ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3578 26 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (528 LDI - 0186) 10 February 1951
| PW NAME: | KIM, Ho Min (金鎬敏) |
| PW NO: | Jackson Temp #357 |
| AGE: | 29 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Combat Engineer |
| UNIT: | NKA, 47th Div, Engr Bn, River Crossing Co, 1st Plat, 2nd Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | 7 yr primary school |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CS188475 |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 091430 Feb 51 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | PYONGAN NAMDO, KANSO GUN, TONGJIN MYON, TAESON-NI #608 (平安南道 江西郡 東理面 台城里 六0八) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | PYONGAN NAMDO, KANSO GUN, KANSO MYON, KOJAN-NI (平安南道 江西郡 江西面 巨庄里) |
| TRAVEL IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES: | 1 yr in JAPAN |
PW appeared to be in good physical condition at time of interrogation. Cooperative and of average intelligence. PW was a farmer prior to entering military service. Recommended for further interrogation.
a. Unit Organization, Strength and Equipment:
47th Div composed of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Rifle Regt, Engr Bn, Communication Bn, and Arty Regt.
Engr Bn composed of 4 Co.
Code names:
Engr Bn, 47th Div TAEDONG GANG
River Crossing Co, Engr Bn TAEDONG GANG SA
1st Co, Engr Bn TAEDONG GANG IL
2nd Co, Engr Bn TAEDONG GANG I
3rd Co, Engr Bn TAEDONG GANG SAM
| UNIT | ORIG STR | DATE | PRESENT STR | DATE |
| Engr Bn | approx 200 | Oct 50 | 120-130 | 9 Feb 51 |
| PW Co | 50-60 | 〃 〃 | 40 | 〃 〃 〃 |
| PW Plat | 24 | 〃 〃 | 18 | 〃 〃 〃 |
Majority of casualties in PW unit was caused by air strikes. A few were killed by mines and a few deserted.
River Crossing Co had shovels, picks, dynamite and land mines.
Arty Regt had unknown number of 70mm and 120mm Guns and a number of mortars.
Com Bn had 3-4 switchboards, 2-3 telegraph sets and telephones.
b. Unit Assignment and Intention:
Assignment of the Engr Bn was to detect enemy mines, plant mines, and construct or destroy bridges.
Mission of 47th Div was to defend the INCHON-SEOUL area. (Details u/k.)
c. Disposition:
9 Feb 51, 47th Div CP was located in CHANGCHIN DONG (SEOUL City). Engr Bn CP was in the same vicinity. Div CP was to move within a few days because of supply problems and severe air strikes. CP will be moved to the outskirts of SEOUL. 9 Feb 51, a Bn CP (2nd Regt, 47th Div) was located approx 3 km N of CHAHADONG (CS 1884475). The night of 8 Feb 51, PW observed many CCF troops heading toward YONGDUNGPO from vic CS226525. (Details u/k.)
d. Communications:
Radios and telegraph were used by Div and higher echelons. Telephones were used by Bn level units. Co level units used runners. Bn level and lower units used oxcarts for transportation. Regt and higher echelons used both oxcarts and trucks.
e. Armor:
9 Feb 51, observed one tank which was parked on a road vic CS192523.
f. Artillery:
O/a 29 Jan 51, observed one 120mm Gun and 5 or 6 40mm Guns located on both sides of the MSR between SOSA (CS040501) and PUPYONG (BS9956).
g. Morale:
Morale of unit was low because of fatigue, fear of air strikes, and insufficient equipment.
h. Chronology:
Inducted into NKA 5 Oct 50 at PYONGAN PUKDO, SONCHON GUN, SINCHON MYON, KYOWHA-RI (XE5212). Prior to this, PW was in a labor unit and was engaged in mining “monasite”. After being inducted, sent by train to SINUIJU and stayed approx 10 days. O/a 15 Oct 50, all units of the NKA located in SINUIJU headed for UIJU (XE3150) and vicinity. Assigned to his present unit at KUSONG (XE9329). 47th Div went from KUSONG to TAECHON (YE1322), PAKCHON (YE2201), ANJU (YD2888), SUNCHON (YD5368), P’YONGYANG, CHUNGWHA (YD4303), HWANGJU (YC4283), SARIWON (YC4065), KAESONG (BT8604) and arrived SEOUL o/a 20 Jan 51. Div remained at point 12 km E of SEOUL for 2 days then went to YONGDUNGPO (CS1457) and vic INCHON. Div headed E from INCHON Area o/a 2 Feb 51 and arrived SIHUNG (CS1546) o/a 5 Feb 51, then withdrew to SEOUL the following day. PW deserted his unit 9 Feb 51 and surrendered.
i. Food and Ammo Supplies:
Food was procured locally and supply was sufficient. Initial issue of 3 hand grenades and 100 rd of ammo.
j. Replacements:
No replacements were received. Wounded personnel were sent to the rear for medical treatment and upon recovery were usually reassigned. In the event a Div becomes disorganized, personnel are sent out to collect stragglers.
k. Psychological Warfare:
Surrendered voluntarily because he did not favor communism. PW read UN leaflets. Many men wanted to surrender after reading similar leaflets, but did not have the opportunity to do so. PW heard aerial broadcasts but could not make out what was being said due to the noise of the airplane.
l. Captured Equipment:
Several hundred land mines were captured by his unit in vic INCHON o/a 28 Jan 51. These mines were later used by his unit on the MSR from SOSA (CS040501) to PUPYONG (BS9956). Unknown quantity also captured and used to blast rocks in order to plant mines. Observed 4 cartloads of dynamite at the foot of a mountain at KYESU-RI (CS063469) 4 Feb 51.
n. UN PW:
O/a 1 Feb 51, PW heard from his political leader at YONGDUNGPO, that 200 US and ROK PW were captured at INCHON and were to be taken to CHINA.
n. Mine Fields, Road Blocks And Bridges:
O/a 22 Jan 51, Engr Bn laid a number of mortar shells (size unk) (booby trapped) in vic BS944500.
o. Medical:
PW Co received an unknown type of immunization shot o/a 4 Feb 51, at KYESU-RI (CS063469). There were no typhus cases in his unit. Had no knowledge of narcotics or drugs being used by troops.
p. Han River Crossing:
47th Div crossed the HAN River o/a 21 Jan 51, over the ice. 2 Feb 51, when the 47th Div withdrew to SEOUL, they crossed the HAN River across a wooden bridge located approx 3 miles ESE (CS226525) of the former trolley trestle. This bridge was approx 10 feet wide and capable of supporting men and horses but not heavy equipment. PW believes that this bridge was constructed o/a 21 Jan 51 by the CCF.
q. Night Bombing:
PW unit did not receive any night air strikes.
r. Naval Bombardment:
O/a 21 Jan 51, PW Bn received naval bombardment in vic INCHON but there were no casualties because the unit withdrew.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OGAWA
