ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3692 1 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1575) 21 February 1951
| PW NAME: | SO, Byong Tae (徐炳泰) (서병태) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| ORGN: | 503rd Independent Regt, 4th Bn, 2nd Co, 2nd Plat, 2nd Sqd |
| DUTIES: | General Duty |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 3 yr |
| AGE: | 29 |
| OCCUPATION: | Laborer (Construction) |
| ADDRESS: | PYONGAN PUKTO, KANGGYE SI, SOWON-NI (平安北道 江界市 西源里) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 161000 Feb 51 at CHUCHON-NI (DS3824) |
| INTERROGATOR: | W.T.O. |
Cooperative and gave information freely. Information seems reliable.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted on 16 Dec 50 at KANGGYE (BA 9837) and assigned to present unit which was being activated.
Approximately 100 men constituted the 2nd Co and were engaged in bridge construction, explosives training, and close order drill until 5 Jan 51 when they departed southward.
Most of the officers were fresh out of the Engr School at P’YONGYANG and had no actual experience in military engineering, as evidenced by their always consulting their text books during training.
The regiment moved to PYONGYANG during early Jan 51.
It underwent further training while in PYONGYANG. The 2nd Co, 4th Bn moved to CHUNCHO (CS 8993) by trucks during latter Jan 51 (1 company each from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions were sent).
The 2nd Co, 4th Bn was to be attached to the Korean People’s Guerrilla Unit, South Area (Dept), Revolution 6th Branch Unit. They were known as the “Partisans” (遊𨊥隊).
The other 3 Engr companies were to be attached to the same type of units.
The 2nd Company was met by representatives of the 6th Branch Unit at CH’UNCHON and were escorted to the 6th Branch Unit which was located approximately 6 km N of CHU’CHON-NI. PW group arrived 14 Feb 51 at the 6th Branch Unit Hq.
15 Feb 51, when the unit was preparing to move, PW deserted with the intention of going to SEOUL.
He was captured.
b. Location and Activities of Unit:
The 2nd Company was last seen departing CHUCHON-NI area 15 Feb 51 together with the 1st Co to the 6th Branch Unit. The other 3 engineer companies of the 503rd Regiment were believed in those units.
The objective of these 6 Branch Units (strength heard to be 5,000) was to proceed to CHIRI-SAN (CQ8410), from where they were to disrupt the communication lines in the southern area.
It was heard from an officer who had had experience in guerrilla warfare in the CHOLLA NAMDO area, that reconnaissance troops or women will be sent out during the day to reconnoiter and guerrillas will carry out the mission by night. The 6th Branch Unit included 15 women 18 to 30 years of age, believed to be South Koreans.
The officers spoke the dialect of the CHOLLA NAMDO and CH’UNGCHON-DO areas. The unit included mostly South Koreans or those who were familiar with CHOLLA NAMDO Province.
The unit was last seen departing the area of CHUNCHON-NI on 15 Feb 51 for CHIRI-SAN.
An advance unit left a day ahead of the main body of guerrillas to determine a route.
All except the engr troops wore civilian clothes, and were volunteers who were not afraid to sacrifice their lives. All were armed with M1891/30 rifles, carbines, M-1 rifles and SMG (Russian) with an average of 100 rd each. The 6th Branch Unit included 4 LMG (US).
c. T/O & E and Strength of Unit:
503rd Engr Regt: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and the 4th Battalions.
Each Battalion: 3 Engr Companies
Each Company: 3 Engr Platoons
Each Platoon: 3 Engr Squads
Each Squad: 10 men
2nd Co, 4th Battalion:
| Original | Present | |
| EM | 94 | 93 |
| Officer | 6 | 6 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| Rifles | 90 (100 rd per) | Unk |
| SMG | 9 (150 rd per) | |
| Pistols | 1 | |
| Grenades | 7 per man | |
| Dynamite (4” long) Sticks | 60 per man | |
| AT Grenade | 1 per man | |
| Dynamite wires | 7 meters per man | |
d. Personalities:
LEE, Ki Won (李基源), Colonel, CO, 376th Regiment
PAK, Ki Ho (朴基浩), Maj, CO, 4th Battalion (Recently graduated from the Military Academy, P’YONGYANG)
LEE, Kyong Ton (李京敦), Jr, Lt, Plat Ldr, 2nd Plat (Recent graduate of the Military Academy, P’YONGYANG).
e. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
When the 6 Branch Units and the engr companies departed the CHONCHON-NI area, each carried 3 to 5 days supply of food.
Ammo was planned to be received from various raids which were to be executed on units in their territory.
f. Morale:
Morale of the 2nd Company, Engr Regt was low, being constituted of mostly draft-evaders, were in hiding until recently, when they were apprehended and conscripted into the NKA.
They knew the uselessness of fighting the war as they lacked the military power of the United Nations. Some of them had entered the NKA as their families were threatened if they did not send a member into the service.
They had the idea that for every 10 soldiers sent into combat, 9 were killed.
Morale of the guerrilla units was very high. All wanted to fight, regardless of the consequences.
For example, on 14 Feb 51, a CCF unit was battling an UN unit approximately 4 km W of CHUCHON-NI, which resulted in the CCF withdrawal. Upon seeing this, the 1st Branch Unit, a guerrilla unit, of lesser strength, pushed the CCF aside and took over the battle which lasted for a day.
g. Signal:
The 6th Branch Unit (Partisans) had 2 wireless radios.
h. Psychological Warfare:
PW surrendered and had seen no leaflets.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
