ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 4118 22 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (163 - MISDI - 0327) 9 March 1951
(Atchd 1st Mar Div)
| PW NAME: | YANG WAN Chai (楊■才) |
| PW NO: | 1st M-P-4698 |
| RANK: | Soldier |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | CCF 196th Div, 536th Regt, 2d Bn, 2d Co |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 8 Mar 51, DS 0756 |
| CAPTURING UNIT: | 2d Bn, 7th Marines |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pfc YAMAMOTO |
060700 Mar 51, deserted when unit retreated N. Hid in village 2 days and surrendered voluntarily. Seemed earnest and cooperative in giving information.
a. Mission:
Original mission of 586th Regt when they left HWACHON 10 Feb 51 was to counterattack UN offensive.
b. Strength of Unit:
(1) Original Strength: 160mm Mortar Co - 80 men
Infantry Co - 120 men
(2) Present Strength: 2d Bn - 90 men
586th Regt - 300 men
There is only 1 Co per Bn. More than 60% of casualties are from frostbite.
c. Chronology:
25 Dec 50 - 586th Regt entered KOREA.
30 Jan 51 - Up until this time PW belonged to 2d Plat, 160mm Mortar Co, 586th Regt. Upon arriving at TAECHON, 4 mortars were sent to CHINA because of transportation difficulty. 40 out of 80 men in his company accompanied the 4 pieces back and the remainder were transferred into infantry unit.
20 Feb 51 - Unit crossed 38th Parallel in mountain area. Prior to this date, 586th Regt remained in mountain area 4 km N of 38th Parallel for about 10 days.
3 Mar 51 - 2d Bn dug north slope of Hill 339 sending patrols to south side. 1st Bn and 3d arrived at what is believed to be NONGOL (DS 0756).
d. Personalities:
160mm Mortar Co CO: LEE Shin Yung ( )
e. Weapons and Equipment, Bn:
1 HMG
2 LMG
4 Hand grenades per soldier
1 Field telephone
f. Status of Supply, Route of Supply:
Ammo - No resupply.
Food - Ate whatever could be found.
Clothing - All troops had 1 pair of shoes issued just N of 38th Parallel.
Shelter - All troops slope in well-camouflaged air-raid shelters.
g. Other Units:
Heard that 40th, 39th and 37th Corps are in KOREA.
h. Morale:
A political member among every 4 to 5 men reports every incident to political advisor, so the men cannot talk too freely about surrender leaflets. Troops are well guarded and thus desertion is extremely difficult.
i. UN Weapons:
Fear air attacks most because they can not move around easily in daytime.
j. UN PW:
Saw 13 American PW heading N 2 days after crossing 38th Parallel.
For the AC of S, G-2:
UYEDA
