ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3207 7 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1433) 29 January 1951
| PW NAME: | KIM, Kyong Son (金京孫) (김경손) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGANIZATION: | 8th Div, 3rd Regt, Recon Plat, 2nd Squad. |
| DUTIES: | Sub-machine gunner |
| EDUCATION: | 6 years |
| AGE: | 21 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | HWANGHAE DO, SOHUNG GUN, SOHUNG MYON, OUN NI, #375 (黃海道 瑞興郡 瑞興面 五雲里 37番地) |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 251000 I Jan 51, in an unidentified village approx 8 Km southeast of SUWON (CS 2539) |
| INTERROGATOR: | G.W.A |
| INTERROGATED AT: | HAYANG (DQ 8374) |
Cooperative. PW seemed to be in good physical condition and was happy about the humane treatment afforded him by UN troops.
PW had little opportunity to observe the activities of his division but was able to recall details about those things that he did see and hear.
Information, although somewhat limited, appears to be reliable.
8th Rifle Division: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Rifle Regiments, Communications Co, Engr Plat, Medical Plat, Supply Plat, Guard Plat, and Recon Company.
3rd Rifle Regiment: 3 Rifle Bn, Recon Plat, and other units.
Recon Platoon, 3rd Regt: 4 squads. Each Squad has 8 men.
Recon Plat, 3rd Regt, 3th Division
| Personnel: | Original(Nov 50) | present(12 Jan 51) |
| EM | 35 | 35 |
| Officers | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 36 | 36 |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| PPsh SMG | 30 (200 rd ea) | 30 (200 rd ea) |
| Pistol | 1 | 1 |
| Hand Grenades | 2 per man | 2 per man |
| Magnetic Compass | 3 | 3 |
| Map of Korea (Scale: 1,2000,000) | ||
| Flash Light | 1 | 1 |
As of 8 Jan 51, the 8th Division was located in and around on unidentified village approx 4 Km southeast of YONGDUNGP’O.
As of 12 Jan 51, the Recon Platoon of the 8th Division was bivouaced in an unidentified village approx 6 Km Southeast of ANYANG NI (on the SEOUL - SUWON Highway).
Usually the main body of the 8th Division follows its leading Recon Platoon at 100 meters distance while marching at night.
PW was conscripted into the 8th NKA Division 21 Nov 50 at CH’OSAN (YF 3624). There be received 10 days training in close order drill.
PW departed From CH’OSAN on 10 Dec 50 with 8th Division, marched (at night only) in a column of two’s over roads, and travelled via following route:
| DEPARTED | DATE | MODE OF TRAVEL | ARRIVED | DATE |
| CH’OSAN | 10 Dec 50 | Marched | SUNCHON (YD 5267) | Dec 50 |
| SUNCHON | Dec 50 | Marched | SARIWON (YE 4065) | Dec 50 |
| SARIWON | Dec 50 | Marched | KUMCHON (BT 7926) | Dec 50 |
| KUMCHON | Dec 50 | Marched | KAESONG (BT 8805) | Dec 50 |
| KAESONG | 1 Dec 50 | Marched | SEOUL (CS 2058) | 4 Jan 51 |
| SEOUL | 5 Jan 51 | Marched | YONGDUNGP’O (CS 1555) | 5 Jan 51 |
PW departed from YONGDUNGP’O the night of 6 Jan 51 with the 8th Division, marched over a small automobile road, and arrived in an unidentified village approx 4 Km southeast of YONGDUNGP’O 8 Jan 51. There the 8th Division halted, but PW proceeded with the 3rd Regiment’s Recon Platoon (36 men), marched over an automobile road and arrived approx 6 Km southeast of ANYANG NI (CS 1641) on the SEOUL - SUWON Highway on 10 Jan 51. There the Recon Platoon halted in an unidentified village and PW platoon leader ordered him to make a reconnaissance with 2 other EM of the area approx 20 Km south of SUWON. They were supposed to report back to their platoon within three days.
PW departed with two other EM from the unidentified village 6 Km southeast of ANYANG NI the night of 12 Jan 51, marched (at night only) over an automobile road and arrived at an unidentified village approx 8 Km southeast of SUWON 18 Jan 51. PW and the two other EM with him had no intention of returning to their unit, so they remained in the above mentioned village at a farmer’s house whose owner gave them food and shelter until approx 50 US soldiers entered the villages at 251000 I Jan 51. At that time PW surrendered immediately, his two comrades attempted to escape. One succeeded, the other was shot and shot and captured.
21 Nov 50, the 8th Division received 40 recent conscripts as replacements. At unknown dates prior to that, the division received such a large number of replacements that an estimated 90% of the division is now made up of personnel with less than 4 months military service.
Rations for the 8th Division are obtained by confiscating food from farmers.
Personnel of the 8th Division were issued cotton-padded winter uniforms at CH’OSAN Nov 50. It was rumored that these uniforms came from CHINA.
During the first part of Dec 50, the 8th Division received an unknown amount of small arms ammunition while the division was at CH’OSAN. Source of the ammo supplies was unknown.
PW believes that the 8th Division has no wireless sets although it has an unknown number of field telephones.
The morale of the 8th Division is fairly low because the division has no mortars or artillery, has only 2 HMG and lacks smell arms to issue every man a weapon. However, the divisions personnel are well physically fit, the cases of frostbite and other illnesses being small.
PW knows of no disease in the 8th Division. However, none of the personnel have received immunization during PW tour of duty with the division (21 Nov 50 to 12 Jan 51).
A few (less than 5%) of the 8th Division personnel are suffering from frostbite. All personnel are ambulatory.
a. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so, why?
a. PW surrendered because he was faced by 50 US soldiers and he saw no chance of escaping.
b. Did you see any UN leaflets or hear UN loudspeaker broadcasts?
a. No
c. Can you describe what they said?
a. No
d. What was your reaction to them?
a. Negative
e. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets or broadcasts? What did they say or do?
a. No
During the night of 7 Jan 51, PW observed 5 CCF soldiers approx 12 KM north of ANYANG NI. There were walking northward on the SUWON - SEOUL Highway.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
