ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3501 21 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1542) 16 February 1951
| PW NAME: | YU, Song Hak (劉成學) (유성학) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGN: | I Corps, 17th Div, Recon Co, 3rd Plat, 3rd Sqd |
| DUTIES: | Recon in civilian clothes |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 6 yr |
| AGE: | 21 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| REGISTERED DOMICILE: | KYONGSANG PUKTO, YONG YANG-GUN, ILWOL-MYON, TOKYE-DONG (慶尙北道 英陽郡 日月面 道溪洞) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 121100 Feb 51 at a point 2 km South of KIMPO (SEOUL) |
| INTERROGATOR: | C.H.S. |
| INTERROGATED AT: | TAEJON PW Compound |
PW was timid but cooperative. Information seems reliable.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted into the CCF Peoples Liberation Army, Independent 7th Guard Co on 10 Dec 49 at RINGAN SHENG, CHINA. Received 3 months of basic infantry training at CHILSONG HA (七星河). After basic training, he performed guard duties at a gold mine at CHILSONG HA.
Koreans from CHINA were gathered at CHILSONG HA and formed an Independent Regt, Date unknown. On 2 Aug 50, this Regt left CHILSONG HA by train and arrived at P’YONGYANG in Aug 50.
Details on travel from CHILSONG HA to P’YONGYANG were unknown.
In 14 Aug 50 at P’YONGYANG the Indep Regt became the 1st Regt of the NKA 17th Mechanized Div. PW was placed into the 17th Mechanized Div, 1st Inf Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co. The 2nd and 3rd Regt were Tank Regt.
During mid-Nov 50 at SINUIJU, PW was placed into the 3rd Sqd, 3rd Plat, Recon Co, 17th Div. When the 17th Div was reorganized at SINUIJU, the 17th Mechanized Div was redesignated as the 17th Inf Div.
While Traveling from P’YONGYANG to KIMPO, the following places were passed:
| Place Departed | Date | Mode of Travel | Place Arrived | Date |
| P’YONGYANG | Sep 50 | Marched | SEOUL | Sep 50 |
| SEOUL | 〃 | 〃 | WONJU | 〃 |
| WONJU | 〃 | 〃 | UIJONGBU (CS2878) | 〃 |
| UIJONGBU | 〃 | 〃 | SINUIJU | Nov 50 |
| SINUIJU | o/a 15 Nov 50 | 〃 | P’YONGYANG | Dec 50 |
| P’YONGYANG | Dec 50 | 〃 | SEOUL | 5 Jan 51 |
| SEOUL | 11 Feb 51 | 〃 | KIMPO | 12 Feb 51 |
Captured by the 1st ROK Div at a point 2 km South of KIMPO.
b. Location and Activities of Units:
As of 12 Feb 51, the I Corps’ (47th, 8th and 17th Divisions) mission was to defend SEOUL.
PW heard from a comrade in Jan 51 that the I Corps CP was located at a point 2 km N of SEOUL.
17th Div Hq was located at PAENGNYON-DONG* (171-608). PW heard that the 17th Div, 3rd Regt Hq was located in the PAENGYON-DONG area.
11 Feb 51 PW saw the 17th Div, 1st Regt at HAENGJU* (072-630). PW heard it was to defend that area (strength unknown).
PW heard 11 Feb 51 that the 17th Div, 2nd Regt was to defend the area 2 km ENE of HAENGJU (strength unknown).
PW saw and heard that the 17th Div, 3rd Regt was located at east and west of SUISKOKU* (140-610). Their mission was to defend the area (strength unknown).
PW heard that the defense area for the 47th Div was SW of NAMSAN* (220-571) along the HAN GANG River. PW also heard that the 8th Div defense area was E of NAMSAN, exact area unknown.
PW heard on 10 Feb 51, that the CCF 50th and 39th Armies moved East of SEOUL, reason - unknown.
PW mission on 12 Feb 51 was to infiltrate behind the UN forces line in civilian clothes and collect tactical information on US forces; one other man of the Recon Co was given a similar mission.
PW area of operation was the immediate area around KIMPO. He did not see any communist troops or aircraft at KIMPO Airfield.
The other man’s mission was to reconnoiter the INCHON area. His name was Kim, O Sun; age: 30; weight: 150 lbs; oval shaped face; when last seen, he was wearing civilian clothes.
As of 7 Feb 51, PW did not see CCF troops in SEOUL.
*Map: GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SECTION, GENERAL STAFF, “KYONGSANG” (SEOUL)
On 11 Feb 51 the PW was shown the above mine fields by troops (friends) who had laid the mine field illustrated above.
c. T/O & E:
I Corps: 17th, 47th, and 8th Inf Div
17th Div: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Regt, Recon Co, Signal Bn, Medical Bn.
Regiments: 3 Bn
Battalions: 3 Co
Company: 3 Plat
Platoon: 3 Sqd
NOTE: 1st and 3rd Regt: No tanks believed to be in these regt.
2nd Regt: PW saw 5 T-34 tanks of the 2nd Regt, entering SEOUL in Jan 51 (when PW entered SEOUL).
PW believed that in Oct 50 the 17th Div had more than 20 tanks; most have been destroyed by UN forces.
Recon Co: 4 x Plat (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th):
1st Plat: Recon Plat
2nd Plat: Attack Plat (used to attack any small UN units)
3rd Plat: Civilian clothes Plat (Recon wearing civilian clothes)
4th Plat: Reserve Plat
| Plat: 3 Sqd | ||
| 3rd Platoon: | Original (Nov 50) | All “Present” unknown |
| EM | 29 | |
| Off | 1 | |
| Total | 30 | |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| SMG | 15 (300 rd) | |
| M1891/30 rifles | 10 (100 rd) | |
| TT Tokarev Pisto | 1 (rd per unk) | |
| Personnel and equipment of other plat were the same, except for the 3rd Plat which donned civilian clothes. | ||
| Recon Co: | ||
| EM | 115 | |
| Off | 5 | |
| Total | 120 | |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| No other weapons other than those already mentioned in Plat. | ||
d. Personalities:
CHONG, Chol U ( ), Maj Gen, CG, 17th Div.
e. Replacements:
While at SINUIJU, 20 recruits received by his Recon Co in Nov 50.
At SEOUL in Jan 51, 30 recruits received by the Co. No training had been received by these recruits.
PW believed these were North Koreans.
f. Supplies:
PW received 100 rd of SMG ammo at SEOUL.
He was given 3 meals per day.
Source of ammo and food supplies was unknown.
g. Armor, Artillery and Aircraft:
PW saw 1 x 45mm, 1 x 76mm and 1 x 120mm gun on 8 Feb 51 at PAENGNYON-DONG. PW did not know to what unit these guns belonged. PW believed these guns were in operating condition.
PW also heard from fellow soldiers that there were 3 x 45mm, 3 x 76mm and 1 x 120mm guns in the I Corps.
h. Signal:
Company - Battalion - Regiment - Division: Telephone
Platoon - Company: Runner
Wireless was used at Division level.
Although PW was in the Recon Platoon, he did not carry any special pass or have any code. Recon Platoon personnel only carry and identification card. If they were captured, they were to destroy them.
i. Morale, and Battle Effectiveness:
The morale in PW Company during Dec 50 was high because the NKA was winning. However, when they came to SEOUL on Jan 51 and started to retreat again with constant air bombing, the morale became very low.
j. Medical:
There was no epidemics in PW Company.
PW once received an immunization shot but type was unknown (at SINUIJU in Nov 50).
There were no frostbite cases in PW units.
k. Psychological Warfare:
PW was captured by ROK troops while he was on a Recon mission.
PW saw UN leaflets written in Chinese at SEOUL in Jan 51.
It said “You don’t have to fight because you are in KOREA. If you surrender, we will treat you well and give you warm food and clothing. We will treat your wounds.”
When PW read the leaflet, he did not give it a second thought, and dismissed it from his mind.
PW did not know the reaction of others because they did not discuss the leaflets.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
