ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4128 22 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MISDI 0349) 14 March 1951
| NAME: | KIM Won Sik (金元植) |
| AGE: | 32 |
| DUTY: | Sqd Ldr |
| UNIT: | CCF 42d Army, 125th Div, 374th Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co, 1st Plat, 1st Sqd |
| NATIONALITY: | Korean |
| DATE & PLACE OF SURRENDER: | Surrendered 101600 Mar 51, at ODOCHI (CS876637) to 7th Cav Regt, 1st Cav |
| OCCUPATION: | Electrician |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 6 yr |
Cooperative and gave information willingly. Information is considered fairly reliable.
a. Organization and Strength (present) :
42d Army composed of the 124th, 125th and 126th Div.
125th Div composed of the 373d, 374th and 375th Regt.
374th Regt composed of three rifle bn and artillery bn. As of 10 Mar 51, PW believes the regt strength to be about 1,300 men with the original strength being 2,500 men. Decrease in strength was caused mainly by aerial and artillery bombardments.
1st Bn composed of three rifle companies and Hvy Wpn Co. As of 10 Mar 51, PW believes the strength of the battalion was about 485 men, originally 600 men.
In his 1st Co, the original strength was 142 men, however, as of 10 Mar 51, there were only 120 men.
b. Deployment of PW Own Unit (present):
O/a 7 Mar 51, PW observed the 374th Regt CP in SIMBANGGOK (CS886647).
O/a 8 Mar 51, when PW descended hill 445 (CS885643) to get food supply, 1st Bn CP was at the vic of (CS891643), 2d Bn CP at (CS885643) and the 3d Bn CP at (CS877646). His 1st Co was deployed on the east slope of a hill at (CS891643).
c. Deployment of Other Units:
O/a 21 Feb 51 in the vic of SIMBANGGOK, heard from his company commander, that the 40th Army was to go north and await replacements. He also was told that a bn of the 40th Army was assisting the 42d Army and their primary duty was reconnoitering UN positions.
d. Status of Arms and Ammo:
8 Mar 51, PW 1st Co had the following weapons: three HMG with 1600 rd each, one 60mm mortar with 32 shells, 60 US M-1 Rifles with 100 rd ea, 9 US SMG M-3 with 100 rd each, and 4 grenades per man. Observed the following weapons in the Hvy Wpn Co on the same day: 9 HMG with 1500 rd each, 1 bazooka with 16 shells and one grenade per man. About two months ago 374th Regt received ammunition supply at TONGDUCHON-NI.
e. Status of Food and Clothing:
No issue of clothing or food supplies were received by 374th Regt since crossing the Korea border, 18 Sep 50. The 374th Regt troops received a pair of canvas shoes at TONGDUCHON-NI about two months ago.
Food was looted from the local population. However, it is not sufficient and they ate an average of only two meals per day.
f. Chronology:
Conscripted into the CCF in Jun 47 at LINGTSUTAO, MANCHURIA.
O/a 18 Sep 50, the 125th Div crossed the YALU River via ANTUNG-SINUIJU bridge and arrived UIJU on the same day. Here the division separated by regt and PW regt marched southward taking the following route; YONGBYONG, UNSAN, MAJON-NI, TONGDUCHON-NI, KAPYONG and arrived at the vic of Hill 445 (CS885643) o/a 7 Mar 51. Immediately after, the regiment separated by bn and at the same time by co, and dug-in on the hill.
O/a 8 Mar 51, PW 1st Sqd (13 men) was ordered by the bn supply off to go after some food for their 1st Bn. After they arrived at ODOCHI they remained there for approx these days looking around for food. O/a 101300 Mar 51, PW Sqd was attacked by UN tanks. During the attack four men were killed and the rest fled. PW hid in a vacant house and later surrendered to UN troops.
g. Mission and Intention:
Told by his company commander that the 374th Regt mission was to defend Hill 445 and if this was impossible, they were to retreat to the rear area.
h. Personalities:
Lee (fnu) (李), 41, CO 374th Regt
WU (fnu) (吳), 28, CO 1st Bn
KUO Sung (高森), 25, CO, 1st Co
i. Physical Condition of Troops:
Physical condition of the 374th Regt troops was low because of the insufficient allotment of food and the severe cold weather.
j. Information on Armor, Eng, Arty and Other Special or Technical Info:
Observed two mountain guns near the IMJIN River approx three months ago. Believes these guns were attached to the 125th Div.
Land Mine: When they withdraw from a position they usually lay mines at the mountain trails or secondary roads with a 70 Cm wire. The wire is camouflaged with grass and the like.
Observed troops of his 1st Co planting an anti-personnel mine on the path of the mountain trail. Mines were not planted on a large scale but in one or two places. Usually at the mid-section of the mountain.
The following is a sketch of the mine:
k. Propaganda and/or Leaflets:
Troops of the 374th Regt at one time or another picked up UN leaflets. After reading these leaflets majority had the will to surrender, but they were constantly watched by their officers so that surrender was impossible.
l. Road Sign:
The following road Sign was used by the 374th Regt:
The sign was usually written with line on the ground at the fork of the road.
For the AC of S, G-2:
YAMAMURA
