ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3645 27 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (2 DIV LDI - 0146) 9 February 1951
| PW NAME: | KIM Pyon Kil |
| AGE: | 23 |
| DUTY: | Ammo bearer |
| UNIT: | NKA, V Corps, 12th Div, 1st Regt, 3rd Bn, 2nd Co, 2nd Plat, 1st Sqd |
| PLACE & DATE OF CAPTURE: | 4 km west of HOENGSONG, 8 Feb 51 |
| INTERROGATED BY: | Pfc MINAMI |
Cooperative in answering questions, and intelligent, but not observant while with his unit. Information seems fairly reliable.
Not recommended for further interrogation.
Night of 7 Feb 51, PW deserted while his unit retreating north 15 km WNW of HOENGSONG (DS0949) and voluntarily surrendered.
O/a 9 Jan 51, elements of 12th Div arrived HOENGSONG SHINAM-MYON where they rested for approx 20 days. 2nd Regt (strength unk) was at hill located approx 4 km north of HOENGSONG. 2nd Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt consisting of 70 men was at 4 km west of HOENGSONG. He does not know the location of the 3rd Regt. O/a 2000 hr 6 Feb 51, PW noticed that the personnel of 3rd Regt was retreating with them approx 10 km WNW of HOENGSONG. Previously around 1300 hr of the same day, the 2nd Regt was retreating through 1st Regt defense line after being defeated and 1st Regt also retreated with them northward. PW asked a villager the whereabouts of ROK forces and stated that he wanted to join the ROKA and fight against NKA, because he was conscripted and was treated like a dog. He was a member of a religious group (Chonto-kyo) and also a member of Home Security Force. Heard from a friend that the 1st Plat, 2nd Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, consisting of approx 22 men were dispatched to 2nd Regt, 12th Div and engaged US forces 6 Feb 51, and only 2 survived. Weapons of 12th Div as of 6 Feb 51: 2 or 3 x 82mm mortars with 30 rd in Mortar Co (formerly composed of Koreans from MANCHURIA); 5 or 6 x LMG with 1000 rd of ammo ea in 2nd Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 1 or 2 HMG in each co. 50% of 2nd Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt were armed with PPsh SMG with 300-350 rd of ammo ea. Remaining personnel were armed with either carbines or rifles. O/a 15 Jan 51, heard from political officer that approx 300 men of INDIA wanted to help the NKA.
a. Food Supply: Contained from villages and seemed sufficient.
b. Ammo Supply: 25 Jan 51, 1000 rd of LMG ammo were received at area 4 km north of HOENGSONG.
c. Uniform: Most of the troops were in winter uniform, but some were in civilian clothing.
d. Medical: 6 men in 3rd Bn, 1st Regt were suffering from contagious disease (type unk). Patients are brought back to the hospital, but there are no drugs for them. Most of the soldiers appeared to be sick (PW believes the cause is due to insufficient sleep and bitter cold, and fatigue).
e. Morale: High among communists because they believe in communist ideals and that they can defeat UN Forces. Low among non-communist soldiers because they do not believe in communism and are constantly trying to desert whenever they have a chance to do so.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OJI
