ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3879 8 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1636) 3 March 1951
| PW NAME: | CHONG Ch’ol Bok (鄭哲福) (정철복) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Sr Lieutenant (大尉) |
| ORGANIZATION: | III Corps, 15th Div, 2d Regt, 3d Bn, 2d Company |
| DUTIES: | Company Commander |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 years) |
| AGE: | 27 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | HAMKYONG PUKTO, KYONGSONG GUN, CHUNAM MYON, SAENGKI DONG ( ) |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 261000 I Feb 51 at PANGNIM NI (DS 5043) |
| INTERROGATOR: | K.S.S. |
Appeared to be alert and cooperative.
Information seems reliable.
a. Chronology:
2 Oct 45, PW was inducted into a CCF Unit as a private in MANCHURIA, CHILIN SHENG, WANGCHING HSIEN, WANG CHING (滿洲 吉林省 汪淸縣 汪淸). Trained for 3 months, remaining until Jul 46.
Aug 46, the CCF Unit was designated as the Democratic Allied Unit (民主■軍), Independent 6th Division. This Division remained at WANGCHING (汪淸) until Apr 48 and fought bandits during this period.
15 May 48, 6th Division of approx 10,000 men (all Korean Nationals) moved to HSINKING (新京), MANCHURIA.
6th Division, 6th Corps, and Independent 10th Division surrounded remaining CNA in HSINKING for 5 months, and finally occupied it 19 Oct 48.
10th Division remained in HSINKING, and 6th Division marched southward. During this march, 6th Division was absorbed into CCF VI Corps and was redesignated as 156th Division 15 Nov 48. Also, CCF VI Corps was redesignated as CCF 43d Corps under 4th Field Army.
10 Jan 49, 43d Corps arrived vicinity of PEIPING (北平), CHINA and retrained for approx one month.
15 May 49, the 43d Corps moved to CHIANG HIS SHENG, NANCHANG SHIH (南昌市), CHINA. The 27th, 128th and 129th Divisions of the 43d Corps marched southward, with only 156th Division remaining. It engaged bandits until 20 Nov 49. At this time, all Korean Nationals in CCF were ordered to return to KOREA, and approx 600 Koreans of 156th Division departed NANCHANG SHIH (南昌市) for CHENG CHOU (鄭州), CHINA.
12 Dec 49, PW arrived CHENGCHOU where approx 13,000 Koreans were assembled. Here, in Dec 49, the Korean Independent 15th Division was organized with the above 13,000 Koreans. Its troops were trained here for approx three months.
15 Mar 50, 15th Division departed CHENGCHOU for KOREA by train.
25 Apr 50, arrived at WONSAN (CU 6634) via SINUIJU (XE 1839). The Div was immediately redesignated there as NKA 7th Division and trained for approx one moth. PW was promoted to Jr Sergeant.
22 Jun 50, 7th Division moved to INJE (DT 2813), and crossed 38th parallel 25 Jun 50. PW remained at INJE (DT 2813) because of sickness and departed for CHINNAMPO (YC 0989) by train 27 Jun 50 for treatment.
20 Jul 50, released from the hospital and transported to CHINNAMPO with approx 20 ex-patients. Assigned to NKA 2d Regt, 43d Division, then located at CHINNAMPO. Promoted to Jr Lt and assigned as 3d Platoon Leader, 2d Co, 3d Bn.
43d Division remained for approx two months, training its troops.
18 Sep 50, 43d Division arrived SONGCH’ON (BU 6048) and was attacked by four UN jet-planes; the 2d Regiment was scattered. PW lost his unit and marched northward with 40 other men.
29 Sep 50, PW and 40 men arrived HUICHON (BV 6749). Assigned as 1st Platoon Leader, 2d Co, 3d Bn, 2d Regt, 15th Div, III Corps 1 Oct 50. The 15th Division was then located at HUICH’ON.
2 Oct 50, 15th Div moved to KUHYON (BV 7577) to train its troops for one month.
11 Oct 50, PW was promoted to Sr Lieutenant and assigned as 2d Company Commander.
8 Nov 50, 15th Div was ordered to march southward. Just prior to departing, 11 Russian Maxim HMG were issued to 3d Battalion; 2 Russian LMG with 5,000 rounds ammo were issued to 2d Co; 50 winter clothes, 5 wool caps, 13 winter coats, and 15 boots were also issued to 2d Company.
20 Jan 51, the Div arrived at KANGNUNG (DS 9178) on foot, via:
HUICHON (BV 6749)
TOKCH’ON (BV 6903)
SIN SONGCH’ON (BU 6359)
YANGDOK (BU 9643)
KOKSAN (BT 9795)
YAHON (CT 1563)
PYONGKANG (CT 5152)
KUMHWA (CT 6538)
HWACH’ON (CT 8618)
YANGGU (DT 1117)
INJE (DT 2813)
27 Jan 51, an unknown brigade (known as Marines) arrived KANGNUNG (DS 9178) from the north, and 15th Div moved to PUNGAM NI Feb 51. It remained for 5 days and moved to approx 12 Km S of PYONGCHANG (DS (4735) 20 Feb 51. Engaged a UN Unit there (casualties unknown) and began to retreat northward.
24 Feb 51, arrived PANGNIM NI (DS 5043), engaged a UN Unit, and withdrew. PW remained behind and was captured.
b. Location and Activities of Unit: (As of 25 Feb 51)
When last observed (25 Feb 51) 2d Regiment Headquarters was located approx 2 Km N of PANGNIM NI (DS 5043) with 1st and 3d Regiment Headquarters in the rear.
1st Division, III Corps, was located approx 300 meters East of 2d Regiment position. At this time, the 15th Div was preparing for defensive warfare in conjunction with the 1st Division.
c. T/O & E and Strength of Units: (As of 25 Feb 51)
III Corps (NK): 1st, 3d and 15th Rifle Divisions.
15th Division: (Code: 775) 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Regiments, Artillery Regiment, Engineer Bn, HMG Bn, Signal Bn, and Division Headquarters.
Division Headquarters: Sanitary Section, Supply Section, Staff Section, and Political Section.
2d Regiment: (Code: 779) 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Battalions, Arty Bn, SMG Co, AT Rifle Plat, Signal Co, and Regiment Headquarters.
3d Battalion: 3 Rifle Companies, 82mm Mortar Co, HMG Co, 45mm Gun Plat, AT Rifle Plat, Signal Plat, Sanitary Plat, and Supply Plat.
2d Company: 3 Rifle Platoons, and HMG Platoon.
| Rifle Platoon; 2d Company | Original (1 Oct 50) | Present (25 Feb 51) |
| EM | 32 | 18 |
| Officers | 6 | 5 |
| Some of the above casualties were KIA and WIA. | ||
| Approx 5 men were sick. | ||
| One officer was wounded 22 Feb 51. | ||
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| LMG (Russian) | 2 | 2 (500 rds ea) |
| SMG (Russian) | 5 | 5 (350 rds ea) |
| Rifles (Russian | 26 | 12 (100 rds ea) |
| HMG Platoon, 2d Company | ||
| EM | 11 | 9 |
| Officers | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| Russian Maxim HMG | 2 | 2 (200 rds ea) |
| Rifles (Russian) | 10 | 7 (100 rds ea) |
| Supply Platoon, 3d Battalion | ||
| EM | 5 | 5 |
| Officer | 1 | 1 |
| AT Rifle Platoon, 3d Battalion | ||
| EM | 21 | 19 (1 sick, 1 wounded) |
| Officer | 1 | 0 (remained behind because of sickness) |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| AT Rifle (14.5 PTRD 1941 Model) | 9 | 9 |
| Russian SMG | 3 | 2 (350 rds ea) |
| HMG Company, 3d Battalion | ||
| EM | 40 (approx) | 40 (approx) |
| Officers | 5 | Unk |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| HMG (Maxim) | 5 | 5 (2,000 rds ea) |
| Rifle (Russian) | Unk | Unk |
| 82mm Mortar Company, 3d Battalion | ||
| EM | 40 | 40 (approx) |
| Officers | 5 | 5 |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| 82mm Mortar | 3 (total, approx 200 rds ea) | 3 (no shells) |
| 60mm Mortar | 1 (12 shells) | 1 (no shells) |
| 2d Rifle Company | ||
| EM | 119 | 74 |
| Officers | 6 | 5 |
| AA Rifle Platoon, 2d Regiment | ||
| EM and Officers | Unk | Unk |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| AT Rifle | 1 | 1 |
| SMG Company, 2d Regiment | ||
| EM | Unk | 100 (approx) |
| Officers | Unk | 5 |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| SMG (Russian) | unk | 100 approx (350 rds ea) |
| Artillery Regiment, 15th Division | ||
| EM and Officers | Unk | 200 (approx) |
| 2d Regiment, 15th Division | ||
| EM and Officers | 2,000 | 1,500 (approx) |
| Almost 400 men had been transferred to other units, and the others were KIA, WIA and sick. | ||
| 15th Division, III Corps | ||
| EM and Officers | 10,000 | 9,000 (approx) |
d. Personalities:
LEE, Tu Chan (李頭賛) (리두찬), Col (大佐), CO, 2d Regiment, 15th Div
e. Replacements:
Approximately 60 recruits were placed in 2d Regiment, 15th Division 5 Jan 51 at INJU (DE 2813). Those recruits were conscripted in vicinity of INJE (CT 2813). They were absolutely not rained.
f. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
Each man carried 3 days TTOK (떡) (Korean flour stick), 2 days MISUKARU (미수가루) (sauce) and 3 days rice supply with him.
Each man carried approx 100 rds of ammo.
Generally speaking, food was insufficient.
g. Signal:
Company, 1 Field Phone in CP. (Japanese model).
Battalion: 2 Field Phones in BN CP. (US, model unk).
Regiment: Field Phones, number unknown.
Division: 1 Wireless in Division CP.
h. Morale and Battle Effectiveness:
Morale was low because of lack of food and artillery support.
I. UN PW:
PW saw approx 2,000 ROK PW marching northward, approx 24 Km south of HUICHON (BV 6749) 11 Nov 50. Those ROK PW were guarded by troops of 6th Division, II Corps.
j. Medical:
There were six typhus patients in 3d Bn, 2d Regiment. Those patients remained INJE (DT 2813) and were accommodated in a civilian hospital.
PW had no knowledge of immunizations and medicines.
Five frost-bite patients were noticed in 3d Battalion. The unit had an unknown ointment for frost-bite patients, but not effective.
k. Psychological Warfare:
PW was captured.
Saw UN leaflets three times: first, at HUICH’ON (BV 6749) 10 Nov 50; next, at INJE (DT 2813) 5 Jan 51; and finally at PANGNIM NI (DS 5043) 25 Feb 51.
The leaflets had almost the same contents:
“If you surrender, you will be safe, and the wounded shall be kindly treated”.
PW did not believe it.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
