ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4155 23 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1700) 17 March 1951
| NAME: | LI, Ya Shan (李■山) (CCF) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| ORGN: | 4th Field Army, 22d Army, 125th Div, 374th Regt, 1st Bn, HMG Co, 1st Plat, 3d Sqd |
| DUTIES: | Ammo Bearer |
| EDUCATION: | 6 months |
| AGE: | 24 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | SSUPING SHENG, CH’ANG TU HSIEN, EPHCHU SHUANG MIAO TSU, SUAN MYOZO (四平省 昌図縣 二區 雙廟子) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 130900 I Mar 51 in the PUNJIRI area (CS8363) by US 8th Cav Regt |
| INTERROGATOR: | GNY |
PW was cooperative, but unobservant. He also had great difficulty in remembering dates.
The information seems fairly reliable.
a. Chronology:
Inducted into CNA in Jul 46 at CH’ANGT’U HSIEN (昌図縣) and assigned to 71st Army, Independent Gavalry Regt.
Captured by CCF in Sep 47 at CHANGTU HSIEN while recovering from an injury at his home. He was then discharged and engaged in farming at his home.
Aug 50, assigned to 42d Army, 125th Div, Independent Litter Bearer Bn, at SSUT’AO CHIANG (四■江). PW underwent litter bearer training with entire Bn.
Nov 50, departed with 42d Army to CHIAN (輯安), arriving after 3 days marching. Proceeded into KOREA with 125th Div, passing through TOKCHON (BV6904), and arrived vicinity of WONJU (DS0834) 12 Feb 51. The 125th Div engaged UN forces in this area, and after suffering heavy casualties (approx 2,500 litter cases other than KIA), retreated to YANGPYONG (CS6849).
Litter Bearer Bn was deactivated and its personnel (approx 460) were integrated into component units of 125th Div as riflemen; PW and 20 others assigned to HMG Co, 1st Bn, 374th Regt.
13 Mar 51, PW deserted and voluntarily surrendered to 8th US Cav Regt in vicinity of PUNJIRI (CS8363).
b. Location and Activities of Unit:
Heard from Bn CO that 125th Div mission was to “entice” UN forces to chase it in its rapid retreat in YONGMUNSAN (CS7157) area so 124th Div and 126th Div on its east and west flank would be able to trap any rapidly advancing UN troops.
c. T/O & E and Strength of Unit:
42d Army: 124th, 125th & 126th Div
125th Div: 373d, 374th & 375th Rifle Regt, 1 Litter Bearer Bn, 1 Supply Depot.
374th Regt: 1st, 2d & 3d Rifle Bn.
1st Bn: 1st, 2d & 3d Rifle Co, 1 HMG Co.
HMG Co: 1st, 2d & 3d Plat
3d Plat: 1st, 2d & 3d Sqd
| 1st Plat, HMG Co, 1st Bn, 374th Regt: | ||
| Original (14 Feb 51) | Present (13 Mar 51) | |
| EM | 27 | 20 |
| Off | 2 | 2 |
| Equipment & Ammo | ||
| EMG (US) | 3 (1,000 rd ea) | 2 (1,000 rd ea) |
| 99 Type Rifles (Jap) | 1 (30 rd) | 1 |
| HMG Co, 1st Bn, 374th Regt: | ||
| EM | 95 | 86 |
| Off | 10 | 8 |
| Equipment & Ammo | ||
| 82mm Mortars (Russ) | 3 (8 rd ea) | 3 (8 rd ea) |
| Pistols | 2 (40 rd ea) | 2 (40 rd ea) |
HMG Co suffered a few casualties from air attacks in YONGMUNSAN (CS7157) area.
d. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
Troops ate ample rice or beans twice daily.
Ammo supply had not been replenished since 374th Regt entered KOREA.
e. Armor, Artillery and Aircraft:
PW had observed none in KOREA.
f. Signal:
Bn and higher echelon units used telephones; lower echelon units employed runners.
g. Morale:
Morale of troops was low because of battle fatigue coupled with no hope of being relieved.
h. Psychological Warfare:
PW surrendered voluntarily because he abhored communism. He saw many leaflets which urged all former CNA soldiers to surrender immediately for it was meaningless to fight Americans who had helped them through last war.
It also promised good treatment and food to anyone who surrendered. He intended to surrender at the first opportunity, and did.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
