ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3899 9 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (528 MISPI - 0196) 21 February 1951
| PW NAME: | CHEN, Ming (陳敏) |
| PW NO: | Jackson Temp #389 |
| AGE: | 25 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Combat Engr |
| UNIT: | CCF 38th Army, Engr Bn, 4th Co, 2d Plat |
| EDUCATION: | 7 yr primary school |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 201300 Feb 51 CS5247 |
| CAPTURING UNIT: | 2d Bn, 27th RCT |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | SUIYUAN-SHENG, LINHO-HSIEN, TAICHENG-HSIANG (■遠省 臨河郡 大成鄕) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
Appeared to be in good physical condition at time of interrogation. Uncooperative and of average intelligence. Farmer prior to entering military service. Deserted his unit on the evening of 19 Feb 51, and surrendered to UN forces by waving a “Safe Conduct Leaflet”. Information considered fairly reliable. Not recommended for further interrogation.
a. Unit Organization, Strength and Equipment:
38th Army composed of 1st, 2d, and 3d Political Sect, Communication Unit, Guard Co, Engr Bn, Recon Co, Medical unit, Mountain Gun Bn and Arty Regt.
Code names and numbers:
| Unit | Code |
| 38th Army | PING SHANPU (平山部) |
| 1st Div | 1st Bn (一大隊) |
| 2d Div | 2d Bn (二大隊) |
| 3d Div | 3d Bn (三大隊) |
| Political Sect | 2d District Unit (二区隊) |
| Guard Co | 5th District Unit (五区隊) |
| Communication Unit | 3d District Unit (三区隊) |
| Unit | Orig Str | Date | Present Str | Date |
| 38th Army | approx 40-50,000 | Sep 50 | Unk | |
| Comm Unit | 〃 450 | 〃 〃 | Unk | |
| Political Sect | 〃 80 | 〃 〃 | approx 80 | 17 Feb 51 |
| Guard Bn | 〃 600 | 〃 〃 | Unk | |
| Engr Bn | 〃 600 | 〃 〃 | 〃 130 | 〃 〃 〃 |
| Recon Co | 〃 150 | 〃 〃 | Unk | |
| Mt Gun Bn | 〃 550 | 〃 〃 | Unk |
Majority of casualties caused by artillery fire.
Engr Bn composed of 4 Co but at present there is only one company remaining in the Bn. Remainder of the Bn were sent to infantry units as replacements about the middle of Nov 50.
Equipment
| Unit | Number | Type |
| Mt Gun Bn | 12 | Howitzers 2 horses to each piece |
| Arty Regt | 12 | Arty pieces 6 horses to each piece |
| Communication Unit | 4-5 | Telegraph sets |
| Unk | Telephones | |
| Each rifleman | 4 | Handgrenades & 100 rd of s/a ammo |
b. Assignment and Intention:
O/a 15 Feb 51, heard from Propaganda Officer that 38th Army was to withdraw because no reinforcements available and that it would probably be sent back to CHINA. Further heard from this officer that 38th Army was no longer combat effective because of heavy casualties.
18 Feb 51, talked to a CCF soldier, who stated that he was from the 26th CCF Army. Soldier further stated that the 26th Army was to replace the 38th Army. These soldiers wore CCF winter uniforms. Met the above group approx 12 km N of CS331563.
c. Disposition:
As of 16 Feb 51, 38th Army CP was approx 32 km NE of SEOUL.
As of 20 Feb 51, 3d Div (38th Army) was in a RR tunnel approx 4 km N of CS5247.
d. Communication:
div and higher echelons used wireless and telephones.
e. Personalities:
LIAN, Shin-chu (phonetic), CG, 38th Army
WU, Tai (phonetic), Asst Cg, 38th Army, also Political Officer.
f. Morale:
Morale was low in unit due to lack of food, clothing, and battle fatigue.
g. Chronology:
PW formerly in CNA for approx 4½ years and held the rank of 2nd Lt. Captured by CCF at KWANGSI-SHENG (廣西省) 6 Dec 49 and immediately integrated into present unit. 38th Army crossed YALU River 22 Sep 50, over a steel RR bridge vic MUNP’OJIN (BA7259). 38th Army continued marching, passing thru KAECH’ON (YD5596), TOKCH’ON (BV6904), YUNCH’ON (CT3217) and arrived POCHON (CS4495) o/a 2 Feb 51.
Crossed HAN river over the ice o/a 11 Feb 51 vic KWANGJANG-NI CS331563 and headed southward for approx 12 km. After three days, 4th Co, Engr Bn headed N to HAN River vic CS531563 to construct a wooden bridge across the river. Project took approx one week to complete.
38th Army then withdrew N of HAN River to approx 12 km N of vic CS331563. The evening of 19 Feb 51, deserted unit and headed S to vic CS5247 and surrendered to UN forces.
h. Food and Ammo Supplies:
Food procured locally and was insufficient. Had not received ammo resupply since entering KOREA.
i. Replacements:
No replacements were received. Wounded were sent to the rear for medical treatment but disposition thereafter was unknown.
j. Psychological Warfare:
Picked up a UN leaflet about three weeks ago and upon reading leaflet, decided to surrender. Heard an aerial broadcast but could not comprehend what was being said due to noise created by the plane.
k. Captured Equipment:
observed two or three captured UN trucks about five days ago in vic CS331563.
i. UN PW:
Approx two months ago, observed approx 700-800 UN PW (US, Turkish, & ROK) at KAECHON (YL5596) heading north.
m. Medical:
Had not received any immunizations since coming to KOREA, however prior to crossing YALU River, received an unknown type of immunization. Many men in unit were suffering from frostbite. No knowledge of typhus in unit.
n. Effectiveness of Night Bombing:
Co was subjected to numerous night bombing attacks but up to time of surrender there was only one casualty.
o. Chemical:
(1) No knowledge of mushroom poison being used by CCF troops in KOREA.
(2) Unit never issued gas masks and did not receive any type of gas training.
(3) No knowledge of chemical grenade in unit.
(4) No knowledge of any energy-giving material used prior to an attack.
p. Engineers:
PW Co constructed a floating bridge across HAN River in vic CS331563. Bridge constructed of railroad ties and reinforced with steel rails. This bridge could support loaded trucks but not tanks. No heavy equipment was used and it took 240 men approx one week to complete the project. Construction carried out during hours of darkness. 20 Feb 51, when PW crossed the bridge, noticed that it was slightly damaged on the north side but was still passable to light vehicles.
PW was previously interrogated by the 25th IPW Team. Incorporating 25th LDI, unnumbered, dtd 20 Feb 51.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OGAWA
