ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4197 24 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (2 DIV LDI 0288) 11 March 1951
| PW NAME: | CHE Che Won |
| AGE: | 33 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Cook |
| UNIT: | NKA 12th Div, 2d Regt, 1st Bn, 3d Co |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 111000 Mar 51 |
| CAPTURED AT: | 1 km E CHONGGUM-NI (DS 205500) |
| CAPTURED BY: | French Bn, 23d Inf Regt |
| INTERROGATED BY: | Pfc AKASHI |
Cooperative and willingly gave information. However, being away from his unit for 25 days, he was not able to give up-to-date information, except for what he observed or heard enroute rejoining his unit. Information seems fairly reliable.
While the 12th Div was retreating northward from vic of SOHANG-MYON 15 Feb 51, PW became ill (high fever & chills) and was forced to drop out. After recovering, he and 3 others (1 ROK & 2 NKA), tried to catch up & join their unit, but enroute they were persuaded by a captured ROK to surrender to the UN Forces. 11 Mar 51, 25 days after dropping out from their unit, they voluntarily surrendered to the French Bn.
a. Elements of 7th Div:
8 Mar 51, observed an estimated 400 men digging foxholes on every hill north of MSR in vic of HYONCHON-NI (DS 275490). These foxholes were dug 20 ft from the crest of hill facing MSR.
It was later learned from a Plat 1dr on the same day that the 400 men digging in were of the 1st & 2d Bn of the 1st Regt, 7th Div who arrived in HYONGCHON-NI that morning and that they were establishing a defense line vic of HYONGCHON-NI along MSR to check the UN advance. 3x50mm mortars & 1 LMG were observed carried by the troops.
b. Intention of 7th Div:
101000 Mar 51 PW met a straggler from the 7th Div at KODOL-KOKE (7 km W of HYONCHON-NI) and was told that the 157th & 2d Regt were to defend area of HYONCHON-NI, as long as possible, then withdraw to 20 km N to rest while they were replaced.
c. Supply:
Believes that the 3d Regt will replace the 1st & 2d Regt, because he observed the 3d Regt in reserve at KOMDO (8 km N of KODOL KOKE) 6 Mar 51. (PW happened to be in KOMDO by accident. He became lost trying to find the 12th Div). He also observed & met the 12th Div supply unit. (30 men). They did not have ammo or supplies but claimed that they were going north for supply.
d. Disposition:
It was learned from supply officer 6 Mar 51 that the 12th Div Hq was at HWAN KOKE (6 km S of KOMDO) but upon arriving there 7 Mar 51 heard that it moved to CHUNGGUM-NI (DS 115548) via KODOL KOKE.
e. Passive Air Defense:
To confuse air pilots during their strafing & bombing the NKA, wrecked vehicles were made to look like tanks; then set it in the middle of roads attached with long cables with human dummies tied on. This cable is pulled from a distance to give it a life-like effect.
f. Clothing:
Winter clothing worn by all troops.
g. Food:
Insufficient.
h. Physical Condition:
Weak, because of long marches, lack of sleep & food.
i. Morale:
Low, because troops realize that they are fighting a losing war.
j. Contagious Disease:
None among troops. No immunizations given.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OJI
