ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3481 21 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (164-MISDI- 1515) 12 February 1951
| PW NAME: | CHOI, Paek-Hui (崔佰熙) (최백희) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| ORGN: | V Corps, 7th Div, 1st Regt, 2nd Bn (code name: ONNAMU) (옷나무), 3rd Co (code name: TAEBAEK SAN) (太白山) 1st Plat, 1st Squad. |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | 6 yr |
| AGE: | 22 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | KANGWON-DO, KANGNUNG-GUN, OKKYE-MYON, CHONNAN-NI, #253 (江原道 江陵郡 玉溪面 川南里 253) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 040400 I Feb 51 at a village 6 km E of HOENGSONG (橫城). |
| INTERROGATOR: | H.N. |
PW was very cooperative and spoke freely. Information seems fairly reliable.
a. T/O & E And Strength:
V Corps: 6th, 7th, and 12th Divisions.
7th Div: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Rifle Regiments and other unknown units.
1st Regt: 3 Rifle Bn, Med Plat, Sig Plat, Eng Plat, and Rear Service Unit.
2nd Bn: 3 Rifle Co, 82mm Mortar Co, HMG Co, Sig Plat, Supply Plat, AT Rifle Plat and Med Plat.
3rd Co: 3 Rifle Plat.
| 1st Plat, 3rd Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Regt, 7th Div: | Original (15 Jan 51) | Present (4 Feb 51) |
| a. Personnel: | 22 | 21 |
| b. Equipment & ammo: | ||
| LMG (USSR) | 1 (3 x 47 rd drums) | 1 (3 x 47 rd drums) |
| SMG (PPSH M1941) (USSR) | 4 (200 rd per) | 3 (200 rd per) |
| US M-1 rifles | 1 (unknown) | 1 (unknown) |
| US Carbines | 1 (30 rd) | 1 (30 rd) |
| Rifles (USSR M1891/30) | 14 (200 rd per) | 14 (200 rd per) |
| Handgrenades | 2 ea man) | 2 ea man |
| Pistols (make unk) | 1 | 1 |
| Dynamite was to be issued in the near future. | ||
| 3rd Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Regt, 7th Division: | ||
| a. Personnel: | 70 | 70 |
| b. Equipment & ammo: | ||
| 3 Rifle plat | ||
| 2nd Bn 1st Regt, 7th Div: | ||
| a. Personnel: | 250 | 250 |
| b. Equipment & ammo: | ||
| 82mm Mortars | 3 (72 rd total) | 33(72 rd total) |
| HMG (water-cool) (make unk) | 3 (unk) | 3 (unk) |
| Telephones: | 1 | 1 |
| AT Rifles: (USSR make) | 1 | 1 |
b. Location and Activities of Units:
15 Jan 51, PW was told by the Political Officer of the 2nd Bn, 1st Regt, 7th Div that the NKA will rest for two months. The units were to be supplied with arms and ammo during this period.
The 4th phase of the batter (1st phase; CHONGCHON River attack, 2nd phase: PYONGYANG area attack, 3rd phase: attack from the 38th parallel) was to start two months after the end of 3rd phase. The 4th phase action was to end when the UN troops were driven out of KOREA.
Additional CCF units were to arrive in time for the 4th phase of battle.
4 Feb 51, the 7th Div was located 6 km East of HOENGSONG. The 7th Div was to remain here to rest and be resupplied.
15 Jan 51, the 38th Div, 1st Regt Commander told his unit, “I am glad that you are here to join the 7th Div which is a combat unit that retook PYONGYANG. The 7th Div is not like the 38th Div because the 7th is an assault unit that attacks the enemy, while the 38th Div, was to be used for cutting supply routes in the enemy rear.”
c. Chronology:
PW inducted into the NKA at KANGNUNG 20 Sep 50 and assigned to the 38th Div, 1st Regt, 3rd Bn.
20 Sep 50, the 38th Div, 1st Regt, 3rd Bn departed KANGNUNG and marched to TAEHWA-RI (大和里), arriving 25 Sep 50.
27 Sep 50, 38th Div, 1st Regt, 3rd Bn departed TAEHWA_RI and marched Northward through INJE (DT2713), HAKUNGANG (DT0776), KOWON (CU4966), CHANGJIN (CV5171), to CHILPYONG (CA2759), arriving at CHILPYONG during early Nov 50.
The entire 38th Div assembled at CHILPYONG.
The entire 38th Div departed CHILPYONG during late Nov 50 and travelled South through MAENGSAN (CV6671), KOKSAN (EA0851), YONGGO (DT1117), HONGCHON to HOENGSONG, arriving at HOENGSONG 11 Jan 51.
15 Jan 51, the 38th Div was deactivated at HOENGSONG and the 1st Regt troops (approx 1,000) were sent to the 7th NK Div, and the 2nd Regt troops were sent to the 12th NK Div as replacements.
15 Jan 51, PW with the 38th Div, 1st Regt troops arrived at a village 6 km East of HOENGSONG and were assigned to various units of the 7th Division.
4 Feb 51, PT deserted his unit.
d. Personalities:
LEE, Tong Myon (이등면), Jr Lt (少尉), Plat Ldr, 1st Plat, 3rd Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Regt, 7th Div.
e. Replacements:
PW heard from his platoon Leader that the 43rd Div was deactivated and the troops assigned tovarious NKA units 15 Jan 51.
f. Supplies:
Food, generally unhulled rice, was procured locally, usually by looting abandoned farmhouses. Troops hulled this rice. Food supply was generally sufficient.
1 Feb 51, the 2nd Bn, 1st Regt, 7th Div was issued 72 rounds of mortar ammo at a place approx 6 km east of HOENGSONG.
g. Signal:
Telephone was used for communication between regiment and battalions. Lower echelons used runners.
h. Morale:
Morale of the 7th Div troops was fair.
Although the troops were afraid of UN air strikes, they were highly disciplined and followed orders.
i. Psychological Warfare:
PW was captured after he deserted his unit.
PW saw leaflets which were addressed to V Corps troops, urging them to surrender because the CCF was looting food from NK civilians.
PW hated KIM Il Song after reading the leaflet because he was responsible for bringing a foreign army to KOREA which ate the already meager food supply of the people. PW resolved that he would desert his unit and fight against the CCF with ROK units.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
