ATIS-ALLIED TRANSLATOR & INTERPRETER SECTION-FEC
ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3550 24 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (521-LDI-0430) 13 February 1951
| PW NAME: | SIM, Pok Man |
| AGE: | 26 |
| RANK: | Maj |
| DUTY: | Chief of Staff |
| UNIT: | NKA V Corps, Recon Bn |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 6 Feb 51, HAKKOK-NI (12km E of HOENGSONG) |
PW and 7 EM surrendered when they were sent out on a Recon mission. Claimed he had made up his mind to surrender a few mo ago and this was his first opportunity to be in enemy territory. Believes the NKA will ultimately suffer defeat due to shortage of personnel, weapons and ammo and no airplanes. Aid by the CCF and the mountainous terrain of NK resulted in temporary victory for the NKA but the relatively level terrain in southern KOREA favors the UN Armies, and the NKA even with more CCF aid will eventually be defeated.
Reliability: Good
Education: 6 yr
Attitude: Very cooperative and spoke freely.
a. Chronology:
20 Jul 47 - Inducted at CHINAMPO.
20 Jul 49 - Appointed 2nd Lt.
20 Jul 50 - Promoted to Capt.
10 Sep 50 - Promoted to Sr Capt.
15 Sep 50 - Assigned to 38th Div.
20 Nov 50 - Promoted to Maj.
15 Jan 51 - Assigned to V Corps, Recon Bn.
31 Jan 51 - Dep on Recon mission.
7 Feb 51 - Surrendered
V corps zone - area surrounding HOENGSONG, WONJU, CHECHON and CHUNGJU.
31 Jan 51 - The executive officer G-2, 5th Corps (Col), PW, exec officer, Recon Bn, and 5 Co grade officers with approx 80 men departed NOJAN-NI (7km SE of HONGCHON) with one portable radio to reconnoiter the 5th Corps area.
This group walked through enemy lines at night undetected. PW and 7 EM separated from the group at CHOMDAE (5km N of KANGNIM NI DS 2235) and arrived HAKKOK-NI where he surrendered with the 7 EM.
The remainder of the group were to be deployed in groups with one officer in charge along the high ground E and SE of WONJU and along the main road from CHECHON to WONJU.
The Col in charge was to be located at KYODON (3km S of KANGNIM NI) where information from the various groups were to be sent, then relayed by radio to the V Corps Hq.
PW was instructed to report in writing the number of trucks, tanks and troops going back and forth daily on the MSR, and to send two to three men as runners. No mention as to how long this mission was to last.
Personnel in the Recon Bn are supposed to be the cream of the troops but shortage of personnel made it impossible to form an effective organization.
This was the first Recon mission by the V Corps Recon Bn since PW joined this organization. V Corps Hq was located at KAREKOL (16km E of HONGCHON).
b. Organization, Personnel and Weapons:
V Corps Hq
| Staff and Hq Co: | 150 men | |
| Recon Bn: | 350 〃 | |
| Sig Bn: | 200 〃 | |
| Engr Bn: | 100 〃 | |
| Transp Bn: | 100 〃 | |
| Guard Co: | 100 〃 | |
| Total approx | 1,000 |
Recon Bn
3 Co - 100 men ea - 43 PPSH SMG in Bn. Others with rifles
3 Plat - 30 men ea
3 Sqd - 9 men ea
Motorcycle w/ side car Plat - 20 men (No motorcycles, no weapons)
Medics - 15 men - 3 PPSH SMG, 7 rifles
14-16 Jan 51 - 38th Div deactivated and personnel assigned to various Div in V Corps.
c. Personalities:
| PAN, Ho San | Lt Gen | CG, V Corps |
| CHIM, Chong | Maj Gen | C/S, V Corps |
| KIM, Hun Nam | Lt Col | G-3, V Corps |
| PAK, Un Sn | Sr Col | G-2, V Corps |
| LEE, Hak Mun | Col | Exec Off, G-2, V Corps |
| NO, Kyu Song | Lt Col | CO, Recon Bn |
| HWA, Han Su | Maj | Exec off, Recon Bn, V Corps |
d. Ammo and Clothing:
Last issue of ammo and clothing at KANGGE in Nov 50. Winter clothing issued to approx 90% of troops in 38th Div.
Each rifleman received approx 100 rd ammo, 200-300 rd of ammo per PPSH SMG.
e. Communication:
Telephone communication between units within V Corps Hq. Switchboard at Sig Bn, V Corps Hq.
f. CCF:
(1) O/a 28 Jan 51, observed a few CCF troops in V Corps Hq area. Heard there were approx 200 CCF troops here and they were liaison and communication personnel from one of the CCF Div near HONGCHON.
(2) 20 Jan 51, 27th Div assigned to II Corps. 43rd Div reassigned - destination unknown.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SINGLETON
