ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3418 17 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (163 - MISDI - 0269) 9 February 1951
(Atchd 1st Mar Div)
| PW NAME: | KIM, Tuk Yu (金德裕) |
| PW NO: | 1st M-P-4537 |
| RANK: | Cpl |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 1st Co, 120mm Mortar Bn, 10th Div, II NK Corps |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | PUDONG MYON (ER1226) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 3 Feb 51 |
| CAPTURING UNIT: | KMG |
| INTERROGATOR: | ANDO |
PW and three others, including a platoon leader, surrendered themselves with UN propaganda leaflets in their possession. They had no desire to fight any longer. Insufficient tactical information. PW cooperative. Not recommended for further interrogation.
a. Mission:
Troops were told that they will fight behind UN lines and cause as much confusion as they can to prepare the way for Communist Chinese troops.
Rumor has it that the 10th Div will withdraw to the north soon.
b. Strength of Unit:
Original Strength: When departed YANGGU, o/a 15 Dec 50.
10th Div - approx. 4000
25th Regt - approx. 1500
Present Strength: 3 Feb 51.
25th Regt - approx. 400
120mm Indep Mortar Bn - 250
120mm Mortar Bn was organized o/a 20 Jan 51 from troops of the 25th Regt. It possessed no mortars and it acted as perimeter guard for 10th Div Hq.
c. Chronology:
3 Apr 50 - PW conscripted into 10th Div at SUKCH’ON. 10th Div consisted of 25th, 27th, 29th and the Arty Regt.
5 Jul 50 - Div moved to CHAERYONG.
14 Jul 50 - Moved to SARIWON. Spent three days before moving again.
20 Aug 50 - Arrived to KORYONG, SOUTH KOREA, later crossed NAKTONG RIVER towards battleground.
2 Sep 50 - Arrived at HYONGPUNG and went into battle. Heavy casualties suffered; also many deserted.
O/a Sep 50 - 10th Div ordered to withdraw North. Remnants of division started Northward through mountains on Eastern coast.
20 Nov 50 - Arrived at YANGGU and immediately started reorganizing approximately 1500 civilians from YANGGU vicinity; conscripted. No training given to recruits.
O/a 15 Dec 50 - 10th Div departed YANGGU. 25th and Arty Regt spearheaded movement with Div Hq immediately behind. 27th and 29th Regt protected the rear of 10th Div. Traveled mostly at night through mountain trails. Approaching ANDONG vicinity (date unknown) 27th and 29th Regt separated. Div passed through many towns (names unknown), East of ANDONG. Received air attacks three times inflicting light casualties.
27 Jan 51 - Div Hq, 25th Regt and 120mm Indep Mortar Bn Arrived CHONGSONG (ER0531) Area. Hq constantly moved about in this area for fear of detection.
3 Feb 51 - While PW platoon maintained guard post 4 km West of Div Hq they were attacked by ROK troops. Platoon retreated into hills but during the same day the platoon leader encouraged PW and two others to surrender. All four later came down to PUDONG MYON where they gave themselves up.
3 Feb 51 - 25th Regt and 10th Div Hq believed to be located 4 km East of PUDONG MYON.
d. Personalities:
LEE, Pan Nam, 10th Div, Maj Gen
KIM, Chong Man (金千萬), 25th Regt, CO, Col
KIM, Se Hup (金世洽), 1st Co CO, 120mm Mortar Bn, Lt
O/a 25 Jan 51 unk Bn CO was executed at CHONGSONG by the Div CG. Bn CO wanted to surrender his troops.
e. Weapons and Equipment: 120mm Mortar Bn
30 - Russian PPSh SMG
Half of troops armed with US M-1 rifles. Others with US Carbines and Russian rifles. One grenade for every two men. No pack animals or vehicles. Telephones were utilized for communication between Hq.
f. Status of Supply; Route of Supply:
Ammo - 15 rifle rounds per rifle.
72 rd for each Russian PPSh SMG
Food - Taken by force from villagers
Medical - Few bandages and medicine. 60 nurses attached to Div, most of them were volunteers. All armed with carbines.
Clothing - Troops wear the same clothes all the time. No additional clothing except when clothes are taken off from dead troops.
g. Morale:
Because of lack of food, clothing and ammo, troops have no will to fight. They want to surrender but cannot do so, they just tag along with their unit helplessly. Officers are still determined to fight, knowing that they are already beaten.
h. Effectiveness of Weapons:
Artillery barrages are more feared by troops than air attacks. Troops can easily conceal themselves from aircrafts, especially in the mountains, where there are many natural concealments. However, in an artillery barrage troops never can judge where the shells will drop.
I. UN PW:
PW heard of 30 American prisoners who are being held by the 25th Regt. Prisoners have been captured in ANDONG area.
For the AC of S, G-2:
UYEDA
