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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 633　20 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0462)　16 August 1950

Information fairly reliable.

Inducted 7 Jul 49, at NANAM. Between Jul 49 and 18 Jun 50. Trained as an infantry soldier.

The inf regts consisted of four (4) bns each. Three (3) rifle bns and one (1) PPsh sub-machine gun bn. Each bn consisted of three (3) companies of about 140 troops.

Rifle Bn: 420 troops, six (6) 82 mm mortars, (amount of ammo unknown), six (6) HMG’s (1,500 to 2,000 rounds), eighteen (18) LMG, (800 to 1,000 rounds each), rifles (number of rifles unknown - 100 rounds). Sqd & plt leaders carried sub-machine guns (140 rds), company commanders & bn CO’s carried pistols. Each soldier was given 2 hand grenades.

Tommy gun Bn: 200 troops, 200 PPsh sub-machine guns (140 rounds each). Each soldier in the sub-machine gun bn carried 2 hand grenades.

The 5th Division Hq on 9 Aug 50 was located at CHILSONG DOK 12 km north of YONGDOK. The 1st Regt (10th Regt) unknown. 2nd (11th Regt), 3rd Regt (12th Regt) Hq and troops were in the sector 4 kms west and 8 kms north of YONGDOK. The Div Arty was located 10 kms north of YONGDOK on 9 Aug 50.

3rd Regt (13th Regt), 1st Bn, Political Officer - Lt CH’OE MAN DOK (최만덕), age 27, formerly of 8th Regts (Chinese) Army.

1st Company CO - Lt CH’OE (FNU) (최), age 24. KIA on or about 25 Jul 50.

1st Plt Leader - Jr Lt CH’OE HWANG GUN (최황군), age 23 and formerly of the Chinese 5th Route Army.

6 x SU-76 self-propelled guns were observed in SAMCH’OK on 28 Jul 50. 1 x SU-76 is said to have been destroyed at YONGHAE (date unknown).

A camouflaged gun emplacement consisting of two (2) 76 mm guns was observed on top of the highest hill, 2 km north hill, 2 km northwest of YONGDOK, 9 Aug 50.

5th Division’s food supplies are confiscated from the people of newly captured ares. Location of ammo supply route and point unknown. Where roads are available, trucks and horse drawn wagons were used to haul ammo. The truck & ammo wagons operated at night. Civilians are being used to help transport ammo (hand-carried) over terrain where no roads are available. The PW believes that the ammo supply point is located 7 or 8 km behind the front line.

Morale: The morale of the troops is said to be low but they still have the spirit to fight because of promises that the war will not last long ant that they will be discharged as soon as the war is over.

Replacements: No known replacement troops in 5th Division. Wounded troops were usually evacuated to the rear to a field hospital (location unknown). Front line troops did not have medical facilities. Wounded troops after recovery are sent back to the front lines. The PW heard that civilians of newly captured areas were being forced to join the North Korean Forces.

Captured Equipment: Captured equipment was gathered by a small unit that followed the front line troops (type weapons captured unknown). Captured weapons did not appear with the front line troops. The PW believes that the captured equipment was being sent to the rear (destination unknown).

The people of the newly captured areas are afraid of the North Korean forces. The NK forces set a quota of laborers to haul supplies from each newly captured village. The people were told that they will be shot if they refuse to cooperate.

The troops were remained several times a day to fight to the last man. Troops that try to surrender are usually killed by their company commanders. The troops were told that the 5th Div was to take POHANG. The PW heard that the 7th Div was to join the 5th Div at POHANG.