ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3878 8 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1635) 3 March 1951
| PW NAME: | CH’OE, Song T’ae (崔性泰) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Jr Sgt |
| ORGN: | III Corps, 1st Div, 2nd Regt, 2nd Bn, 5th Co, HMG Plat |
| DUTIES: | Machine gunner |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 6 yr |
| AGE: | 21 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | PYONGAN PUKTO, UI JU GUN, KORYONG SAK MYON, KUNAM NI, #133 (平安北道 義州郡 古■삭面 ■南里 一三三番地) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 220900 I Feb 51 at approx 12 km W of PYONGCHANG (DS 4735) by the 12 RCT. |
| INTERROGATOR: | DGC |
PW was in NKA for 1 year. Approximately 3½ months were spent in training. Information seems reliable but was limited.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted into NKA 4 March 50 at CHINNAMP’O (YC 1090). Received basic training for 3 months at CHIUL-RI (YC1692). During his training assigned to the 1st Plat, 2nd Co, 1st Bn, 16th Regt, 4th Division.
15 June 50 4th Div left CHINNAMP’O and travelled by train to KUMCHON (BT9925), arriving 16 June 50. From here Div marched to YONCH’ON (CT3117), arriving 20 June 50.
24 June 50, 4th Div began marching toward 38th Parallel, directly S of YONCH’ON.
PW was wounded shortly after crossing 38th and sent back to HAMHUNG. After recuperating in a hospital there for 1½ months, released 9 Aug 50. With 50 other men released from hospital, PW travelled to SEOUL, arriving 18 Aug 50. Assigned to the 31st Div at SEOUL.
7 Sep 50, 31st Div began retreating to KANGGYE (BA 9737), arriving 31 Nov 50.
Due to UN aircraft straffing and bombing of marching column, PW became separated from his unit and continued walking alone, arriving KANGGYE 15 Nov 50.
At KANGGYE received 20 more days of rifle training.
Nov 50 assigned to his present unit in 1st Div. PW did not know of any integration of troops or other organizational changes within the 1st Div at this time.
2 Dec 50 1st Div left KANGGYE on foot, arriving KUMSONG (CT7953) Jan 51. The Div trained here approx 1 month then left 2 Feb 51, marched southward, through CH’UNCH’ON (CS 8993) and until it reached PYONGCH’ANG (DS 4735) 20 Feb 51.
About 12 km W of PYONGCHANG, PW surrendered to 12th RCT because his leg was hurting, and he was tired of marching.
b. Location and Activities of Units:
Ignorant of the activities of 1st Div in PYONGCHANG but had heard it was planning to withdraw because of advancing UN units.
Heard from Political Officer and his Company commander that if UN forces captured PYONGCHANG, the mission of 1st Div was to encircle PYONGCHANG.
c. T/O & E and Strength:
III Corps: 1st, 3d, 15th Rifle Divisions
1st Rifle Div: 2d, 3d, 14th Rifle Regiments, Supply Section
2d Rifle Regt: 3 Rifle Battalions, SMG Co
2d Rifle Bn: 4th, 5th, 6th Rifle Companies (code: PYONGYANG (code: KONGWON 公園) 4), HMG Co, Supply Plat, Medical Plat, Signal Platoon.
5th Rifle Co: 3 Rifle Platoons, HMG Platoon
4th HMG Platoon: 3 HMG Squads
| 4th HMG Platoon: | Original (31 Oct 50) | Present (22 Feb 51) |
| EM | 12 | 11 |
| Officers | 1 | 1 |
| PW was the only loss in this unit; 1st Div had never been in combat up to the time PW deserted to surrender, 20 Feb 51. | ||
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| HMG M1910 | 1 (2,500 rd) | 1 (2,500 rd) |
| Rifles M1924/27 | 10 (120 rd per) | 10 (120 rds per) |
| Pistol M1895 | 1 (20 rd) | 1 |
| Grenades | 26 | 26 |
| 5th Rifle Company: | ||
| EM | 74 | 73 |
| Officers | 6 | 6 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| Rifles M1924/27 | 55 (120 rd per) | 55 (120 rd per) |
| Pistol, Tokarev | 5 | 5 |
| SMG, PPSH M1941 | 3 (210 rd per) | 3 (210 rd per) |
| LMG DP | 8 (880 rd per) | 8 (880 rd per) |
| HMG M1910 | 1 (2,500 rd) | 1 (2,500 rd) |
| Grenades | 120 | 120 |
| 2d Battalion: | ||
| EM | Approx 500 | Approx 500 |
| Officers | 8 | 8 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| Mortars 50mm, M1938 | 6 | 6 |
d. Personalities:
HAN, Kon Chun (韓건춘), Jr Lt
Plat Ldr, HMG Plat, 5th Co, 2d Bn, 2d Regt
CHU, Ki Hong (朱基鴻), Sr Lt
Co CO, 5th Co, 2d Bn, 2d Regt
CHONG, Ki Pong (鄭基峯), Maj
CO, 2d Bn, 2d Regt
KANG, Chong Su (姜정端), Col
CO, 2d Regt
KIM, Kwang Hyop (金光협), Lt Gen
CG, III NKA Corps
e. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
Food came to Bn Supply Platoon, from the Supply Section of the Division.
Each soldier received approx 800 grams of rice per day.
f. Signal:
Runners were employed from Platoon to Company and Company to Battalion. His battalion had a telegraph set for communicating with Regt.
Signal Platoon of his Bn had five Russian field phones.
g. Morale and Battle Effectiveness:
The attitude of the men in his company varied. About 70% of the men wanted to fight. The rest fought only because they were ordered to, and would be shot if they did not. The reasons for not wanting to fight were that they were hungry and had to work hard endlessly.
h. Medical:
No preventative measures for diseases.
About 30 to 40 frozen feet cases occurred in 5th Co, since, the march from KANGGYE. No treatment was given.
i. Psychological Warfare:
PW surrendered voluntarily because he was ill and was tired of marching.
Saw no UN leaflets and heard no loudspeaker broadcasts.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
