 51 - PW deserted his unit at MACHONDONG (馬村洞) and was captured by ROK MPs.
PW believes that the 10th Div had only two regiments; 27th Regt and 29th Regt. The 29th Regt consisted of only two battalions. Each battalion of the 29th Regt consisted of three companies, and each company of three platoons.
PW does not know the original strength of the 10th Div but the total strength was said to be 4,500 as of 16 Jan 51; 2,500 in 27th Regt and 2,000 in 29th Regt.
In PW’s company there were 2 x 82mm mortars (Russian made), 2 HMGs, 4 LMGs, 3 PPsh SMGs, and about 30 rifles. PW believes that all the companies in the 29th Regt were similarly armed. He was told that the troops in the 27th Regt were 50% armed while the troops in 29th Regt were 30% armed.
Ammunition was rather scarce; on an average, there were five rounds to a mortar, 250 rounds to a HMG, 200 rounds to a LMG, and 15 rounds per rifleman. Each man had one hand grenade.
PW heard from his platoon leader that the mission for 10th Div was to attack ANDONG (安東) from the north and advance toward PUSAN (釜山). When and how it was to be carried out was unknown.
There was no means of ammunition supply for the 10th Division. Troops firing was limited. They were told that the limit was five rounds unless otherwise ordered. They were told “Keep it down to three.” They also suffered shortage of food. Food was confiscated from the local villages.
Due to the shortage of food, clothing and ammunition, morale was very low. Tendency to desertion was growing greater, but the strict eyes of the superiors kept them from deserting.
PW believes that the 10th Div consisted mainly of untried troops.
For the Commanding Officer:
TEN EYCK
