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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 705　23 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0523)　21 August 1950

PW was cooperative and seemed fairly intelligent. However, he was unable to estimated the number of casualties in the 4th Div, because his plt crossed the NAKTONG River several days after the 4th Division. Reliability fair.

Inducted 17 May 49 at NANAM (羅南). PW was assigned to the 2nd Div, 5th Regt, AA machine gun plt. Received basic training (close order drill and functioning of AA machine gun) for 2 months. The 5th Regt was transferred to P’YONGYANG and attached to the 4th Div in Jul 49. PW heard from a friend that the 4th Regt and the 6th Regt of the 2nd Div moved to HAMHUNG in Jul 49.

At P’YONGYANG, PW learned the functioning of AA machine gun (12.7 mm DShk) and method of carrying ammunition. PW and his platoon trained until o/a 20 Jul 50. The entire 4th Div (5th, 16th, 18th Inf Regt’s and Arty Regt) left P’YONGYANG o/a 20 Jun 50 by train and reached YONCH’ON (靈川) o/a 23 Jun 50. The 4th Div left YONCH’ON 25 Jun 50 via P’YONGTAEK (平澤). PW’s plt fell behind the rest of the 4th Div, because of bad roads. Therefore PW did not know where the 4th Div fought until they reached NAKTONG River.

PW heard from a friend that the objective of the 4th Div was to attack the CHONJU (1010-1430) area. But the CHONGJU Area was already captured by other units, so the 4th Div turned SE of KUMSAN (1040-1460) (金山) (Date unknown). PW’s plt reached HYOPCH’ON (110-1400) o/a 2 Aug 50 and proceeded towards NAKTONG River. There were about 40 men and 6 AA machine guns in PW’s plt when they left YONCH’ON on 25 Jun 50, but only about 20 men and 2 AA machine guns were left when the plt reached NAKTONG River. Rest of the men were killed by aerial bombing. PW’s plt crossed the NAKTONG River by boats 14 Aug 50 (rest of the 4th Div had already crossed the river). PW believed that his plt crossed at 1137-1397.

PW’s platoon was in a mountain for 3 days. 17 Aug 50, his plt went to the hill where the 5th Regt was located. There were only about 500-600 troops left in the 5th Regt. PW did not know where the 16th and 18th Regt’s were located. PW’s plt took up a position near the 1st Bn of the 5th Regt. He estimated that about 100-150 troops remained in the 1st Bn. Soon the US troops began shelling. All the men in his platoon were killed. PW believed that the 1st Bn personnel were either killed on retreated.

PW was captured by the US troops 17 Aug 50 while hiding in a hole. PW did not know the number of casualties in the 4th Div. However, he believed that most of the men in the 5th Regt were killed.

4th Div CO - LEE KUN MU (리근무), Maj Gen, about 40 yrs old; Remarks: PW did not known whether Maj Gen LEE crossed the NAKTONG River or not.

5th Regt Co - HO UNG YONG (허웅용), Lt Col, about 35 yrs old AA machine gun Plt ldr: O CH’ANG SIN (오창신), Jr Lt, KIA

There were 2 Russian advisors (both Lt Col’s) in the 4th Div who were last seen at P’YONGYANG in Jun 50. Practically all the troops in the 18th Regt were formerly with the Chinese Communist Army.

4th Div - about 9,000 men; 5th Inf Regt - 2,500 men; 16th Inf Regt - 2,500 men; 18th Inf Regt - 2,500 men; Arty Regt - 1,900 men; Engr Bn - unknown.

Inf Regt - 3 x Inf Bn’s (About 600 men per Bn)

Submachine gun Co (100 men armed with PPsh submachine guns)

120mm Mortar Co (80 men and 4 x 120mm mortars; there was also a Signal plt in this company)

76mm Gun Co (80 men and about 10 x 45 AT guns)

Medical platoon (30 men)

AA machine gun plt (43 men and 6 AA machine guns) “12.7mm DShk”

Engr Plt (About 30 men)

Guard Plt (About 30 men)

Arty Regt - No information

Inf Bn - 3 x Rifle Co’s (120 men per co; all riflemen armed with Russian M1891/30 rifles; sqd ldrs armed with PPsh submachine guns; officers armed with pistols. PW stated that HMG’s were attached from the HMG Co in battle)

HMG Co (80 men; number of HMG’s unknown)

82mm Mortar CO (90 men; number of 82mm mortars unknown)

Signal Plt (20 men)

AT rifle plt (20 men and about 5 AT rifles)

Medical Plt (20 men)

45mm AT gun Plt (15 men and 2 x 45mm AT guns)

The morale of the troops was low due to long marches and shortage of food.

PW heard that 5 or 6 x T-34 tanks crossed the NAKTONG River at 1135-1397 between 12 Aug 50 and 14 Aug 50.

PW observed 3 x 120mm (M1938) guns and 4 x 76mm (M1942) guns on the west bank of the NAKTONG River at 1135-1397.

There were 8 trucks attached to the 5th Regt. Four of them were used for hauling 120mm Mortars and the other 4 tucks were used for hauling AA machine guns.

Ate twice a day. Begged rice from farmers. Received 1,000 rounds of ammunition per each AA machine at P’YONGYANG o/a 20 Jun 50.

Objective of 4th Div was to out off the supply route between T’AEGU and PUSAN.