ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3383 16 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (163-MISDI-0253) 6 February 1951
(Atched 1st Mar Div)
| PW NAME: | CH’OE Hyon Sik (崔享植) |
| PW NO: | 1st-M-P-4509 |
| RANK: | Jr Lt |
| DUTY: | Political Adviser |
| UNIT: | II Corps, 10th Div, 27th Regt, 3rd Bn, 7th Co |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HUNG-DONG (DR 8524) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 2 Feb 51 |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pfc MATSUSHITA |
PW, a Communist, was arrogant and gave conflicting statements. Recommend further interrogation on political affairs.
a. Mission:
The mission of 10th Div was to cut UN MSR at pt either south of ANDONG (DR 7646) or pt south of UISONG (DR 7322).
b. Strength of Unit:
(1) Original Strength: (o/a 24 Dec 51 at KUMHWA, NORTH KOREA)
10th Div - approx 7000.
27th Regt - approx 1000.
3rd Bn 27th Regt - approx 350.
7th Co 3rd Bn 27th Regt - approx 100.
27th Regt Code Name: CHAM-DAE (Bamboo).
3rd Bn Code Name: SUK KYOK TAE (Firing Bn)
7th Co Code Name: CHIL BO GANG (name of river)
1st Bn 27th Regt Code Name: TORL KYOK TAE (Charging Bn)
(2) Present Strength: (o/a 22 Jan 51)
27th Regt - approx 700 men.
3rd Bn 27th Regt - approx 300 men.
7th Co 3rd Bn 27th Regt - approx 58 men.
c. Chronology:
PW received six years of Primary Schooling at PYONGNAM, PYONWON-GUN, YONGHO-MYON, YONGGAN-NI, NORTH KOREA. Upon graduating in 46, PW entered school of communism. Jul 48 PW received his certificate and started teaching communism to the public.
1 Jul 50, 400 men and 100 women were sent to SOUTH KOREA to teach Communism and spread propaganda. They departed from PYONGYANG (Communist Hq) by train up to 38th Parallel. Here they walked to SEOUL arriving 14 Jul 50. The 500 instructors broke up into groups of 4 to 8 and spread communistic ideology for 15 days.
O/a 30 Jul 50, the SEOUL Communist Hq ordered the PW and 79 others to head south for the same duty. The 80 men left SEOUL and headed south via SUWON, TAEJON, CHONJU and KWANJU. While enroute toward KWANJU, the men were told by the Ldr that, due to air raids, they should break up into small groups. Arrived KWANJU with 20 women and 40 men in his group.
16 Sep 50, Communist Hq in KWANJU ordered PW and 2 others to YOSU, SOUTH KOREA, for purpose of spreading communism.
18 Sep 50, they arrived in YOSU, SOUTH KOREA.
25 Sep 50, PW and 2 men left YOSU, SOUTH KOREA for NORTH KOREA because he heard that UN forces made an invasion on INCHON.
14 Nov 50, PW arrived KUMHWA. PW was enroute home; however, due to NORTH KOREA being a battle zone at that time, he stayed in KUMHWA and took part in communist activities.
16 Dec 50, PW was conscripted into the NKA; because he was an active communist he was given a rank of Jr Lt.
16 Dec 50, PW was conscripted into the NKA at KUMHWA, NORTH KOREA. He received a rank of a Jr Lt upon entering due to his knowledge, education and practice of communism.
24 Dec 50, 10th Div left KUMHWA, for the south. Purpose was to sever the UN MSR. Route taken was east of CHUNCHON, WONJU, ANDONG and UISONG through mountains.
O/a 15 Jan 51, 1st Bn 27th Regt contacted ROK in a village east of WONJU. The 1st Bn engaged in a fire fight and took approx 100 ROK PW. 1st Bn 27th Regt had few casualties. An order was given from Regt Hq to release the ROK PW and send them home unless they wanted to join the NKA. There were approx 30 ROK PW that joined the NKA. The other ROK PW were told that there was no sense in fighting amongst their own people and were released.
22 Jan 51, 27th Regt arrived approx 16 Km east of ANDONG. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bn of 27th Regt headed south independently. 3rd Bn headed south for UISONG (DR 7322). Mission was to cut UN MSR between ANDONG (DR 7646) and UISONG by setting road blocks. The 27th Regt CP was to set up between ANDONG (DR 7646) and UISONG (DR 7322).
1 Feb 51, 3rd Bn arrived CHADONG (DR 8025). The Bn CP set up in the village until 1200 hr, then moved approx 500m northeast of CHA-DONG village and set up their CP in the mountain. 8th Co and Bn Hq stayed at this location. The 7th and 9th Co (strength: approx 125 men) were ordered to set roadblocks a bit north of UISONG. They were also ordered by Bn Hq that after roadblocks were set, the 7th and 9th Co were to report to HUNG-DONG (DR 8524) 2 Feb 51 where Bn CP will be located on 2 Feb 51.
2 Feb 51, Afraid that UN Forces might be in the vicinity, the 7th and 9th Co went to HUNG-DONG without carrying out their orders. Arrived HUNG-DONG (DR 8524) early in the morning. 3rd Bn CP was not set up, so the 7th and 9th Co troops went into villagers’ homes to eat breakfast. While they were eating, the KMO attacked the village and 7th and 9th Co troops were annihilated.
d. Personalities:
Bn CO: (name unk) Code No. of Bn Comdr No. 100.
Code No. of Bn Political Advisor No. 101.
7th Co CO: KIM, Tong Jun (金東俊), Lt, 27
e. Weapons and Equipment: 3rd Bn
5 82mm Mortars
3 HMG (500 rds ammo per HMG)
5 LMG in 7th Co
10 PPSH-SMG in 7th Co.
Unk amount of Russian Rifles, US Carbines, and (US) M-1 (Rifles). Approx 100 rd per rifle. Approx 2 hand grenades per person. There were 4 field telephones to each Bn.
f. Status of Supply; Routes of Supply:
(1) Ammo - Only the amount that was carried individually. There was no resupply.
(2) Food - Food was procured forceably from villages. Ate twice daily.
(3) Medical - Medical supply was very scarce. The medicine carried by medical personnel was Diazine and other medicine, only for treating minor injuries. No resupply.
(4) Clothing - Only what the troops were wearing. This consisted of one heavy winter uniform. Some troops wore civilian clothes.
(5) Shelter - Shelter was taken mostly in villages.
g. Morale:
Morale of troops was very low due to lack of food and clothing and too much forced, mountain march.
h. Effectiveness of UN Weapons:
NKA troops feared UN air strikes.
i. Political:
Being Political advisor, his duties were the following:
(1) To keep the troop’s morale high by telling them what they are fighting for and that they may suffer at the present but after ultimate NKA victory, they will have liberty and freedom.
(2) UN Forces may treat PW with brutality but they must not retaliate. UN PW will be treated humanely by NKA.
(3) Tell troops not to confiscate any of the equipment belonging to PW.
For the AC of S, G-2:
UYEDA
