ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3219 7 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1451) 30 January 1951
| PW NAME: | HO, Shu Chang (何■長) (CCF) |
| RANK: | Soldier |
| ORGANIZATION: | 50th Army, 148th Div, 42nd Regt, 2nd Bn, 4th Co, 60mm Mortar Squad |
| DUTIES: | 60mm Mortar puller |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| AGE: | 20 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | SSUCHUAN SHENG, "TSUTUNG" HSISN, TAIPIEG CHAN (四川省 others phonetic) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 271200 Ⅰ Jan 51 at CS1620 |
| INTERROGATOR: | H.N. |
| INTERROGATED AT: | HAYANG (DQ8374) |
PW was illiterate and could not write his own name.
Information although limited seems reliable.
50th Army: 146th and 2 other divisions.
148th Div: 42nd, 43rd and 44th Rifle Regt.
42nd Regiment: 3 Rifle Bn, Med Unit, Mortar Unit and Sig Unit.
2nd Battalion: 3 Rifle Co and HMG Co.
4th Company: 3 Rifle Plat, 60mm Mortar Sqd.
| 60mm Mortar Sqd: | Original (Nov 50) | Present (26 Jan 51) |
| Personnel: | 12 | 10 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| 60mm Mortars | 2 (45 rd total) | 2 (45 rd total) |
| 4th Co, 2nd Bn, 42nd Regt: | ||
| Personnel: | 120 | 105 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| LMG | 5 | 5 |
| Bangalore torpedoes | 6 | 6 |
| SMG | 7 | 7 |
| Rifles (Model Chinese) | 79, 70 (110 rd ea) | 70 (110 rd ea) |
| Handgrenade | 2 to 3 per man | 2 to 3 per man |
| Bugle | 1 | 1 |
| Signal Pistol | 1 | 1 |
| 2nd Bn, 42nd Regt: | ||
| Personnel: | 500 | Unk |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| HMG | 4 | Unk |
| 42nd Regt, 148th Div: | ||
| Personnel: | 1,800 | Unk |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| Mortars (larger than 60mm) | 4 | Unk |
Personnel losses were caused by illness and desertion.
PW company was never attacked from air (as of 26 Jan 51).
27 Jan 51 the 4th Co, 2nd Bn, 42nd Regt engaged in first combat in KOREA and suffered heavy losses.
27 Jan 51, the 4th Co, 2nd Bn, 42nd Regt engaged by UN units vic CS1620. PW unit retreated in disorder. Other units of the 2nd Bn, 42nd Regt on hills 1 km NE of PW co since 24 Jan 51.
27 Jan 51, the CO, 4th Co, stated that UN units would attack but that they would counter-attack.
PW inducted into CNA Aug 48 and assigned to CNA 108th Army, 22nd Div, Med Unit in SSUCHUAN SHENG.
PW captured by CCF during engagement between CNA 22nd Div and CCF units at SSUCHUAN SHENG Dec 49.
PW assigned to CCF 50th Army, 148th Div, 42nd Regt, Dec 49.
Jan 50, 146th Div departed SSUCHUAN SHENG and arrived HUPEI (湖北).
HUPEI SHENG 148th Div engaged in repair of railroads and railroad bridges.
Sep 50, the 148th Div departed HUPEI SHENG and arrived CHINAN (济南), Oct 50.
Oct 50, the 2nd Bn, 42nd Regt, 148th Div crossed the YALU River from CHINAN into KOREA.
2nd Bn, 42nd Regt marched S through P’YONGYANG and SEOUL, arriving at CS1620 on 24 Jan 51.
PW captured by US 35th RCT during first ground combat of the 2nd Bn in KOREA.
42nd Regt at CS 1620 on 27 Jan 51.
No replacements received by 148th Div since coming to KOREA.
Food procured from farmers.
Amount of food carried while marching depended on supply available.
Received no ammo since coming to KOREA.
Telephone used for communication at all echelons above battalion.
Lower echelons used runners.
Bugle calls of CNA are also used by the CCF.
Morale of the 148th Div troops very low due to lack of food, proper clothing, and weapons. Many former CNA troops were with the unit and their morale was very low because they lived better while with the CNA.
Diarrhea was prevalent in the 148th Div.
No immunizations had been received.
Few cases of frozen feet and frost bite were noticed in the 148th Div.
a. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so, why?
a. PW was captured.
b. Did you see any UN leaflets or hear UN loudspeaker broadcasts?
a. Yes.
c. Can you describe what they said?
a. No. PW cannot read.
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. Negative.
148th Div marched over mountain trails and main roads. Marches usually started from 2000 hours and ended before daybreak.
Bivouac areas were always on mountains. Foxholes (individual) were dug and troops slept in there.
One to three guards per platoon were posted as precaution against surprise ground attack.
PW unit never attacked.
PW was sleeping when they were attacked at CS1620. He was taken by surprise and captured.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
