ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3588 26 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS 1364) 20 February 1951
| PW NAME: | LEE, Chae Myong (李在明) (이재명) |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (少尉) |
| AGE: | 22 |
| DUTY: | Platoon Leader (Arty) |
| UNIT: | NKA 31st Div |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School Graduate (4 years) |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | NOKSUGOL |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 9 Feb 51 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, HAMGYONG NAMDO, PUKCH’ONG-GUN, SINBUKCH’ONG-MYON, TONGJUNG-NI, #202 (朝鮮 咸鏡南道 北靑郡 新北靑面 東中里 二0二) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | KOREA, HAMGYONG PUKTO, KYONGWON-GUN, KYONGWON-MYON, PONGUN-NI, O-KU (朝鮮 咸鏡北道 慶源郡 慶源面 峰雲里 五區) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl NODA (ATIS) |
Cooperative, intelligent. Reliability - Good.
a. Chronology:
17 Jul 50: approx 1,000 men, whose age ranged from 15 to 35 in HAMGYONG PUKTO (咸鏡北道), were inducted into NKA. Received basic training for approx two months at CH’ONGJIN (淸津).
O/a 8 Sep 50: All trainees moved to P’YONGYANG (平壤), continued training here.
O/a 28 Sep 50: upon completion of two months training, all men who were graduates of middle school were either promoted to Jr Lt, Lt or Sr Lt according to the individual’s ability. PW was promoted to Jr Lt. Approx 20 out of 1,000 trainees were commissioned as officers. PW and three other officers and approx 200 EM were assigned to 78th Arty Regt. At the time PW completed his training, the 78th Arty Regt was stationed at SARIWON (沙里院). PW received orders to proceed to that area.
O/a 2 Oct 50: PW group met up with approx 20 men from 78th Arty Regt at YANGDOK (陽德) and heard from them that the 78th Arty Regt had disbanded. Date was unknown. PW group separated. PW, with the 20 men from 78th Arty Regt headed for KANGGYE (江界).
O/a 5 Nov 50: PW arrived in KANGGYE (江界) via MENGSAN (孟山), YONGWON (寧遠) and CHONCH’ON (■川). Due to lack of clothing and cold climate, it took over a month. All scattered military personnel were assembled here and moved to YONGY’AN-DONG (龍灘洞) on 10 Nov 50.
10 Nov 50: All troops were assigned to 31st Div. PW was assigned as a platoon leader of a communication platoon, which was directly under Div. 31st Div reorganized while stations in YONGY’AN-DONG (龍灘東).
O/a 30 Dec 50: 31st Div advanced to 20 km south of HWACH’ON (樺川) via HUICH’ON (熙川), MENGSAN (孟山) and ICH’ON (伊川). 31st Div met ROK troops (strength and position unknown) and engaged in combat. At this time, 31st Div took the following position:
PW did not directly participate in combat. This battle continued approx 25 - 26 hours and ended in victory for the 31st Div. PW estimated approx 400 - 500 to have been casualties.
2 Jan 51: 31st Div advanced to YONGWOL (寧越) through mountainous area. This took approx one month due to heavy air attacks. Div was able to advance only at night.
O/a 30 Jan 51: 31st Div reached YONGWOL (寧越).
O/a 31 Jan 51: Met ROK Unit and only 45th Regt, 31st Div engaged the ROK unit. 31st Div took the following position:
Combat took approx 4 - 5 hours. Ended in victory for 31st Div. Casualties in this battle were approx 200. Casualties of ROK Force unknown.
3 Feb 51: 31st Div advanced to OKDONG-NI (玉洞里). Engaged in combat with ROK Forces and was defeated. Retreated to P’YONGCH’ANG (平昌).
5 Feb 51: Engaged in combat in P’YONGCH’ANG (平昌), defeated.
7 Feb 51: 31st Div Hq Unit, 3rd and 4th Regiments retreated to PAEKUN-DONG (白雲洞). 48th Regiment retreated to CHINBU-RI (珍富里).
2000 hr 8 Feb 51: PW and three other EM received orders to carry a message to 48th Regt. The message was enclosed in a green 25 cm X 15 cm envelope. The envelope was thin.
9 Feb 51: PW and the other three EM were captured. PW turned the message over to ROK personnel. PW also stated that he received this message from Chief of Military Operations.
b. Unit Organization & Strength:
Strength:
(1) At the time PW was assigned:
31st Div 4,000
48th Regt 1,200
45th Regt 1,000
3rd Regt 1,000
Arty Bn 100
Engr Bn 100
Medical Bn 100
Comm Co 50
Trans Co 50
Hq Unit 80
(2) Present Strength (as of 8 Feb 51)
31st Div 2,000
48th Regt 500
45th Regt 500
3rd Regt 600
Hq Unit 50
Others 500
Weapons:
Arty Bn (directly under Div Hq)
Although it was called an Arty Bn, it did not have any Arty pieces.
3 X 82 mm mortars
5 X 50 mm M1938 mortars
15 PPsH submachine guns
Weapons were lacking as a whole and weapons for Div Hq defense was poor.
c. Unit History:
PW heard that 31st Div was originally organized in SEOUL. 31st Div disintegrated and was reorganized on 10 Nov 50 at YONGT’AN-DONG (龍灘洞). 31st Div advanced south and was last seen in PAEKUN-DONG (白雲洞), still well organized.
d. Personalities:
LEE, Tong Ho (李東浩) (이동호), Maj Gen (少將), CG, 31st Div, 40, height: 5.6 ft, weight: 156 lb, stout, complexion: light, married, last seen: PAEKUN-DONG (白雲洞), 8 Feb 51.
KIM, Myong Ho (김명호), Sr Col (總佐), Chief of Staff, 35, height: 5.4 ft, weight: 144 lb, stout, complexion: dark, mustache, last seen: PAEKUN-DONG (白雲洞), 8 Feb 51.
Name unknown, Col (大佐), Tactical Officer, 29, height: 5.6 ft, weight: 133 lb, thin, complexion: light, long face, married, last seen: PAEKUN-DONG (白雲洞), 8 Feb 51.
e. Code and APO Number:
31st Div 684
f. Communications:
Battery and below Runners
Battalion Runners
Regiment Field Phones (3 in a Regt)
Division Field Phones (three)
Radio (Hearsay: 2-way radio, Russian make)
g. Disposition:
When last observed (8 Feb 51), 31st Div Hq, 45th Regt and 3rd Regt were located in PAEKUN-DONG (白雲洞). 48th Regt was located in CHINBU-RI (珍富里), located approx 32 km east of PAEKUN-DONG (白雲洞).
h. Intentions:
31st Div was to infiltrate behind enemy lines and destroy all roads. They did not accomplish this mission.
i. Morale:
Low. Cold climate, heavy air attacks, lack of clothing and equipment were the cause.
j. Replacements:
No replacements received since reorganization on 10 Nov 45.
k. Evacuation and Treatment of wounded:
No aid stations were in Regt and below. Aidemen from Med Bn were attached to the front lines. Treatment was poor due to lack of medicine. Lightly wounded men usually wrapped their wounds with a bandage only. Lightly wounded men either walked back or were carried back by stretchers to the Med Bn near Div Hq. Severely wounded men were immediately carried to the Med Bn. However, due to long distance from the line to the Med Bn (4 - 8 km), a large number of wounded men died. Medicine was also lacking in the Med Bn.
l. Supply:
Each man carried two days ration and carried 15 rounds of ammunition for small arms. While PW was in 31st Div, there was no ammunition brought in by Transportation Company. Ammunition received in the beginning was expended. When advancing, Transportation Company either bought or confiscated food from farmers for their troops.
m. Weapons Feared Most:
Strafing.
n. Pay of Personnel:
Pvt 50 won/month
Cpl 100 won/month
Jr Sgt 150 won/month
Sgt 200 won/month
Jr Lt 1,400 won/month
Pay in North Korean currency valued at 20 South Korean Won. (Sic)
For the Commanding Officer:
ROBINSON
