ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3649 27 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (2 DIV LDI - 0157) 11 February 1951
| PW NAME: | PAE Byong Chon, Former ROK |
| AGE: | 33 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| UNIT: | NKA 6th Div, 2nd Regt, attached Mortar Co |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 7 Feb 51 at HOENGSONG |
| INTERROGATED BY: | Pfc MINAMI |
Cooperative and info seems reliable.
Not recommended for further interrogation.
O/a 20 Nov 50 unk strength of ROK 7th, 8th Div and elements of US troops were encircled by CCF and NK troops and were forced to surrender at MAENGSAN, NK.
O/a 15 Dec 50 PW and approx 300 other ROK soldiers were forced into NK 6th Div at HONGCHON-GUN, KAPCHONG-MYON.
6 Feb 51 PW and one other former ROK soldier escaped while they were being sent to V Corps to bring in food for 4th Anniversary of NKA (8 Feb 51). They were in search of their former ROK Unit when they were apprehended.
a. Chronology:
Latter part of Dec, 6th Div consisting of approx 2,500 men crossed 38th Parallel and arrived at WONJU 6 Jan 51.
7 Jan 51, they withdrew to the area of KAPCHONG-NI (vic of DS2757) to take one month rest.
3 Feb 51, approx 150 men including PW and one other former ROK soldier were sent out to obtain pigs, canvas shoes and underwear from V Corps Hq, located in TONG-MYON, approx 20 km WNW of KAPCHONG-NI, for the 4th Anniversary.
3 Feb 51, 2nd Regt of 6th Div consisting of approx 700 strong were at a location approx 2 km W of KAPCHON-NI.
4 Feb 51, 2nd Regt Hq personnel were in village HWANGGOL (vic of DS2657). During the day time all the personnel stayed in air-raid shelters (capacity: over 100 men), located on W slope of a hill, located E of HWANGGOL (approx 300 m). Personnel other than Regt, stayed in houses located across the river (N of this village) during the night.
Personnel of 3rd Regt of 6th Div stayed in villages, KAPCHONG-NI and CHONGJICHON (vic of DS2858).
4-6 Feb 51, observed approx 1000 troops (armed with US carbines (1 magazine), M-1 Rifles, PPsh SMG, 3 US jeeps and an empty Japanese truck, at V Corps Hq. All the personnel were in several villages, in an around the vic of V Corps.
Believes that most Div of V Corps are grouped at above mentioned areas or its vicinity.
Heard from his Co CO that they were to let the UN Troops push past WONJU and cut off their MSR and encircle them. They were waiting for 120mm, 76mm and 45mm guns to go into 4th phase of operation.
Heard a rumor that US only had 3 Atom Bombs, so there was no need to fear.
Weapons of 2nd Regt as 3 Feb 51: 6 x 81mm mortars with 2 rd each, 3 HMG (total 150 rd of ammo), 6 PPsh SMG with 130 rd of ammo per, in newly organized PPsh SMG Co. Everyone armed with rifles with 20 rd ea.
b. Ammo Supply: None.
c. Food Supply: Insufficient; obtained from villages.
d. Contagious Diseases: None.
e. Physical Condition: Good; 20 to 30 men in Regt were suffering from frostbite.
f. Morale: Very high, because they believe that they will push the UN troops to PUSAN with the CCF Troops.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OJI
