ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 4136 22 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (521 MISDI 0520) 10 March 1951
| NAME: | YUN, Kae Ha |
| AGE: | 20 |
| RANK: | Sgt |
| UNIT: | LI Corps, 27th Div, 14th Regt, 2d Bn, 5th Co, 2d Plat, 1st Sqd (NKA) |
| DUTY: | Sqd Ldr |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 032300 & 171200 Mar 51 ILLAGWON (DS 5859) |
| CAPTURED BY: | 3d ROK Regt |
Attitude: Cooperative, alert, friendly.
Length of Service: 7 mo.
Education: 6 yr primary school and 1 yr of middle school.
Physical Condition: Good.
Reliability: Fair.
Circumstances of Capture:
Captured at HAJINBU-RI (DS 6165) 031730 Mar 51, while enroute to Bn CP from his company. At SINGI-RI (DS 6160), while being evacuated to the rear, PW escaped 042300 Mar 51 and made his way to Hill 825 (DS 6159). At ILLAGWON (DS 5859), recaptured by save unit at 071200 Mar 51.
PW deserted in order to avoid death. Had heard NCO and officers would be shot upon capture.
a. Chronology:
15 Aug 50 - Conscripted at HUNGNAM, received 15 days' basic trng; and assigned to 249 Unit, 5th Bn, 3d Co.
Nov 50 - Re-assigned to 36th Div, 3d Regt, 2d Bn, 4th Co at CHILPYONG (N of CHANGJIN, NK) as this Div reorganized.
23 Jan 51 - When 38th Div deactivated, 2d Bn with 150 men of 3d Regt, 38th Div integrated into 14th Regt, 27th Div, at PANGNIM-NI (DS 4642). Total strength of 14th Regt was then 500.
3 Mar 51 - Captured at HAJINBU-RI (DS 6165) at 2300. When captured, enroute to Bn CP to inquire 5th Co disposition for the following day. Captured with a company runner.
4 Mar 51 - Escaped when guard left PW unguarded at SINGI-RI (DS 6160) at 2300 hr.
7 Mar 51 - Recaptured by same unit at 1200 while trying to forage food at ILLAGWON (DS 5859).
b. Organization & Strength (obs 2 Mar 51):
| Unit: | Strength: |
| 14th Regt: | |
| Forward Echelon: | |
| 1st Rifle Bn: | 204 |
| 2d Rifle Bn: | 224 |
| 3d Rifle Bn: | 204 |
| Hq: | 16 |
| Hq: | |
| CO: | 1 (Maj) |
| Political Sec (Exec Off Chief of Sec): | 5 |
| S-2 (called Sr Exec Off): 1 | |
| Clerk: | 1 (Sgt) |
| Runners: | 8 (Pvt) |
| 2d Bn: | |
| 4th Co: | 50 |
| 5th Co: | 47 |
| 6th Co: | 50 |
| Mortar Co: | 20 |
| HMG Co: | 15 |
| Hq: | 12 |
| Guard Plat: | 10 |
| Com Plat: | 10 |
| Med Plat: | 10 |
| Hq: | |
| CO: | 1 (Maj) |
| Exec Off: | 1 (Capt) |
| S-2: | 1 (Sr Lt) |
| Clerk: | 1 (Sgt) |
| Runners: | 8 (Pvt) |
| 5th Co: | |
| 1st Plat: | 12 |
| 2d Plat: | 11 |
| 3d Plat: | 11 |
| Hq: | 5 |
| Supply Sqd: | 7 |
| Hq: | |
| CO: | 1 (Sr Lt) |
| Exec Off: | 1 (Lt) |
| Med Off: | 1 |
| Clerk: | 1 (Sgt) |
| Runner: | 1 (Pvt) |
c. Weapons:
| Unit: | Weapons: |
| 2nd Bn: | 2x82mm Russ Mortars, M-1941, and 20-25 shells; 3 US Cal 30 LMG, and 2500-3000 rd; 5 Russ DP LMG, and 3000 rd. |
| 5th Co: | US Cal 30 LMG, and 750 rd; Russ DP LMG, and 600 rd. |
| Troops of 14th Regt: | M-1891/30 Russ rifles, and 300 rd ea, 50%. |
| US Cal 30 M-1 rifles, and 250 rd ea, 30%. | |
| PPSH M-1941 SMG, and 300 rd ea, 20%. |
d. Supply:
Ammo:
15 Feb 51, 14th Regt supplied with a large amount of ammo from mortar shells to hand grenades. Every rifleman received an additional issue to “c”. When regt assembled in vic of small village (DS 402529), bring basic load to that mentioned in “c” above.
Last resupply of ammo received at SOKSA-RI (DS 5565) 1 Mar 51. At this location again, regt drew ammo supply, for Russian rifles and PPSH SMG. 5th Co received 2550 rd of PPSH SMG ammo and 300 rd for Russ rifles.
Food:
Since crossing 38th Parallel, unit never supplied with any provisions. Amount procured through villages hardly enough. In addition to food they foraged, each soldier always carried 5 days’ rations for emergency.
Clothes:
PW winter uniform was issued at CHILPYONG (N of CHANGJIN, NK) Nov 50. No trucks involved when supplies were received.
e. Morale:
Average soldier’s morale extremely low. Only small percentage of troops, hardened soldiers, bore up under current defeats. 80% of troops were discontented with constant moving, bivouac life, shortage of food, and some green troops even feared the crack of rifle fire.
Despite low troop morale and their weariness of war, bulk of troops still apathetic to UN surrender leaflets. Since red indoctrination is so through and political officers warned against these leaflets, majority of troops still took it for granted leaflets were US propaganda. PW half suspected true meaning of UN safe conduct pass and when asked, “Do you believe the contents of these leaflets,” boldly replied, “I’ll have to live through it (PW life) and see it for myself.”
f. Replacements:
24 Jan 51, 27th Div received 500 replacements from the former 38th Div, who were inexperienced recruits. 25 Feb 51, an undetermined number of replacements came from 31st Div while 14th Regt was resting at CHANG-NI (DS 5532) enroute to CHONGSON (DS 7036) area. 14th Regt strength then totaled around 800 men. 5th Co received 9 replacements.
g. UN PW:
Observed 20 ROK PW mixed with a bn-size unit believed to be of 14th Regt, resting along side of road at SONGBONG-DONG (DS 538633) 281800 Mar 41. This group believed to be heading northward.
h. Unit Movement and Disposition:
24 Jan 51 - 14th Regt CP was in houses of CHUNGBANG-NI (DS 4741) for 15 days.
12 Feb 51 - Regt retreated to vic of DS 402529 and remained there for 6 days.
25 Feb 51 - With seizure of CHONGSON (DS 7036) as their unit objective, 14th Regt dep and arr CHANG-NI (DS 5532).
26 Feb 51 - 14th Regt widely deployed on hills around OAM (DA 6935). 7th and 32d Regt present within the are and a 2-day battle ensued with the defending ROK garrison.
28 Feb 51 - 14th Regt made strategic withdrawal, as Political Officer of 5th Co put it, to SOKSA-RI (DS 5565), arriving there 1900 hr.
2 Mar 51 - Regt CP further moved to a small village (DS 628649), arriving there at 0400 hr. 2d Bn deployed at ONGJOMGOL (DS 624554) and its immediate area. 5th Co was sent to guard high ground at DS 6066 during night of 2 Mar 51.
3 Mar 51 - 5th Co received orders to move to DS 578672 area and guard the pass. Co arr there 1600 hr.
For the AC of S, G-2:
MURANAKA
