ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4149 23 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (2 DIV LDI - 0265) 8 March 1951
1. PERSONAL DETILAS:
| NAME: | CHO, Yong Sul |
| AGE: | 37 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Cook |
| UNIT: | NKA 12th Div, 2d Regt Hq |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 080800 Mar 51 1 km SE of ULTUN (DS2348) |
| CAPTURED BY: | 3D Bn, 9th Inf Regt |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt KITSU |
Cooperative and answered all questions freely, Intelligent and observant. Information seems to be reliable.
Did not like the N Korean Army so on the evening of 7 Mar 51, PW deserted and surrendered to UN troops 8 Mar 51 at ULTUN (DS2348). Surrendered with a safe conduct pass.
a. Intentions:
12th Div was engaged in the WONJU sector but was defected and retreated to HYONCH’ON(DS2749) o/a Mar 51. Div then took a rest to regroup and reorganize. O/a 1 mar 51 the Div moved to vic of HAMGOGAE (DS2549) with intentions of attacking UN Forces in that area.
b. Organization Strength & Weapons:
12th Div consisted of the 1st, 2d and 3d Regt and attached units were an automatic weapons Co, an Engr Bn, a Recon Co, and a Communications unit. 6 Mar 51, the 2d Regt moved to ULTUN (DS2348) to set up defensive positions there. Heard from 2d Regt CO that the 1st and 3d Regt were engaged by UN Negro troops. 6 Mar 51 observed elements of the 1st Regt retreating towards HAMGOGAE (DS2549).
6 Mar 51, heard from officers that the strength of the 2d Regt was about 1,500 men. There were three Bn in a Regt and weapons observed were 3 x 22 mm mortars per Bn, 1 HMG per Bn and 3 LMG per Bn. Also observed 1 antitank rifle. Each man had a rifle and ammunition was plentiful. Ammo for US M-1 rifles was picked up on the battlefield.
c. Foreign Troops:
In the past month, 4 Chinese officers came to the 2d Regt and held conferences twice with the Regt CO. (All N Korean officers in 2d Regt spoke Chinese.) All confidential messages over phones were always in Chinese within the 12th Div. Original personnel in V Corps were born and raised in MANCHURIA and all spoke Chinese.
O/a 16 Feb 51, observed about 300 CCF troops travelling W from HAANHUNG-NI (DS2640).
d. Other Unites:
6 Mar 51, observed about 200 N Korean soldiers travelling W of vic DS2349 and upon inquiring, PW learned that they were element of the 6th Div.
e. Land Mines:
5 Mar 51 heard from men in the Engr unit that there were mines laid in 4 places along a road between ULTUN (DS2348) and CHONGGUM-NI (DS2049). There were 10-12 mines to a mine field and the mine fields were several hundred yards apart. In one of the mine fields, 10 x 105mm shells were layed.
6 Mar 51, heard from members of a Recon unit that one of the mine fields was blown up by UN artillery.
f. Clothing:
All troops wore winter clothing.
g. Disease:
Neither saw nor heard of any contagious diseases.
h. Food:
Insufficient; Ate only 2 meals a day.
i. Morale:
Low, among troops because of lack of food.
j. 4th Phase Operation:
Heard from officers in the 2d Regt that the 4th phase offensive would commence in two months. In the meantime, the troops were to rest and at the same time, set up defensive positions.
k. Safe Conduct Passes:
Practically all the enlisted men in the 2d Regt hid safe conduct passes in their pockets and waited for an opportunity to desert. Men were always talking about deserting their unit for they were afraid of the UN air and artillery bombardments and also because of lack of food.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OJI
