ATIS INTERROGATION NO 3603 27 February 1951
The following information was obtained from recovered American military personnel, who were interrogated upon arrival in JAPAN from KOREA by Central Interrogation Center, TIS. The interrogation was conducted at Camp Drake by Capt Shappell.
On 3 Jan 51, source became lost from his patrol when subjected to friendly artillery about one mile N of Seoul. Went into the mountains for 10 days, avoiding trails and cutting tall grass and branches to sleep on during the nights. On the 2nd or 3rd day, he encountered three S. Korean soldiers who were cut off and, with them, attempted to circle Seoul and reach friendly lines. A patrol of Chinese encountered, source darted into underbrush, heard shots, was not joined by the S. Koreans, assumed they were killed and left the immediate area. Continued wandering in the same general area until 14 Jan 51, going into a village on three occasions to obtain food from the same house. Food was always cheerfully given by an aged Korean. At dusk, 14 Jan 51, went to the same house and entered it to find 50 Chinese troops in a room eating their supper.
Mistaking source for a Korean, since he was wearing an old Korean robe, which he had found in the mountains, over his uniform, the Chinese shook hands and invited him to sit down. Several minutes later they discovered his uniform and considered the situation quite a joke. His weapons, cigarette lighter and pocket knife were taken. He was then fed more rice and pork than he could eat and given a sack of tobacco.
For eleven more days, until 25 Jan 51, source simply sat in the same room and was joined by pine S. Korean soldiers captured during the period.
While here he was questioned twice by a Chinese, speaking excellent English, who said he was on officer but did not state his rank. The tactical interrogation was very brief. Questions asked were name, rank, organization, why serving in Korea, why captured alone, why and when he joined Truman’s Army, how many workers in a company. Source interpreted workers to mean privates. The only threatening note during the interrogation came when source was asked to admit that he operated a radio while in the hills and directed planes to their targets. When he denied this, he was then told that his captors considered him a CIC agent. Source is positive that the term CIC was used.
His second interrogation was merely propaganda statements by the same Chinese officer, and source’s answer to propaganda questions. Questions were:
Do you think K. Korea is a puppet state?
What do you think of President Truman and Gen. MacArthur?
Did you know Wall Street families control the US?
Did you know that 8 families control the US?
Did you know that the DuPonts helped control the US?
Statements made were:
The American objective is to conquer all of Korea and then sell American produced goods to the country.
During the time America occupied Korea South of the 38th parallel, 65% of the Korean industry was not operating because Koreans had to buy American made products.
America wants to control all of Asia.
America wants to cross the Yalu River, conquer Manchuria and then all of Asia.
N. Korea was invaded by S. Korea.
When the N. Korean Army retreated, the Korean people flocked to their colors and the Army was really larger in retreat than it was in battle.
Syngman Rhee is American born and was dropped into Seoul by parachute at the close of World War II to organize a puppet government for the Americans.
Source was marched to Seoul, together with 27 S. Korean prisoners and handed over to N. Korean troops. On 28 Jan 51, was taken to another building in Seoul where he was quartered with two other American PsW, Pfc. Charles Huntley and Pfc Leroy Fields, both suffering from frost bite. These three stayed here until 7 Feb 51 when they were taken, by truck, to the N.W. part of the city and put into a building occupied by 14 American and 10 British prisoners. Source, plus Huntley, Fields and 5 British were here spoken to by a N. Korean who identified himself as a Major and told them that they were going to be released.
On 9 Feb, 17 Americans, 13 S. Koreans and 5 British were marched through Seoul, across the frozen Han river to Yongdong Po. South of here they were released by the interpreter saying, “You are free to go. There are no more People’s Army from here on. Your lines are one mile down the road.” The entire group, with three men in advance acting as a point, walked about four or five miles before contacting G Co, 35th Regt, 25th Div.
During the entire period Pvt. Augustynovich suffered no would or undue hardship and was in good physical condition.
For the CO, TIS:
WEELDREYER
