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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 688　22 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 506)　20 August 1950

Informant was of average intelligence but uncooperative. Ignorant on military units and germs due to short period of service.

4 Apr 50 - Conscripted into 7th Trng Regt, Training Center, NAJIN (羅津). 1,800 conscripts. Received 2 moths of basic training with wooden rifles.

o/a 4 Jun 50 7th Trng Regt activated as 45th Regt, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Bns (778 Units), 15th Div. 15 DIv Hqs located in “KHWEELAN” near NAJIN.

22 Jun 50 - Issued M1891/30 rifles and M1938 carbines, without ammunition; departed from NAJIN via rail.

26 Jun 50 - Arrived at KUMHWA, issued 60 rounds ammunition. Continued march on foot. 15th Div crossed 38° parallel into CH’UNCH’ON. 2nd Div passed through CH’UNCH’ON ahead of 15th Div (hearsay).

26 Jun-16 Jul 15th Div marched through YOJU and UMSONG. Continued advance in direction of KOESAN over dirt road.

o/a 16 Jul 30 At point 2 km Northwest of KOESAN, 45th Regt and 8th Trng Regt 2 km Northwest of KOESAN, 45th Regt and 8th Trng Regt engaged in battle with ROK units. Heavy exchange of artillery-mortar fire. Attacked by US aircraft. 45th Regt suffered 100 killed and 200 wounded mostly by artillery and mortar. 8th Trng Regt casualties unknown. 9th Trng Regt by-passed North of KOESAN (hearsay). After 2 days heavy fighting in mountain approach (Northwest) to KOESAN, ROK Units withdrew.

o/a 18 Jul 50 15th Div, 45th Regt and 8th Trng Regt by-passed North of KOESAN, advanced 8 km East of city. At this point 45th Regt and 8th Trng Regt contacted 13th Div. Followed 13th Div advance in southeast direction. 15th Div, 9th Trng Regt believed to have rejoined 45th Regt and 8th Trng Regt. 13th Div (3 x Regt’s) engaged ROK troops in this area (8 km East of KOESAN), south of SSANG River prior to contact by 15th Div (hearsay). 7th Div engaged in battle with ROK units north of river. Did not cross SSANG River (hearsay).

o/a 18 Jul-8 Aug - 15th Div followed 13th Div to north outskirts of KUMCH’ON via SANGJU. 2nd Div located in KUMCH’ON Area, departed (hearsay). 15th Div continued around west outskirt of KUMCH’ON in Southerly direction, then eastward, then on to a dirt highway (Probably KUMCH’ON-WAEGWAM Highway). At road junction west of NAKTONG River, 8th and 9th Trng Regt’s separated from 778 Unit, traveling Northeast. 45th Regt continued in southeast direction. 8th and 9th Trng Regts road route (NE) led to large bridge on NAKTONG River (hearsay).

o/a 12 Aug 50 - 2 hours artillery-mortar barrage on 45th Regt from East banks, NAKTONG River.

o/a 12 0330 K Aug 50 - 45th Regt crossed river. NAKTONG River 5 foot at deepest point of crossing. Hard sand bottom. No opposition during river crossing operation. 45th Regt advanced into sparsely wooded hills 2 km East of river. Contacted elements of 15th Div, 8th and 9th Trng Regts in woods. Unknown whether CG, 15th Div crossed river with units. 13th Div continued leading 15th Div in attack and advance.

o/a 13-19 Aug 50 - 45th Regts separated from other 15th Div units. No contact with 13th Div. Under constant daylight attacks by US aircraft. 45th Regt, 2nd Bn (PW’s unit) original strength of 600 before river crossing reduced to 300. Most casualties due to artillery.

14 0530 K Aug 50 - 45th Regt, 3rd Bn, 4th Co (PW’s unit) ordered into combat action for first time after river crossing, PW in 3rd Plt (rear of Co). PW and 5 others captured during retreat from counterattacking South Korean Army Units. Location of capture unknown (PW tag: KASAN MYON Area (1150-1465).

Remarks: Weapons hand-carried by 15th Div units across NAKTONG River included: M1891/30 rifles and M1938 carbines, 30 rounds, 2 hand grenades, PPsh M1941 submachine guns, DP LMG, MAXIM HMG M1910 (On SOKOLOV Mount), mortar similar to 82mm M1937 medium mortar, 14.5 mm PTRS-41.

Weapons observed with 15th Div east of NAKTONG River included: 14 x trucks, 6 x 76mm M1927 howitzers, 5 x 57mm M1943 AT guns, 4 x JS-2 Heavy tanks, 3 x T-34/78 medium tanks.

45th Regt, 2nd Bn, 4th Co: LEE SANG GYONG (李相景) (이상경) rank Lt, age 25.

Plt ldr, 3rd Plt: CH’OEKA HYONG (崔加鉉) (최가현) rank JR Lt, age 26.