ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3675 1 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1557) 18 February 1951
| NAME: | KIM, Chae Bok (金在福)(김재복)(NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGN: | I Corps, 8th Div, 1st Regt, 1st Bn, 3rd Co, 3rd Plat, 2nd Sqd |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| AGE: | 26 |
| EDUCATION: | 6 yr |
| OCCUPATION: | Office Worker |
| ADDRESS: | KANGWONDO, HONGCH'ON-GUN, NAE-MYON, CHAUN-NI, #487 (江原道 洪川郡 內面 柴雲里 487番地) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 140900 I Feb 51 at KWANGJU (C4049) |
| INTERROGATOR: | GNY |
Cooperative and talked freely. He was grateful for the good treatment he received after being captured.
Information seems reliable.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted into the NKA 23 Aug 50 at HONGCH'ON (DS0271). The following day with approx 500 conscripts, marched to CHORWON (CT4335), arriving approx 12 days later. Underwent basic training for 10 days and then marched with 1,000 NKA troops to ANBYON (CU7223), arriving 11 Sep 50. Here, PW and the 1,000 NKA soldiers were assigned to units of the 8th Div, which had been activated a few days previously; PW was assigned to the 1st Regt, 1st Bn, 3rd Co, 3rd Plat, 2nd Sqd as a rifleman. Underwent advanced training (mainly obstacle courses) for approx 11 days.
1 Oct 50, retreated from this place with the entire 8th Div northward via mountain routes (constantly being harassed by UN planes) and finally arrived CHOSAN (YF3624) 30 Oct 50. By this time, the 8th Div had suffered many casualties but PW does not know if it received any replacements. Div recuperated at CHOSAN for 4 days and then went south, arriving at KOJANG (YC3725) 2 days later. Here the entire division underwent training for approx 20 days, which consisted chiefly of rifle familiarization.
10 Dec 50, departed with the 8th Div southward via mountain routes, arriving at HAEJU (VC3713) o/a 26 Dec 50. Here, the 8th Div was ordered to guard the port and coast areas.
13 Jan 51, the 8th Div was relieved by another unit and proceeded south through mountain routes, and arrived SEOUL 20 Jan 51. Div rested here but had to change its location often because of daily UN air attacks.
11 Feb 51, the 8th Div was ordered to support CCF unit which was encircled by UN troops SE of SEOUL.
After marching for 2 nights, the division arrived at KWANGJU (CS4049), and was preparing position on mountain. 13 Feb 51, was shelled heavily by guns of UN tanks; its troops were dispersed in confusion because it was their first engagement.
14 Feb 51, before dawn, the disorganized 8th Div retreated. PW deserted his unit together with 20 others during this retreat and surrendered.
b. Location and Activities of Unit:
The mission of the 8th Div was to support CCF unit, encircled by UN troops SE of SEOUL.
c. T/O & E and Strength of Unit:
I Corps: 8th, 18th & another Inf Div.
8th Div: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Regt.
1st Regt: 3 Inf Bn and other unk units.
1st Bn: 3 Rifle Co, HMG Co, AT Rifle Co, Mortar Co, Supply Plat, Sig Plat.
3rd Co: 3 Inf Plat, HMG Plat.
3rd Plat: 3 Rifle Sqd.
| 3rd Plat: | Original (30 Oct 50) | Present (14 Feb 51) |
| EM | 27 | 0 |
| Off | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 28 | 0 |
| Equipment & Ammo | ||
| 1891/30 Rifles | 20 (200 rd per) | 0 |
| Grenades (Russ) | 3 per man | 0 |
| Pistols (Russ) | 1 (rd unk) | 0 |
| SMG (Russ) | 3 (400 rd per) | 0 |
| 3rd Co: | ||
| EM | 95 | 10 |
| Off | 5 | 4 |
| Total | 100 | 14 |
| Equipment & Ammo | ||
| LMG (Russ) | 1 (rd 1,000) | 0 |
| HMG (Russ) | 2 (rd 1,000) | 0 |
| 1st Bn: | ||
| EM | 480 | 100 approx |
| Off | 30 | 20 |
| Total | 510 | 120 approx |
| Equipment & Ammo | ||
| 14.5mm "Degtyarev" PTRO 1941 Rifles | 10 | 10 |
These rifles were not used, although the Bn was attacked by UN tanks 13 Feb 51.
The 8th Div suffered heavy casualties when it was attacked by UN tanks 13 Feb 51. In 3rd Plat, 7 were killed and the remaining including the Plat Ldr, surrendered to UN troops.
d. Personalities:
Co CO was KIA, and the Bn CO was captured.
PAEK, Hak Lim (白學林)(백학림), Lt Col, Regt CO, 1st Regt, 8th Co.
e. Replacements:
The 8th Div had never received any.
f. Food and Ammo and Other Supplies:
Food was obtained through confiscation. 8th Div received an ammo issue once at SEOUL 11 Feb 51, when it received orders to go into battle. Approx 6 Russian trucks were used to haul the ammo. These trucks arrived during the night and after the ammo was unloaded, the trucks were parked between two houses and covered with a white cloth. The ammo supply consisted of shells for rifles, SMG, AT rifles, mortars, AT mines and hand grenades.
g. Armor:
122000 I Feb 51, PW observed 2 x US 1 and 2 x T-34 tanks parked along the western gate of SEOUL. The tank crews were on top of these tanks speaking Chinese. There were no other CCF troops other than them in the area at the time.
h. Signal:
Telephone used in all units of the 8th Div, runners also used.
i. Morale:
Morale of the troops was low because of the mistreatment they received from their officers. Soldiers were beaten often, and at times, shot if they were unable to keep up with their units.
j. Medical:
Approx 90% of 8th Div were suffering with headache and fatigue from long marches.
Approx 2 or 3 soldiers from each platoon were suffering from frostbite and frozen feet. They were not treated but were forced to walk. They were shot if they were unable to walk.
k. Psychological Warfare:
PW voluntarily surrendered because of the mistreatment he received from his officers.
PW saw leaflets.
The leaflets stated that by order of Gen MacARTHUR, the PW would not be shot, but, instead, given good treatment and food if he surrendered.
The troops said that they would surrender if they had the chance; they were shot if they were overheard by an officer about these plans or if they were caught trying to surrender.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
