ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4105 21 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (163-MISDI-0305) 1 March 1951
(Atchd 1st Mar Div)
| PW NAME: | YUAN Feng Lai (袁風来) |
| PW NO: | 1st M-P- 4653 |
| RANK: | Soldiers |
| DUTY: | Ammo Carrier |
| UNIT: | CCF, 66th Corps, 196th Div, 588th Regt, 3d Bn, HMG Co, 2d Plat, 5th Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 1 March 1951 in hill at DS 0848 |
| CAPTURING UNIT: | 3d Bn, 7th Marines |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pvt KUME |
PW and 5 others were trapped in air raid shelter which caved in as a result of UN artillery barrage. 3 died from suffocation, and PW and 2 others were dug out of air raid shelter by 7th Marines.
PW talked freely daring interrogation but information limited.
Not recommended for further interrogation.
a. Mission: 1st, 2d and 5th squads acting as forwards to defend and hold hill at DS 0848. Reserved 8th Co was on hill just N of place of capture (DS 0848).
b. Strength of Unit:
Original Strength:
66th Corps - 37,000
196th Div - 15,000
588th Regt - 1,500
3d Bn - 500
HMG Co - 106
2d Plat - 35
5th Sqd - 12
Present Strength: 1 March 1951
66th Corps - approximately 30,000
196th Div - 2,000
588th Regt - 1,000
3d Bn - 300
HMG Co - approximately 70
2d Plat - approximately 23
5th Sqd - 0
Code Names: 588th Regt - 29th Unit
3d Bn - "SAN TA TUI" (meaning 3d Bn)
c. Chronology:
15 January 1949 - Conscripted into CCF: previously CNA for 3 yr.
5 November 1950 - 66th Corps entered KOREA, reorganized strength.
1 January 1951 - 66th Corps in firefight with ROK Army approx 3 hours before crossing river near 38th Parallel. 197th Div led offensive south, followed by 198th and 196th Div respectively. Took mountain roads in central KOREA as their route of march. 66th Corps continued to avoid contact with UN troops, thereby, were forced to alter route many times. Heard that a big offensive will be launched in the future as soon as they are sent to front. 1st and 2d Bn moving before 3d Bn had several firefights with Un troops, but, 3d Bn contacted no UN unit until PW was captured.
27 February 1951 -196th Div replaced Div (unk) of 42d Corps vicinity DS 0849. 196th Div CP in village north of highway (DS 0850). 588th Regt Hq located on mountain (DS 0849). 1st, 2d and 5th sqd were ordered to defend hill (DS 0848).
28 February 1951 - Arrived hill, dug 7 air raid shelters, using logs, dirt and grass for camouflage. Strength at that time was approximately 20, with 1 HMG (3000 rd) 1 LMG (1500 rd) and rifles. Received UN artillery barrage throughout the night.
1 March 1951 - PW and 5 others were trapped in caved-in air raid shelter after UN artillery barrage and dug out 0800 hours by 7th Marines.
d. Personalities:
5th Sqd Leader - WANG Cheng Wen (王正文)
2d Flat Leader - CHEN I Chang (■■長)
HMG Co Commander - TONG Yao Sheng (■要■)
e. Weapons and Equipment (as of 1 March 1951):
3d Bn had: HMG - 2 (6000 rd)
LMG - 3 (1500 rd per MG)
82mm Mortar - 1 (30 rd)
588th Regt had: 82mm Mortar - 3 (30 rd per mortar)
HMG - 6 (300 rd per HG)
LMG - approximately 25 (1500 rd per MG)
f. Status of Supply; Route of Supply:
Have resupply of ammo almost everyday, hauled by trucks to Regt Hq. Origin unknown. Possessed limited medical supplies. No food or clothing resupply.
g. Other Units:
Early part of January, after crossing 38th Parallel 197th, 198th Div separated, Heard of 42d Corps but location unknown.
h. Morale:
Although CCF have sufficient ammo, soldiers’ morale was low due to shortage of food; average 1 meal per day.
i. Effect of Weapons:
Feard air attacks the most, followed by artillery barrage.
j. Tactics
Night attacks were considered most successful; usually ended in a “BANZAI” charge.
Members of 66th Corps first knew of their being sent to KOREA after crossing bridge from MANCHURIA to SINIUJU, KOREA, November 1950. Many CCF (among soldiers) regret fighting on Korean soil, When questioned what makes them superior to NK Army, PW stated “Probably because of the fact that present CCF are more experienced in fighting.”
For the AC of S, G-2:
UYEDA
