ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3368 15 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (521 - MISDI - 0389) 4 February 1951
| NAME: | CHAE, Chong Un |
| AGE: | 20 |
| RANK: | Jr Lt |
| DUTY: | Plat Ldr |
| UNIT: | 12th Div, Engr Co, 1st Plat |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 2 Feb 51 |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CHUNGJU (DR 0591) |
| CAPTURED BY: | 17th ROK Regt |
| INTERROGATOR: | TANIGUCHI |
PW showed signs of fear, but became very cooperative and talked freely when he was given cigarettes and candy. Reliability: Good.
a. Chronology:
May 49: Inducted CHONGJIN and assigned 9th Div.
Oct 50: Assigned 12th Div after PW became separated from 9th Div at KANGGYE.
Nov 50: 12th Div dep KANGGYE.
Late Dec 50: Div arr WONJU (DS 0833) via YANGGU (DT 1128) and HONGCHON (DS 0271).
Early Jan 51: 12th Div retreated to SAEDON (DS 0484) after encountering UN forces.
26 Jan 51: PW and 5 EM dep SAEDON on recon mission.
27 Jan 51: Group arr SANHYON RI (12 km north of HUNGOM NI (DS0429)), where 2nd Regt, 12th Div was situated.
28 Jan 51: Patrol arr SAJAE RI (1 km S of Hill 598 (CS2899)) and began surveillance of HUNGOM NI (DS 0429). 3 of the men advanced south ahead of the others and they were captured. PW and 2 others returned SANHYON RI.
29 Jan 51: The group dep SANHYON RI and arr SAJAE RI, where one man deserted. PW and companion disguised as refugees when captured by UN troops and taken to refugee assembly area at HUNGOM NI.
2 Feb 51: Taken to CHUNGJU, where they were as NK soldiers at a check point.
b. Mission:
PW dispatched by Co CO to obtain the following info:
(1) Unit designation, location, strength and equipment of all US and ROK units in area between WONJU and CHUNGJU.
(2) Damaged bridges between WONJU and CHUNGJU, and estimated amount of material needed for their repair.
(3) UN arty positions between WONJU and CHONGJU.
(4) Location, number and type of planes and installations. Location and approx date of completion of airfields under construction.
PW and others to report back to SAEDON by 7 Feb 51.
c. Intentions of 12th Div:
(1) To capture CHUNGJU.
(2) To engage in guerrilla activities after capture of CHUNGJU.
d. Organization, Personnel and Weapons:
V Corps: 6th, 7th, 12th Div, Engr Bn.
12th Div: 3 Inf Regt, Med Co (90 men), Defense Plat (20 men), Comm Co (50 men with 3 Russ radios and transmitters and 15 field telephones), Recon Co (40 men with 1 Russ radio and transmitter), Engr Co (50 men with 100 AT mines, 200 grenades and unk amount of dynamite) and Security Co (50 men with 15 horses).
Regt: 3 Bn and a Med Plat with 30 men.
Bn: 3 Rifle Co, 1 Recon Plat (30 men with 2-3x 82mm mortars).
Co: 3 Plat (25-30 men) and 1 Supply Plat (20 men); Rifle Co had 1 HMG and 3 LMG.
e. Location of regt:
1st Regt: 4 km N of WONJU (26 Jan 51)
2nd Regt: SANHYON Ri (12 km N of HUNGOM Ni (DS 0429) (28 Jan 51)
3rd Regt: SAEDON (DS 0484) (26 Jan 51)
12th Div Hq: SAEDON (26 Jan 51)
f. Medical: 12th Div
Approx 500 from Nov 50 to date of capture.
KIA at WONJU: 400
Frozen to death: 20
Sickness: Diarrhea, typhus, and cholera: 20 dead. Symptoms a sudden high fever and swelling of the entire body; afflicted ■...■ HONGCHON (DS 0271).
g. UN PW:
PW observed approx 100 US and 1,000 ROK PW at YUNGAJI KOGE (mt pass 16 km due south of WONJU) marching north early Jan 51. Heard they were being taken to HONGCHON. All US PW wore pile or field jackets with pile caps. Observed 5 wounded (walking cases). All PW appeared clean and neat. No patches or insignia observed.
h. Supply:
Each man received 300 rd of ammo at SAEDON (DS 0484) and all troops were issued winter clothing.
i. Morale: Relatively high.
j. Additional Information:
Special Orders issued by KIM, Il Sung, 15 Jan 51:
(1) All Div will not contact enemy, they will reorganize, obtain replacements, and resupply during Jan and Feb 51.
(2) Recon patrols will be dispatched and information on enemy unit strengths, location and equipment will be obtained.
(3) All Div will be ready to go into offensive in Mar 51.
k. Personalities:
CH'OE, Rin Ah (1 star general); Age: 50, 12th Div CG
PAK, Tae Won; Capt; Age: 25, CO, Engr Co
For the AC of S, G-2:
SINGLETON
