ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 4139 22 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (521 MISDI 0486) 26 February 1951
| NAME: | CHONG Chan Kun |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| UNIT: | CCF 40th Army, 120th Div, 359th Regt, 3d Bn, Signal Section |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 17 Feb 51 CHIPYONG-NI |
| CAPTURING UNIT: | X Corps |
Engaged in an attack night of 15-16 Feb 51 in vic of CHIPYONG-NI.
15 Feb 51 (1300 hrs): Told by Sqd Ldr they were going to move that night.
15 Feb 51 (1400 hrs): Received 4 days' ration of rice.
15 Feb 51 (1750 hrs): Bn, 500 men, gathered in wooded area and given pep talk by Bn CO. Nature of the pep talk: “We are going to attack the UN Forces tonight. Are you ready to fight?” Entire bn shouted “Yes” in approval.
15 Feb 51 (1800 hrs): Ate supper and started marching. White armband (any white cloth) worn on left arm by everyone. Bn marched single column to assembly area, 3-4 yd interval between men, with Bn CO and his staff at the head of the column and a few troops leading the way.
Assembly area 2,000 meters from UN positions. Here while the troops rested on the side of the road in single column, Co CO gathered around Bn CO for final instructions. Co CO returned to their Co, and after briefing their plat ldr started off for assigned areas. Single column formation maintained all the way, since it is easy to control movement of the troops with it.
No direction marks.
PW had type 38 rifle with 45 rd of ammo, no head grenades.
No mortar, arty, or MG fire prior to attack.
Attack commenced 0400 hrs, 16 Feb 51, no signal, flares, or whistles.
Horses were left at line of departure.
Troops moved to UN positions in crouched position. Sqd ldr of leading sqd led way, with Plat ldr following last man of the leading sqd. Each of the remaining soldiers just followed man in front of him.
Troops marched on road from line of departure to assembly area, but moved slowly in crouched position through wooded area and at draws.
Night attacks are carried out whether it is moonlight or dark.
Being a bn runner, was sent out on two occasions during the attack. First time was to 8th Co when that co received small arms fire from UN positions. Orders from Bn CO to CO, 8th Co, were that 8th Co was not to retreat. Second trip was to the mortar Co with following instructions “Commence firing mortars when you hear two long blasts of the bugle.”
Bn almost annihilated due to heavy arty, MG, and small arms fire.
Flares caused delay in movement.
120 replacements joined PW bn 15 days ago in vic of UIJONGBU. They had recently arr from MANCHURIA and were equipped with Japanese type 38 rifle and 100-150 rd ammo each.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SINGLETON
