ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3436 19 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (163-MISDI-0273) 9 February 1951
(Attached 1st Mar Div)
| PW NAME: | CHON, Hyon Su (全賢守) |
| PW NO: | 1st M-P-4546 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Ammo Bearer |
| UNIT: | II Corps, 10th Div, 29th Regt, AA MG Plat |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HAKSONG-DONG (DQ 8297) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 6 Feb 51 |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pvt YAMAMOTO |
Not recommended for further interrogation. PW cooperative.
a. Mission. The original mission of the 10th Div when the unit left HWACH’ON 20 Dec 50 was to cut the UN MSR between ANDONG and TAEJON.
b. Strength of Unit:
Original Strength: At HWACH’ON 20 Dec 50.
10th Div - 3500 men
29th Regt - 800 men
AA MG Plat - 40 men
Present Strength: As of 6 Feb 51.
29th Regt - 700 men
AA MG Plat - 35 men
Code Name:
29th Regt before 20 Dec 50 - “TOL JIN GANG” (突進江)
29th Regt after 20 Dec 50 - “YANG JA GANG” (陽子江)
(After reorganization at HWACH’ON).
1st Bn, 29th Regt - “KON GYOK TAE” (攻擊隊)
2nd Bn, 29th Regt - “TOL GYOK TAE” (突擊隊)
3rd Bn, 29th Regt - “KI DONG DAE” (機動隊)
AA MG Plat - “KO SAN YONG” (高山嶺)
APO No while PW was in a training camp at SUKCH’ON (肅川) 20 Jun 50 for AA MG Plat was:
“MIN CHONG HUL RYONG SO CHE 3625 GUN’BUDAE”(Communist Youth Organization Training Camp No. 3625 Unit).
c. Chronology:
Apr 50 - PW was conscripted at SUKCH’ON
15 Aug 50 - AA MG Plat took part in TAEGU attack and lost all their AA guns.
20 Dec 50 - 10th Div reorganized at HWACHUN (3500 men) and moved south. The 29th Regt contacted ROK Army for 3 days after crossing the 38th Parallel. 29th Regt was bombed and strafed almost every day since they crossed the 38th Parallel, killing approximately 100 of its 800 men
Middle of Jan - Had contact with Police about 12 km NW of ANDONG. PW believes the 29th moved east from around the point they had contact with the Police for 2 days and then turned south but he doesn’t know why they took that route. 3 days before arriving at HAKSANG-DONG 29th Regt Hq and the 1st Bn were surrounded by a Bn of Police in a mountain area where they were to rest for the day. The Police withdrew after a brief firefight. On the following morning, the 1st Bn, 29th Regt attacked the MYON Office (Myon unk) and proceeded into the mountains.
30 Jan 51 - 0530 attacked HAKSON-DONG but the civilians and officials had already evacuated. The 29th Regt Hq, 2nd Bn and 3rd Bn stayed in the mountain south of the town and 1st Bn stayed in the town for the day.
31 Jan 51 - Regt stopped at NAEPO-DONG (DQ 8399).
1 Feb 51 - Saw the Bn digging 5 trenches on the road and saw 2 places where they piled big rocks to block the road. All of these without charges. Around 1200, while they were building these roadblocks they were attacked by planes.
2 Feb 51 - 29th Regt Hq and PW unit stayed in a village (DQ 8798) at a road junction 1 km south of PANGA-SAN and the 29th Regt were going to celebrate its 4th year of organization which was to be on 8 Feb 51. But UN Arty started to fire from around 050630 into the Medical Bn and Signal Bn of 10th Div Hq which were located 2 km south of the 29th Regt. The Medical and Signal Bn retreated to the 29th Regt area and at 060200 the entire 29th Regt, Medical and Signal Bn started a night march towards TAEIN-DONG. On the march PW saw 5 to 6 roadblocks consisting of firewoods, timber and rocks (DQ 8698)(road running NW - SE).
060700 - The unit arrived at TAEIN-DONG (DQ 8500). Hq stayed in town while the Bn dug in the mountain slope south of TAEIN-DONG.
061200 - Surrendered to Police Hq at HAKSONG-DONG.
d. Personalities:
Plat Idr - Jr Lt O In Son (吳仁善)
Regt CO - Col CHOE U (崔祐)
e. Weapons and Equipment: (Infantry Bn)
3 x HMG 250 rd ea 2 x 82mm Mortars rd unk
9 x LMG 250 rd ea 30 x PPSh 72 rd each
45 x M1 Rifles 60 rd ea 15 x Pistols
Hand Grenades 1 ea man 30 x Carbines 60 rd each
The rest all equipped with Russian Rifles with 60 rd each.
f. Ammo and Supply:
Ammo - No resupply.
Food - Always carried 2 days ration for emergency.
Clothing - No resupply.
Shelter - Whatever could be found.
g. Morale:
Morale of those who were conscripted was low but those of the communist party members are high.
h. Most Effective Weapons:
Arty barrage and air strikes.
i. Tactics:
Tactics employed by PW units: PW unit tried to surround the enemy whenever and wherever the situation permitted.
j. Current Situation:
PW heard the officer of the 29th Regt Hq say that they can neither advance or retreat. Also heard the 10th Div Hq personnel was split up and was attached to 25th and 27th Regt. 29th Regt being the strongest of all did not have any Div Hq personnel attached to them.
k. Communist:
PW had 8 grade education and spoke fluent Japanese. Those with education do not make out very well in the North Korean Army no matter how long they stayed in, unless they are avowed communists. PW dislikes communism and does not want to go back to North Korea.
For the AC of S, C-2:
UYEDA
