ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3872 8 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (521 LDI - 0479) 26 February 1951
| NAME: | KAN, Hei Myong |
| AGE: | 18 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Co Runner |
| UNIT: | III Corps, 15th Div, 1st Regt, 1st Bn, 2nd Co, 1st Plat |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 24 Feb 51 by 7th Div. 4 km N of PYONGCHANG (DS 4535) |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (4 yr) |
| OCCUPATION: | Laborer |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl TSURUMAKI |
PW cooperative.
Reliability - Fair
a. Chronology:
Mid Oct 50 - Conscripted at SARIWON (TC 4065) and attached to 2nd Co, 1st Bn, 1st Regt, 15th Div. Observed approx 1,500 men.
Late Oct 50 - 1st Regt, 15th Div departed SARIWON in Bn formation.
Early Nov 50 - Arrived KANGGYE via TOKCHON (BC 7004). While 1st Regt was passing through TOKCHON issued 11 HMG (Russ) and unk number of rifles. 1st Regt received approx one month of political tng here. At KANGGYE heard 15th Div composed of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regt but did not observe 2nd and 3rd Regt in vic of KANGGYE. 1st Regt issued winter clothing here.
Early Dec 50 - 1st Regt departed KANGGYE.
Mid Jan 51 - 1st Regt arrived KUMHWA (CT 6538) via HUICHON (YE 7949) through mountain passes. At KUMHWA men issued 300 rd of rifle ammo, and departed immediately through mountain passes.
15 Feb 51 - Arrived vic of PUNGAN NI (DS 2973) via HWACHON (CT 8718). 1st Regt dug in here and received 3 days of political tng.
18 Feb 51 - Departed PUNGAM NI.
21 Feb 51 - Arrived PYONGCHANG. Issued 4 hand grenades per man. Heard 2d and 3d Regt of 15th Div marching in the rear of 1st Regt. Observed 1st and 2nd Div of III Corps in vic of PYONGCHANG.
24 Feb 51 - 1st Regt of 15th Div attacked by UN Forces. Dropped out because of illness. 1st Regt retreated in disorder, captured.
b. Organization and Personnel:
III Corps: 1st, 2nd, and 15th Div
15th Div: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regt (1,500 men ea)
1st Regt: 3 Bn (380 men ea)
Regt Arty Btry: PPSH SMG Co, Comm Co, AA MG Co
c. Weapons and Ammo:
Rifle Sqd: 1 LMG “DEGTYAREV” DP 200 rd, 1 PPSH 140 rd, 7-8 “MOSSIN” rifles 200 rd ea, 3-4 Grenades per man
Rifle Plat: 3 LMG, 3 PPSH SMG, 20-22 Russ rifles
〃 Co: 4 pistols 50 rd, 9 LMG, 10 PPSH SMG, 55-60 Russ rifles
HMG Co: 11 HMG “MAXIM” 800 rd ea, 3-4 PPSH SMG, 30-40 Russ Rifles
Mortar Co: 8 x 82mm mortars (Russ) (4 out of parts) 50 shells ea, 4 PPSH SMG, unk number of rifles.
AT Rifle Co: 6 x 14.5mm “SIMINOV” PTSPS AT rifles.
45mm Gun Co: No guns. Each man carried “MOSSIN” rifles.
AA MG Co: 5 AA MG
1st Bn, 1st Regt, consisted of 3 rifle Co (210 men ea), Bn attached 82mm mortar Co (40-50 men), HMG Co (50-60), Com Plat (22 men), AT Rifle Plat (17 men), 45mm Gun Plat (27 men). Plat Strength - 25 men, Sqd - 8-10 men.
d. Personalities:
KWON, Tae Sun, Capt, CO, 1st Bn
KIM, Chin Su, Lt, CO, 2nd Co, 1st Bn
e. Code Names:
1st Regt, 15th Div: “TAEDONGGANG” (Phonetic)
1st Bn: “KUMGANSAN” ( 〃 )
1st Co: “SONAMU” ( 〃 )
2nd Co: “PODUNAMU” ( 〃 )
3rd Co: “CHAMNUMU” ( 〃 )
f. Morale:
Morale low due to insufficient military training, food, etc.
g. Psychological Warfare:
Surrender Leaflets: Read surrender leaflets and wanted to surrender but being told they will be killed upon capture or surrender by UN troops, was afraid to desert unit. During trip southward, passed approx 500 yards from home. Plat Ldr sensed situation and placed two guards along side PW to give him no chance of even thinking of escaping or to desert.
h. Supply:
Food: Each man in the 1st Regt carried 3 days ration of rice.
Ammo: 1st Regt supplies with rifle ammo at KUMHWA. Observed unk number of ox carts which transported the ammo.
i. Sickness:
Approx 2 month ago typhus epidemic in 1st Regt. PW plat lost 8 men due to typhus. Patients shipped to unk hosp at rear area.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SINGLETON
