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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 679　21 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0499)　19 August 1950

Subject tried to be cooperative but is extremely unintelligent and was not able to carry on an intelligent discussion. Reliable poor. Subject has not seen or heard of surrender leaflets.

Date of induction: 6 Mar 50

Training: 6 Mar 50 - 22 Jun 50: Rajin Democratic Young Men’s Training Center, 45th Regt, 15th Div. Dismounted drill, manual of arms with wooden rifles, and political lectures. No rage practices of tactical problems.

Tactical Movements:

25 Jun 50 - Entire 15th Div arrived KUMHWA.

26 Jun 50 - Entire 15th Div arrived HWACH’ON.

29 Jun 50 - 45th Regt arrived CH’UNCH’ON. Disposition of other units unknown.

Route of travel after departure from CH’UNCH’ON was by was of HONGCHON, YOJU, CHANGHOWON-NI and KOESAN to the SANGJU Area. Date of arrival or departure from each of the above areas is not known. On 13 or 14 Jul 50, the 45th Regt crossed the NAKTONG River at a point North of a large bridge (Distance unknown). The 45th Regt did not participate in any engagements prior to crossing the NAKTONG River. No information is available as to whether the other regts of the division were committed to battle.

After crossing the NAKTONG River, subject met about 10 men of the 7th N.K. Div (the men identified themselves as members of the 7th Div) but has not seen or heard of the 7th Div since then. The three regts of the 15th Div assembled one day after crossing the river. The 45th Regt followed the NAKTONG River in a southerly direction. Whenever subject marched along the crest of the mountains, the was able to see the NAKTONG River. Between 17/19 Aug, the three mountain in KASAN-MYON). The regts were deployed parallel to the NAKTONG River. From the mountian, subject was able to see the river. The division sustained artillery fire and air attacks but did not engage in sensitive combat.

19 Aug 50, the 4th Co, 2nd Bn, 45th Regt was ordered to descent to the southeast. The other units remained in position. Objective of the 4th Co is not known. When the company reached a village (name unknown) on a principal highway about 4 km SE of the mountain top, it war fired upon by Korean and American troops. The company withdrew to the mountains after suffering heavy casualties. Number unknown. Subject was captured in the confusion.

45th Regt: 778 Unit (778 軍部隊)

2nd Bn, 45th Regt: 778 NA (778 軍部隊4)

Morale: Since the troops have not been issued any shoes since leaving N. KOREA, a large number of the troops have developed sore feet. The shortage of food sometimes caused the troops to go without rations for three days. These factors combined with the incessant artillery and air attacks lave lowered the morale to the extent that there has been a considerable number of desertions within the past two weeks by all ranks.

Organization of 15th Div: the 15th DIv was organized of the 7th, 8th and 9th Training Regt’s. The 7th training Unit was located in RAJIN and the 8th and 9th Units were in HAERYONG. Since subject entered the 7th Trng Unit in RAJIN on 6 Mar 50, the unit was known as the 7th Trng Regt of the 15th Div. While enroute to KUMHWA, subject heard that the 7th Trng Regt was also known as the 45th Regt. Nothing has been heard as to the redesignation of the 8th and 9th Trng Regts. The strength of the 7th Trng Regt’s was about 2,500 men. Strength of the 8th and 9th Regts is not known.

In addition the 7th Trng Regt, there was a sepcial training unit in HAJIN composed of about 1,000 men. This unit was training with artillery so subject assumes that it became the arty Regt of the 15th Div. Type of weapons unknown.

Present ammo supply: On 19 Aug 50, each rifleman had about 30 to 40 rounds. No other details available.

Present strength: No information.