ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3871 8 March 1951
The following information was obtained from recovered American military personnel, who were interrogated upon arrival in JAPAN from KOREA by Central Interrogation Center, TIS. The interrogation was conducted at Tokyo Army Hospital by Capt SHAPPELL.
During an engagement on Hill 209 on 3 Feb 51, source was wounded in right leg by grenade fragments. Chinese troops overran the position, and continued forward without noticing this incident. On 4 Feb 51, another American, Pvt PATTERSON of Co K appeared and shortly after, both men were taken prisoner. A Chinese aid man bandaged source’s leg. Twenty-four other Americans were captured and brought to a collecting point at the foot of Hill 209. All were searched in a perfunctory manner and no personal effects were taken.
These men were formed in two groups of twelve each and handed a piece of paper with crude printing on it. Source believes there were only three lines which read: ■■as greetings from the people of CHINA. Why do you Americans come to KOREA to kill Korean people? Withdraw from KOREA.
The two groups were then marched about 20 miles north through Chinese lines and on 5 Feb were quartered in a village hut. They were fed for the first time, given boiled water, and source received fresh bandages.
After the group was fed, a Chinese judged to be an officer from his bearing, approached and selected twelve of the twenty-four men and took them outside to a clearing. Here a strange incident took place out of earshot. Source observed the action which followed and was told by members of the selected group what the Chinese officer had said. Upon reaching the clearing, the group was told, “Don’t be afraid. We won’t shoot you. We just want to take pictures. I will be in the picture with you to show that you won’t be hurt. I don’t want to be shot.” The Chinese then put on an American uniform and field coat, the Americans were given unloaded rifles and instructed to show fear, throw away their guns and run in any direction. Upon signal, the group with the Chinese officer wearing a GI uniform in their midst, acted out their instructions several times while three Chinese soldiers took movies of the action from all angles. The Chinese officer acted in this scene as though he were an American prisoner just like the others.
When the group returned to the hut, the same officer addressed all twenty-four and said that all those who could walk would go to SEOUL, then N KOREA, MANCHURIA and finally, CHINA. He further stated that two ships were waiting to take the prisoners to S CHINA where they would attend a Communist school. When the course was finished, they would be sent from HONGKONG to SAN FRANCISCO, and all this would be accomplished in a few months.
On 6 Feb 51, the group was moved approximately three miles to a second village. During this move, source observed six camels being led toward the front. These camels appeared heavily loaded with small boxes. Eighteen new American prisoners were at the second village and here the wounded were segregated and questioned first by three Chinese officers. Interrogation of individuals was conducted in the hearing of all. Questions asked included last name, rank, position in the Army, civilian occupation, date entered the Army and date entered KOREA. The interrogating officers told the group their correct regiment and division. Immediately, upon completion of interrogation, personal effects were taken and the men billeted in three huts.
On 7 and 8 Feb 51, all the prisoners who could walk were taken to the hills and made to occupy foxholes as protection against planes. About 2100, on 8 Feb, all men who could walk were ordered to move out. A new interpreter, called “Charlie Chan” by the Americans because of his appearance, addressed the group saying: “The people of CHINA will welcome you. They will give you food, wine and women. In a few months you will be back in the US.” The group then moved out accompanied by the interpreter, leaving only ten wounded men behind. Lt WALKER of Co A, 19th Inf Regt was included in the group which moved out, but source is positive that the Lt told his captors that he was a corporal.
The wounded remained in this locality until 16 Feb 51. The interpreter called “Charlie Chan” returned on 10 Feb and was asked by the Americans for safe conduct passes. On 14 Feb, he reappeared and said the request for safe conduct passes was refused. However, on 16 Feb, he reappeared and said those wounded who could walk wound be guided to their lines. Five men left with guides and the rest of the Chinese left the village leaving a bag of rice for those wounded who could not walk.
On 17 Feb 51, two of the men decided that they could walk to the lines and left the village. They were successful and the following day a patrol from Co E, 2d Bn, 19th Inf reached the village and recovered the three remaining men.
The following information was obtained from recovered American military personnel, who were interrogated upon arrival in JAPAN from KOREA by Central Interrogation Center, TIS. The interrogation was conducted at 361st Station Hospital by Capt SHAPPELL.
On 1 Jan 51, elements of the 19th Inf encountered a road block near UIJONGBU. About eighteen men were captured by Chinese troops, marched six nights in a northerly direction and finally joined up with a larger group of approximately one hundred American prisoners.
On or about 14 Jan 50, source, with two others clipped out of the column as it was passing through a village. When the column had passed, food was obtained from a Korean family and they were allowed to remain in the house that evening. The next day was spent walking in the mountains and the following day another village was entered. Food was given to them by a Korean lady, but as they were eating she notified three Chinese who were in the same house and again they were taken prisoner.
These Chinese spoke English, were dressed in good uniforms and had fine saddle horses. The officers said they would take the three Americans to their Div G-2. This was in a house at the base of a mountain and here they were questioned individually along personal lines concerning their civilian occupation, residence in the US, marital status, etc. They were then told that they would be taken to a General Headquarters. This was located in the finest house any of the men had seen in KOREA. They did not enter the house but the General came to the door and appeared delighted to see them. He identified himself as formerly having lived in PUSAN and said, “I’ll take you to PUSAN some day.” He then had food brought in and played a phonograph while the prisoners ate. Source feels that they were brought to the Gen as an exhibit.
After eating, prisoners were confined and held near the General Headquarters for three days and were then taken to a nearby village where they joined their original group from which they had escaped. This group was attending a Communist indoctrination school. (See ATIS Interrogation Report No. 3602)
For the CO, TIS:
WEELDREYER
