ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3261 9 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MISD - 0226) 24 January 1951
| NAME: | Lee Ung Ju (李雄周) |
| AGE: | 30 |
| RANK: | Guerrilla |
| DUTY: | Guard |
| UNIT: | Korean Labor Party. CHONGJU City Branch, Guerrilla Bn, Security Plat. |
| DATE CAPTURED, PLACE: | Captured on 200800 Jan 51, at CHUJONG-NI (CR 7664) |
| OCCUPATION: | Radio News Reporter |
| EDUCATION: | NAKANO Higher Radio School, 2 years (Tokyo, Japan) |
PW cooperative during interrogation. Due to above average education, information seems reliable. However, since his unit was only a small organization operating in a limited area, and not in contact with other guerrilla units, information was limited. Not recommended for further interrogation.
a. Chronology:
PW was a radio operator for a newspaper firm in CHONGJU when it was occupied by the NKA. Fearing arrest by South Korean forces as a collaborator PW proceeded toward TAEJON to seek refuge. While enroute he stopped at IMBONG-NI (CS7553) and confessed his past, whereupon he was arrested and held a prisoner. 12 Oct 50 the local police were attacked by 20 men whom he later found were from the 2nd Co. When the guerrilla unit withdrew to the hills 4 km S of the village, PW and 4 others were taken along as members. They were joined the same day by 40 members of the 1st Co.
14 Oct 50, the group of approx 65 men arrived at PANGSA-RI, located approx 4 km S of CHONGJU. At 0900 hrs, the group was attacked by an unk number of ROK and US troops. The group scattered immediately. PW and 2 others proceeded through SANSONG-NI (CR6951) and mountain trails to PAEGAK Mountains (CS9858) where he heard the CHONGJU Guerrilla Bn Hq was located. However, upon arrival o/a 22 Oct 50, they were unable to contact the Bn Hq and therefore joined the 1st Det of the CHUNGCHON PUKTO Labor Party Guerrilla Unit, consisting of 30 to 35 men. PW remained there until o/a 15 Nov 50, when he was sent with 9 others to scout for food in HWABUNG-MYON (CR9947). Here the men were attacked by the South Korean Youth Security Unit the same day. The 10 men scattered and the PW wandered alone to the vic of SONGNI-SAN (CR9944).
O/a 20 Nov 50, he contacted a guerrilla from the Hq of the CHONGJU Guerrilla Bn, who informed him that his unit had moved from PAEGAK-SAN to SONGNI-SAN the same day. He joined the Hq unit of approximately 20 men, which included a security unit of 13 men. O/a 25 Dec 50, the 1st and 2nd Co (strength depleted to approx 20 men) rejoined the Hq Unit.
O/a 13 Jan 51, the Bn consisting of 38 men, departed SONGNI-SAN and arrived at OKHWA-RI, believed to be in the vic CR8355), on 141700 Jan 51 via SADAM-RI (CR9353) and SINWOL-LI (CR9154). O/a 151100 Jan 51, PW and two others were dispatched to reconnoiter KIBAWI, located approx 3 km W of OKHWA-RI, for armed enemy troops. The group arrived on the outskirts of the village 151230 Jan 51, and observed 15 South Korean Police patrolling the village. At 1300 hrs the 3 men withdrew to the top of MIDONG SAN, believed to be in the vic of (CR8556), arriving at 1400 hr, from where they observed their unit under attack at OKHWA RI by an undetermined number of South Korean Police. The engagement ended at 1500 hrs, when PW unit was believed to have withdrawn from the village. At 1600 hrs, his two companions descended the mountain to investigate the village while he himself, remained behind in fear of his personal safety. At 1700 hrs he descended the mountain towards KIBAWI with the intention of going to CHONGJU. On 190700 Jan 51 PW arrived at CHUJONG NI (CR7664) after travelling for 4 days through mountain trails in the vic of YONGYONG NI (CR5979). He ate breakfast at a civilian home and hid in the hill nearby until 1800 hr of the same day when he returned to the same house, ate supper and stayed for the night. The following day at 0800 hr, he was captured by the MIWON NI Police, who had been informed of the PW by the master of the house.
b. Organization:
PW heard the Korean Labor Party, CHONGJU City Branch Guerrilla Bn was organized at SANGONG NI on 24 Sep 50 by order of the CHONGJU Labor party head, who in turn received orders from the CHUNGCHON PUK-TO Labor Party head. At that time there were approx 200 men, organized into the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Co with two plat to each Co. The organization was built around the members of the CHONGJU Branch Labor Party. In addition able bodied men from organizations such as the Youth League and People’s Committee of CHONGJU were recruited.
The CHONGJU Branch Guerrilla Bn was under the CHUNGCHON PUK-TO Guerrilla Unit, however, the units worked independently of each other, due to lack of proper liaison.
Present strength of the 1st and 2nd Co was 38 men when last seen at OKHWA RI on 15 Jan 51. Those KIA or WIA and the constant scattering of the units when attacked by South Korean Police and other UN units resulted in the rapid depletion of these companies to 38 men.
22 Jan 51, PW heard from the MIWON NI Police, the remaining members of his Bn were operating in the MIWON NI area.
c. Mission:
His guerrilla unit was organized to preserve and protect members of the Labor (Communist) Party, in an anti-communist area. Its objective was self preservation, no liaison existed between NKA or CCF guerrillas. He believes his unit had insufficient weapons to disrupt the UN rear. However, if liaison with the NKA guerrillas was made, PW believes his unit would cooperate with them.
d. Personalities:
SIN, Chong sik (申章植), 30, Leader of CHONGJU City Labor Party Guerrilla Bn (Chief of CHONGJU City Labor Party), 5ft, slender.
He is believed to be with the remaining members of the 1st and 2nd Co of the CHONGJU Labor Party Guerrilla Bn in the MIWON NI area.
e. UN PW:
Aug 50, PW heard from a newspaper office worker (KIM YONG FUN-金鎔勳) that General DEAN was captured in the hills in the vic of CHONGJU (CQ6265) after being separated from units of 24th Div in the vic of TAEJON. He also heard the General passed through TAEJON o/a 15 Aug 50 while being taken to P’YONGYANG.
For the AC of S, G-2:
IIDA
