ATIS-ALLIED TRANSLATOR & INTERPRETER SECTION-FEC
ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3950 12 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1659)
| PW NAME: | TAE, Chong Ho (太鍾浩) (태종호) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGANIZATION: | V Corps, 12th Div, 1st Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co, 2d Plat |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School (3 years) |
| AGE: | 16 |
| OCCUPATION: | student |
| ADDRESS: | SEOUL CITY, CHONGRO KU, SACHIK DONG #225 (서울市 鍾路區 社稷洞 #225) |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 010900 I March 51 at YESIM NI (phonetic) 4 Km south of SANGGUNG NI (DS 2550) by ROK unit. |
| INTERROGATOR: | CHY |
Very cooperative, in good physical condition and appeared to be mentally alert. The information seems reliable.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted into NKA at SEOUL 2 Aug 50, and assigned to 8th Div, Independent Bn, 1st Co, 2d Platoon, as a private 30 Sep 50 at KOKSAN RI (CT 9795). 8th Div remained there for 15 days, digging antiaircraft trenches.
8th Div began to retreat 15 Oct 50. Its troops were scattered individually by US air attacks 15 Nov 50 in the vicinity of HUICHON (BY 6749). About 2,000 men were regrouped at MANPOJIN (BA 7259) 30 Nov 50.
12th Div was reorganized with these remnants at HWA’CHANG NI (BU 8447), 20 Dec 50. During Dec 50, the 12th Division left HWA’CHANG NI southward, 1st Bn being the vanguard. This bn engaged ROK units at KUMCHON (金川) on 1 Jan 51 and suffered 20 casualties.
12 Div reached HAEJU on foot 15 Jan 51.
The 1st Bn engaged ROK units on Mt. HULLYONG (CT 4580) 30 Jan 51.
12th Div arrived at HONGCHON (DS 0271) 15 Feb 51 via CH’UNCH’ON (CS 8993).
1st Regt of the 12th Div reached SANGGUNG NI (DS 2550), 4 Km North of YESIM NI on 22 Feb 51, when other regiments were 4 Km in rear.
2d Plat sent to a height 4 Km South of YESIM NI to defend area. Engaging a ROK unit 1 Mar 50. There were 5 KIA in this battle, and the PW escaped, seeing his plat retreating.
Surrendered to a ROK unit same day.
b. Location and Activities of Unit:
When last observed (1 Mar 51), 2d Plat was retreating from ROK attack from the highest ground 4 Km South of YESIM NI (phonetic) and 1st Company situated on high ground to the rear. 2d and 3d Battalions of 1st Regiment and Regiment CP located at SANGGUNG NI (DS 2550), 4 Km North of YESIM NI.
1st Regt ordered to defend front heights on 28 Feb 51.
12th Div Hq located on a height 4 Km North of SANGGUNG NI.
Heard from his company commander that 7th Div was going back in reserve since they completed 15 days of line duty.
c. T/O & E and Strength of Units:
V Corps: 6th, 7th, 12th Rifle Divisions, Signal Company, Engineer Company.
12 Division: 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Regiments, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon.
1st Regiment: 1st, Code:40, 2d, Code: 50, 3d, Code: 60, Rifle Battalions, Signal Platoon, Engineer Platoon.
1st Battalion: 1st, 2d, 3d Rifle Companies, Signal Platoon, Supply Platoon, Mess Squad, Engineer Platoon, Artillery Company, HMG Company.
1st Company: 1st, 2d, 3d, Rifle Platoons, Mess Squad.
2d Platoon: 1st, 2d, 3d Rifle Squads.
| 2d Platoon | Original (20 Dec 50) | Present (1 Mar 51) |
| EM | 30 | 13 |
| Officers | 1 | 1 |
| Losses: 4 KIA; 13 WIA during 3 engagements. | ||
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| M1891/30 Rifle | 26(100 rd ea) | 6 (300 rd ea) |
| SMG(M1941) | 4 (50 rd ea) | 7 (500 rd ea) |
| Grenades | 0 | 4 per men |
| LMG (M1941) | 0 | 1 (3000 rd ea) |
| Antitank Grenades (Russian) | 0 | 2 |
| Carbine (US) | 0 | 1 (20 rd ea) |
| Casualties weapons collected and sent to Division Headquarters. Condition of weapons fair, especially because they rust easily. | ||
| 1st Company | ||
| EM | 96 | 50 |
| Officers | 5 | 3 |
| Two officers had been wounded. PW does not know how many EM were killed of above casualties. | ||
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| M1891/30 Rifle | 80 (100 rd ea) | Unknown |
| SMG (M1941) | 12 (50 rd ea) | 1■ (500 rd ea) |
| Pistol (Tokarev) | 0 | 1 |
| SMG (M1941) | 0 | 3 |
| Grenades | 0 | 4 per man |
| Antitank Grendaes | 0 | 6 |
| 1st Battalion | ||
| EM | 700 (approx) | 450 (approx) |
| Officers | 24 | 20 |
| The present number of EM learned from company commander. | ||
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| 82mm M1936 Mortars | 0 | 3 (approx 100 rd ea) |
| HMG (7.62mm Maxim) | 0 | 3 |
d. Personalities:
CH’OE, Hyok (崔赫) (최혁)
CG, 12th Div
CH’OE, A Rip (崔 unk) (최아림)
CO, 1st Regt, 12th Div
KIM, Myong Chol (金明鉄) (김명철)
Capt (總尉) CO, 1st Bn, 1st Regt, 12th Div
KIM, Sun Chol (金?鉄) (김순철)
Lt (中尉), CO, 1st Co, 1st Bn, 1st Regt, 12th Div
e. Replacements:
In vicinity of KUMHWA (CT 6438) Jan 51, 1st Co received 7 ROK soldiers captured in the KUMCH’ON Battle by other Battalions. They were integrated as riflemen and treated no differently from the others.
f. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
Told by his superior officers all clothes that NKA personnel are wearing supplied by CHINA. Food-stuffs collected in deserted houses by food supply platoons of each Battalion.
Each man carried 3 days ration (2 days bread, 1 day wheat powder), 4 grenades, and 500 rd ammo.
There was 1 truck in 12th Division. All ammo and mortar shells transported by individuals. No carts were utilized.
Each rifleman of 1st Battalion received 100 rd ammo at KU■CHON (BT 7925) 1 Jan 51, and 500 rd at SANGGUNG NI 1 Mar 51.
g. Signal:
Battalion and below: Runners
Regiment: 1 Field Phone
Division: 1 Field Phone
h. Morale and Battle Effectiveness:
Officers and NCO fought with almost fanatic ■eal. Most of the troops have lost all enthusiasm caused by the exhaustion of long marches and malnutrition.
i. Medical:
Many weak troops caused by fatigue and malnutrition. No immunizations were given. Several frostbite patients observed on the PW platoon.
j. Psychological Warfare:
Surrendered because he disliked communism. Unable to escape sooner because of strict surveillance of his officers.
Saw three UN leaflets. The contents were: “Don’t be slaves of the Chinese and Russians: Surrender early to construct and unify KOREA!”
Believed they had much merit.
Heard 2 privates speak of leaflet: “They are telling a lie.” Believed 60% of privates unconvinced.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
