ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3887 9 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1638) 4 March 1951
| NAME: | LEE, Sung Ch’ol (李承哲) (리승철) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGN: | I Corps, 17th Div, 2d Regt, 1st Bn, 2d Co, 3rd Plat, 9th Sqd |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| AGE: | 35 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, SAMSU GUN, SAMSU MYON, TONGSU RI (함경북도 삼수군 삼수면 동수리) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 211700 I Feb 51, at YONGDUNGP’O (CS1654), by ROK Troops. |
| INTERROGATOR: | GYA |
He was cooperative, but did not know what towns or village he passed through during his 4 months in NKA, and was unable to recall dates. He understood little military activities, and is illiterate.
Information is extremely limited and reliability is only fair.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted into NKA Oct 50, approx 20 km from P’YONGYANG. Received 3 months basic training. Assigned to 17th Div Jan 51.
Departed P’YONGYANG Jan 51, marched with 2d Regt of 17th Div, and arrived YANGSU RI (CS5157).
Departed YANGSU RI Jan 51, marched northward (at night only) with 2d Regt of 17th Div, and arrived YONGDUNGPO Feb 51. PW dropped behind his unit because his feet were frozen. 2d Regt continued marching and crossed HAN River into SEOUL 5 Feb 51.
PW lived in a deserted Korean house in YONGDUNGPO until 21 Feb 51 when food supply in the house was exhausted.
21 Feb 51, walked to what he thought would be an American unit on the southern outskirts of YONGDUNGPO with intentions of asking for food. Was captured by a ROK unit I Feb 51.
b. Location and Activities of Units (as of 5 Feb 51):
5 Feb 51, 2d Regt, 17th Div withdrew from YONGDUNGPO over the frozen HAN River to SEOUL.
c. T/O & E and Strengths of (as of 21 Feb 51):
2d Rifle Regt: 1st & 2d Rifle Bn.
1st Rifle Bn: 1st, 2d & 3d Rifle Plat.
3d Rifle Plat: 7th, 8th & 9th Rifle Sqd.
| 3d Plat, 2d Co, 1st Bn, 2d Regt, 17th Div: | Original (Jan 51) | Present (5 Feb 51) |
| EM | 21 | 17 |
| Off | 1 | 1 |
| M1891/30 Rifles (USSR) | 19 (150 rd per) | 17 (50 rd per) |
| PPsh SMG | 2 | 0 |
| Pistol | 1 | 1 |
| Hand grenades | 2 per man | 2 per man |
Losses resulted from personnel deserting during nights and taking their weapons with them. Losses in ammo resulted from a fire fight 5 Feb 51 as 2d Regt withdrew from YONGDUNGPO into SEOUL.
d. Replacements:
Jan 51, 17th Div, received number of replacements who had been given 3 months basic training in mountains approx 20 km from P’YONGYANG where 17th Div was located.
e. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
Personnel in 2d Co, 1st Bn, 2d Regt, 17th Div received an average of 2 bowls of rice daily.
2d Regt 17th Div has received no ammo supplies since it departed vicinity P’YONGYANG Jan 51. Shortly before departing, each rifleman was issued 160 rounds of ammo.
After departing P’YONGYANG vicinity, personnel of 2d Regt, 17th Div were issued cotton-padded winter uniforms as they marched southward. Source of clothing is unknown.
f. Armor, Artillery and Aircraft:
Heard from EM in his platoon that NKA had an unknown number of tanks in SEOUL (o/a 4 Feb 51).
g. Signal:
1st Bn, 2d Regt, 17th Div, has a number of field telephones.
h. Morale and Battle Effectiveness:
Personnel of 2d Regt, 17th Div, had low morale because they were cold and tired from constant marching over mountain trails through the snow. Their battle efficiency was poor.
i. UN PW:
Heard from EM in his platoon that NKA has a PW Camp in P’YONGYANG
j. Medical:
Noted no disease in 2d Regt, 17th Div. Personnel in regiment were given one injection (type unknown) after departing P’YONGYANG Jan 51. Source of these immunization supplies is unknown.
Several cases of frostbite developed in 2d Co, 1st Bn, 2d Regt, 17th Div Jan 51. These were not treated.
h. Psychological Warfare:
Captured by ROK soldiers while he was trying to surrender to US forces when he expected to treat him well.
Observed UN leaflets dropped over YONGDUNGP’O 15 Feb 51.
The leaflets promised humane treatment to NKA soldiers who surrender to UN forces.
Believed the leaflets and decided to surrender to US forces whom he considered synonymous to UN forces.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
