ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3262 9 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MISD - 0231) 29 January 1951
| NAME: | HONG, Sang Dae (洪相泰) |
| AGE: | 19 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| UNIT: | CHIRI SAN Guerrilla Unit - Present name: Korean Guerrilla South Sector Army, People’s Army Brig, 1st Sector Co, 3rd Plat, 3rd Sqd |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| OCCUPATION: | Teacher |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School (2 yr) |
| NATIONALITY: | South Korean |
| DATE & PLACE CAPTURED: | KALPYONG NI (DR2671) 280700 Jan 51 |
PW was very cooperative during interrogation. He was fairly intelligent and seems to have given all information within his knowledge. Not recommended for further interrogation.
a. Chronology:
PW conscripted into the NKA 18 Sep 50 at KUMCH’ON and was assigned to the II Corps, 6th Div, Replacement Bn. The Bn strength was about 2,000. He joined the unit while it was retreating and arrived at HUPYONG NI (DS3694) about 25 days later. Upon arrival the unit could account for only approx 200 of the original 2,000. Those lost during the retreat were either wounded, killed or deserted. After about one week of rest, the 200 were reassigned to the CHIRI SAN Guerrilla Unit, o/a 29 Oct 50. With another group of men they received training and political education for approx 10 days.
O/a 11 Nov 50, the unit (w/approx 850-860 men) headed S and arrived at HAJINBU RI (DS6165) o/a 26 Nov 50. There, the unit ambushed a police station and occupied the town. They captured nine mortars (81mm) w/200 rd of ammo, 30 rifles and 2 LMG. They then proceeded S the same day, arriving at TAEBAEK SAN o/a 5 Dec 50. En route, the unit ambushed a village. O/a 6 Dec 50, the Guerrilla Unit left TAEBAEK SAN and arrived vic CHUNGNYONG (DR500831) via SOBAEK SAN, on 15 Dec 50. The unit remained about 10 days. During this period he heard that elements of his unit ambushed CHUNGNYONG and TANYANG (DR395873).
O/a 25 Dec 50 the unit left CHUNGNYONG and arrived at BOLCHON NI (DR356786) o/a 2 Jan 51, through unk villages and mountain trails where they rested for about 10 days. O/a 13 Jan 51, they departed and arrived at MYONGJON NI (DR332768) the fol day. 15 Jan 51, the unit left and passed through approx 5 unk villages and returned to MYONGJON NI, on 262200 Jan 51. They were engaged by the enemy while passing each of the above villages. The unit circled each village approx three times with the enemy in pursuit. O/a 270200 Jan 51, the unit departed for KALPYONG NI. He and another were left behind on duty as mess helpers. They caught up with their unit at TAE MI SAN (DR303738) on 280100 Jan 51. After a night’s rest, the unit arrived at KWA NUM NI (DR227735) on 280200 Jan 51. It then departed for MIRUNG NI (DR198748) on 280400 Jan 51. PW and one wounded 10th Div soldier entered a house and slept there until 280500 Jan 51. Upon waking he mentioned to the house owner of his desire to surrender, whereupon the house owner told him he would contact the nearest police. At 0800 hr on 28 Jan 51 the police from KALPYONG NI came for him.
b. Organization and Strength:
Present strength of the Guerrilla Unit approx 500-600. This unit was composed as follows:
| Liberation Unit (Former Hq Unit) | 50 |
| Investigation Unit (Former Staff Unit) | 50 |
| Revolution Unit | 100 |
| One Scout Unit | 7-8 |
| 505 Unit | 50 |
| 506 Unit | 50 |
| 507 Unit | 50 |
| 508 Unit | 50 |
| People’s Unit | 100 |
8 Medical Officers, 12 Aids and about 12 nurses were in the PW unit. 30 other women were engaged in propaganda work, as well as helping to prepare meals for the troops.
His unit consisted of troops mostly from the NKA 6th Div; political groups, former guerrillas, forced volunteers and about 10 former ROKA soldiers.
c. Location of PW Own Unit:
280400 Jan 51, the Guerrilla Unit headed for MIRUNG NI (DR1975).
d. Other Units:
O/a 2 Jan 51, he observed elements of the NKA 10th Div moving on the road between (DR312811) and (DR322798). The head and rear columns moved in single file while the rest marched two or three abreast. He estimated over 12,000. He observed approx 15x81mm and 60mm Mortars, two HMG and many LMG. All troops were equipped with rifles. Majority of the troops carried two Hand Grenades. He did not observe any Arty or armor. He heard from a member of the Investigation Unit of his Guerrilla Unit that:
(1) 10th Div had radio communication.
(2) 6th Div was heading toward YONGJU (DR6675) area.
(3) Liaison was maintained between 10th and 6th Div by radio communication.
(4) 7th, 10th, 31st, 2nd Div and another unk Div took the same route, following 6th Div.
(5) All Div mentioned above had radio communication.
PW observed about 200 sick and wounded (10th Div) NKA troops o/a 7 Jan 51 at vic CHANGGI (DR391692). 60 of these wounded were from his own unit who were returned to the Guerrilla Unit Hq. The majority of them were wounded. PW unit had to take care of these wounded. At present, only 15 remained of the above 60 wounded soldiers.
e. Weapons:
PW Guerrilla Unit was equipped with the following:
| Arms | Ammo |
| 2 81mm Mortars | |
| 4 60mm Mortars | |
| 2 HMG | 600-700 rd |
| 14 to 18 LMG | |
| M-1 Rifles | Approx 30 rd |
| Caroines | |
| PPsh SMG | Approx 72 rd |
| Russ Rifles | Approx 60 rd |
| 99 Rifles | Approx 100 rd |
| 38 Rifles | Approx 100 rd |
| Grease Guns | |
| One AA Gun (US) |
Captured Carbines and M3 SMG were carried only by officers. There were only enough Hand Grenades to issue one per two men. O/a 12 Oct 50, when the unit was organised at HUPYONG NI, they did not receive T/E amount of weapons. The weapons increased in number each time they ambushed a village. At present, they have many soldiers armed with two rifles but lacking ammo.
f. Mission:
When the unit departed HUPYONG NI, their mission was to proceed to CHIRI SAN to disrupt the enemy rear and to maintain liaison with 6th Div. This liaison was not possible. The present mission was to select the enemy’s weak spots and to ambush them. However, lately, the unit has been surrounded by the enemy or engaged with strong enemy forces resulting in inactivity.
g. Personalities:
CHO, FNU, Guerrilla Unit CO, age 50, a S Korean.
KIM, Chae Hyon, People’s Unit CO, age 35, a S Korean.
h. UN Prisoners:
O/a 23 Dec 50, vic CHUNGNYONG, observed 5 US prisoners, who were captured by his Guerrilla Unit at CHUNGNYONG. He heard later from one of his friends that they were released.
He heard these 5 prisoners were on a tank when captured. Two other US personnel of the tank crew were killed by Hand Grenades which damaged the tank.
He observed 2 US PW o/a 6 Jan 51 at MIRUNG NI and heard they were released.
i. Morale:
Morale among the troops is very low at present because of food shortage, frostbite and many suffering from fever.
j. Ration:
Food situation was very bad. Up to about 5 days ago, they were fed 3 times daily but of late were fed only once a day. Food was confiscated from villagers.
k. Typhoid Fever:
23 Jan 51, when PW and 3 others entered SADONG NI (DR476776) to search for food, they noticed that the majority of the people (70%) were suffering from Typhoid Fever.
For the AC of S, G-2:
IIDA
