ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3773 3 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (2 DIV LDI 0198) 13 February 1951
| NAME: | WYE Yung Ming |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 23 |
| DUTY: | Machine gun ammo bearer |
| UNIT: | CCF, 66th Army, 197th Div. 589th Regt, 3rd Bn, HMG Co |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 122200 hr Feb 51 at vic of HOENGSONG |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt KITSU |
PW was reluctant in answering questions. Information limited. Information seems to be reliable.
During the battle in vic of HOENGSONG 12 Feb 51, PW was wounded and later captured by a ROK Unit.
a. Chronology:
The 66th Army composed of 196th, 197th and 198th Div. The 197th Div departed KUMHWA 8 Feb 51 and arrived vic of HOENGSONG on 12 Feb 51. PW does not know whether the 196th and 198th Div intended to attack HOENGSONG from the east. After capturing HOENGSONG, the 197th Div was to push south.
The 197th Div composed 587th, 588th, and 589th Regt and Security Force, Mt Gun Bn, and a Medical Unit. Strength of 589th Regt was approx 1500, and Regt composed of 3 Bn (approx 300 men per Bn), Mortar Co (100 men) and Security Co.
b. Weapons:
Weapons observed in the 3rd Bn, 589th Regt: 6x82mm motars (20 rd ea), 4x60mm motars (20 rd ea), 3x60mm motar per Co (25 rd ea), 6 HMG (1500 rd ea), 4 LMG per Co (1000 rd ea), 3 Automatic rifles per Co.
All infantry men carried Japanese model 38 rifles (30 rd ea), 1 hand grenades.
Mt Gun Bn was left behind at KUMHWA when 197th Div departed 6 Feb 51.
c. Clothing: Everyone in 197th Div wore cotton quilted winter clothing.
d. Medical: Neither saw nor heard of any contagious diseases in CCF Units.
The 197th Div suffered heavy casualties along the 38th Parallel. About two-fifths of the men were suffering from frostbite and many were evacuated to the rear.
e. Food: Unit received no food supply and food confiscated in villages was insufficient.
f. Morale: Morale of the troops was low due to the constant air attacks they received from UN aircrafts.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OJI
