ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3903 9 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MIDI 0315)
| NAME: | CHANG Lien Chun (張連軍) (CCF) |
| AGE: | 20 yr |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| UNIT: | CCF, 66th Army (Code Name: Pung Hwa PU (奉化部), 196th Div (Code Name: Yun San PU 雲山部) 588th Regt (Code Name: 23 Unit), 2d Bn, HMG Co, 3d Plat, 7th Sqd |
| DUTY: | Ammo Bearer |
| OCCUPATION: | Servant |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| PLACE AND DATE CAPTURED: | Surrendered in vicinity of WONJU (DS073335) 210800 Feb 51, to 187th RCT |
PW, a jolly fellow, was cooperative during interrogation. He was fairly intelligent and answered all questions readily in a sincere manner. His information is considered fairly reliable. Recommended for further interrogation.
a. Chronology:
Formerly with CNA, before he was captured by CCF. Jan 1949 at PEIPING, CHINA.
20 Oct 50, 66th Army crossed YALU River into SINUIJU via ANTUNG, MANCHURIA, where it separated into divisions and later into regiments preparatory to its march southward.
588th Regt, marched southward from SINUIJU and arrived vicinity of WONJU 16 Feb 51, via NAMSI (XE-9317), PYONGYANG, KUMHWA. crossing 38th Parallel 1 Jan 1951. 5 Jan 51, crossed HAN River near a RR bridge (CS333567) and another in vicinity of YANGPYONG (CS663495) later. During the travel stopped at several places for a period of 2 or 3 days. Immediately after the regiment arrived in vicinity of WONJU, it separated into battalions and dug in by companies at hill approx 4 Km N of WONJU.
190300 Feb 51, PW 2nd Bn was attacked by UN Forces. It engaged for two days before it was relieved by elements of 197th Div. 2d Bn retreated 8 Km N of hill. The following day when UN Forces overran the hill, he observed elements of 197th Div withdrawing.
210600 Feb, PW descended the hill (approx 12 Km N of WONJU) where 2d Bn withdrew and surrendered to UN Forces.
b. Organization and Strength (Present)
66th Army was composed of 196th, 197th and 198th Div.
196th Div was composed of 586th, 587th and 588th Regt. Present strength of 196th Div estimated 3,000 men in comparison with original strength of 6,000 men at YALU River crossing.
588th Regt had three rifle battalions and a mortar company. Its strength at present is approx 800 men.
There were approx 160 men in his HMG Co when it was committed to action. However, as of 21 Feb, he estimates the company strength to be 70 men. Decrease in strength was caused mainly by frostbite and artillery action.
c. Deployment of PW Own Unit:
Prior to its engagement with UN Forces 19 Feb 51, 2nd Bn CP was at hill approx 51/2 Km N of WONJU. Three rifle companies and HMG Company of 2nd Bn were deployed at hill 4 Km N of WONJU.
d. Deployment of Other Units:
17 Feb heard from company political officer that elements of 3rd Field Army were in KUNHWA (CT6538), awaiting further orders.
e. Status of Arms, Ammo
Prior to attack 19 Feb 51, his HMG company had 4 HMG with 2,000 rd each, 2 x 82mm mortars with 40 shells each, 2 Mauser pistols with 50 rd each, 2 grenades per man and rifles with 50 rd of ammo each. In rifle company there were one to two 60mm mortars with 30 shells each. 4 LMG with 1,500 rd each, unk number Jap M38 rifles with 50 rd each, 2 Mauser pistols with 50 rd each and 4 grenades per man.
No supply of weapons received since departure from CHINA. However 2d Bn received ammo twice, once at KUNHWA in Dec and the other at approx 4 Km N of WONJU 18 Feb 51.
f. Status of Food and Clothing:
No issued of food or clothing were received thus far.
Food was obtained locally.
g. Mission and Intentions:
20 Feb 51, told by company political officer that they were to defend their present assigned sector tenaciously and to repel UN Forces until arrival of replacements then to make a general attack. Tank, aircraft, and artillery were to arrive in KOREA from CHINA in near future.
Heard from battalion political officer 7 Feb 51, that units assigned to central sector were to push clear down to southern tip of KOREA for purpose of enveloping and annihilating. The 5th offensive which was to start from March was to be mightiest offensive of all conducted in KROEA with the 2d, 3d and 4th Field Armies participating. Elements of 2d and 3d Armies are presently in KOREA. On 5th offensive 2d seal all withdrawal points of the UN Forces with air support. To insure success in the coming offensive all available men were to be thrown into battle and were to fight until the last man. PW believes this plan will not be successful because their weapons are inferior to UN Forces and the repeated promise of air support had not materialized to date.
h. Personalities:
KAN (fnu) (康), 25, CO HMG Co.
CHOW Ming Yu (趙明玉), 26, Political Officer HMG Co.
i. Medical:
Troops in 588th Regt were all suffering from lack of sleep, water and malnutrition. Believes the troops of his unit to be in bad shape physically.
j. Armor, Eng, Arty, etc:
Dec 50, observed approx six Jap model field guns in vicinity of PYONGSAN (BS7537). Each gun was drawn by eight horses. Did not know to what unit these guns belonged.
For the AC of S, G-2:
IIDA
