ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4068 17 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1692) 13 March 1951
| PW NAME: | CHI Yong Hwan (지용환) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGANIZATION: | III Corps, 1st Div, 2d Regt, 3d Bn, 9th Co, 2d Plat, 2d Sqd. |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 years) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | KANGWON DO, HOEYANG GUN, NAEKUMKANG MYON, HAHYON RI (江原道 淮陽郡 內金剛面 下硯里) |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 080300 I Mar 51 at Hill 929 near PYONGCH’ANG (DS 4735) by ROK unit. |
| INTERROGATOR: | KSS |
2. ASSESMENT
PW was in good physical condition and seemed to be happy that he was a PW.
Cooperative but was unable to give much detailed information.
Information seems reliable.
a. Chronology
20 Sep 50, conscripted into NKA as a Private at WONSAN (CU6536). The next day, moved to MUNCHON (CU 5249) and was assigned to the NKA 42d Division which was then at MUNCHON. Trained for one and half months here.
O/a 20 Nov 50, the 42d Division moved to OROE MYON (BA 7636) via KOWON (CU 4966). NYONGWON (BU 8912), and HUICH’ON (BV 6749). As soon as the Division arrived, it was integrated into the 1st Division of the III Corps, with two other divisions. 1st Division remained here for approx a month. It underwent training and various supplies were issued each man; these supplies included; 1 Russian rifle, 100 rd of ammo, and winter clothing. Then Division began to march southward. It traveled via:
KANGGYE (BA9838)
PUNGSAN (DA 2818)
HAMHUNG (CV 7517)
WONSAN (CU 6536)
HOEYANG (CT 8084)
KUMHWA (CT 6438)
HWACH’ON (CT 8717)
CH’UNCH’ON (CS 8993)
HONGCH’ON (DS 0271)
HOENGSONG (DS1049) and arrived at Hill 929 (near P’YONGCHANG DS 4735) 1 Mar 51. On the way the 1st Div rested many times for several days at different places. Generally speaking, the Division marched rather slowly.
3d Bn, 2d Regt, 1st Div was at the place of capture. It dug foxholes and waited in defensive position for approx one week.
7 Mar 51, the 3d Bn engaged a ROK unit, and on the next day the PW was captured.
b. Location and Activities of Units (7 Mar 51)
7 Mar 51, the 1st Division Headquarters was at YUDONG NI (CS 7199), and the 2d Regiment CP was at TUWON NI (DS 3450) near HOENGSONG (DS 1049). 15th Division of the Ⅴ Corps was then at the west flank of the 2d Regiment.
At this time, the 1st Division was planning to defend the Hill 929 where they had dug foxholes. Defense position was very simple with no mines or wire laid.
c. T/O & E and Strength (7 Mar 51)
III NK Corps: 1st, and 2 unknown divisions.
1st Division (Code: 115): 1st, 2d, and 14th Rifle Regiments. Recon Battalion, Signal Battalion, Engineer Battalion, and Medical Unit.
2d Regiment (Code: 127): 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Battalions, Recon Company, Signal Company.
3d Battalion: 7th, 8th, and 9th Rifle Companies, HMG Company, Mortar Company, Signal Platoon, Medical Platoon, and Supply Platoon.
9th Company: 3 Rifle Platoons and HMG Platoon.
2d platoon: 3 x Rifle Squads.
| 2d Platoon: | Original (20 Nov 50) | Present (7 Mar 51) |
| EM | 25 | 12 |
| Officers | 1 | 1 |
| 5 men killed and 8 men wounded in an air attack in the vicinity of P’YONGCHANG (DS 4735). | ||
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| DP LMG | 1 | 1 (1,000 rd ea) |
| SMG, PPSH M1941 | 4 (900 rd ea) | 4 (approx 1,500 rd ea) |
| M1891/30 Rifles | 19 (100 rd ea) | 7 (200 rd ea) |
| Approx 600 rd of ammo picked up at Hill 929 near P’YONGCHANG. The loss of 12 rifles above due to rifles being turned over to Rear Service Section (右方動務) when possessors were killed in an air attack 6 Mar 51. | ||
| HMG Platoon, 9th Company | ||
| EM and Officers | 11 | 11 |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| HMG, Maxim 1910 | 2 (1,000 rd ea) | 0 |
| As soon as they began to retreat, HMG Plat abandoned these 2 HMG and ROK troops captured them. When captured, he was ordered to carry these 2 HMG along with other PW. | ||
| HMG Company, 3d Battalion | ||
| EM | 32 | |
| Officers | 5 | |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| HMG, Maxim 1910 | 6 (1,000 rd ea) | |
| Mortar Company, 3d Battalion | ||
| EM | 80 | Unk |
| Officers | 5 | 5 |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| 50mm M1938 Mortar | 2 | 2 |
| Heard that these mortars had no shells. | ||
| 9th Company | ||
| EM and Officers | 85 | 60 |
d. Food, Ammo and Supplies
Battalion had had no accumulated food supply since a few days before capture. Daily, Company Sergeant procured food for the troops. Usually he could get only corn, but even that was insufficient. Troops were constantly hungry.
Issued 100 rd ammo at OROE MYON (BA 7636) and picked up 100 rd ammo off the wounded in the front line.
Issued winter clothing, a wood cap, boots, wool gloves and one blanket at OROE MYON (BA 7636) Nov 50.
e. Signal
Battalion: Field telephone and Wireless in CP. Also, Field telephone in Signal Platoon of Battalion.
f. Morale and Effectiveness.
Morale low because of high casualties by air attacks and artillery fire.
g. Medical
2 para-typhoid patients in the 9th Company. These were transported to rear. No medicine was given them. Most of the troops suffered from frozen feet, but they were not serious. No treatment was available.
h. Psychological Warfare
Waiting for an opportunity to desert his unit but was captured before he could do so.
Saw UN leaflet once at TUWON-NI (DS 3650) 5 Mar 51. It contained a photograph, illustrating UN PW Enclosure, PW were issued clothing and food. Under this photo, there was an explanation: “Food, clothing and cigarettes have already been prepared for you. If you surrender with this leaflet, you will be well treated”.
Usually, NKA troops do not believe UN leaflet, but this leaflet, having a photograph was effective.
Other soldiers discussing leaflet and concluded that if captured, they would be safe as the picture illustrated.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
