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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 707　23 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0525)　21 August 1950

PW did not volunteer information and appeared reluctant to talk.

Inducted 1 Apr 48 at TONBUK, MANCHURIA. Trained 6 months as a rifleman at T’UNHUA (鈍化) after training. PW went to China with the 8th Route Army, 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 2nd Bn. Departed TONBUK, MANCHURIA on foot all the way to NANCH’ANG (南昌), CHINA and arrived Jun 49. Accompanying the 7th Div (Korean) was the 1st Div (Korean). 8th Div (Chinese) and the 5th Div (Chinese).

Only was 7th Div (Korean) remained in NANCH’ANG and rest of the Divs went north. At NANCH’ANG, the 7th Div participated in farm work, making Chinese shoes, trained in rowing small 3-man boats, and attacking Nationalist troops in the city or nearby mountains. The 7th Div was in NANCH’ANG, CHINA for a year. On or about 25 May 50, the 7th Div departed NANCH’ANG, CHINA by train and arrived at SINUIJU, N KOREA on 1 Jun 50. 7th Div had approx 10,000 men. The route was unknown to PW. He stated the cars of the train were closed no he could not estimate the direction of travel. He does not know if any weapons were on the train.

PW sated he heard that the 8th, 5th and the 1st Div were also coming to KOREA later on. Without detraining, the unit moved from SINUIJU to WONSAN where PW trained for 20 days as rifleman with the 7th Div.

The 7th Div consisted of the 1st, 2nd 3rd Inf Regts and an artillery Regt. The name of the Regt’s have not changed since 1948. The 7th Div with the original troops departed WONSAN on/about 23 Jun 50 and arrived KUMHWA (金花), date of arrival unknown. From KUMHWA the 7th Div arrived at P’OHANG-DONG (1230-1460) via ANDONG, CHONG-SONG on or about 13 Aug 50. The 7th Div was in P’OHANG-DONG 5 days then went to KIGYE (1217-1461) (杞溪).

On 19 Aug 50, PW woke up in the morning to find the Regt gone. PW, being alone, went down for food in the village and was captured by ROK troops.

At time of capture PW had no arms.

PW stated the strength of the 7th Div at KIGYE was 800. Strength of the 1st Regt was 200, the 2nd Bn, 60 men, and the 5th Co, 9 men. (IN: SIC)

Between 7-10 Jul 50, the 7th Div received 200 replacement from N KOREA, and since then no replacements were received. (Note: The above Division strength is after replacements were received).

5th Co CO: PAE, O KUN (裵五根) (배오근) Lt; Age 27 (Killed in Action)

Present Co CO: HO, YONG PONG (胡龍鳳) (호용봉) Jr Lt; promoted to Lt; Age 29

1st Platoon Leader: NO, IN YOL (盧仁烈) Jr Lt; Age 25

Four Russian advisors were seen in WONSAN. None came south of the 38° parallel.

Div: unknown; Regt: 1,800 men; Bn: 600 men; Co: 130 men; Plt: 30 me; Squd: 8 men.

Rifleman armed with Jap type 99 Model rifles, 100 rounds, 2 grenades. Squad leaders with PPsh submachine gun, 200 rounds, 2 grenades. Officers with pistol.

One DP LMG to a squad.

One Maxim HMG with Sokolev mount in company, 800 rounds.

2 x 82-mm Mortars in battalion.

Did not receive any weapons or equipment as replacements. Replacement of 200 N Korean troops received between 10 Jul - 12 Jul in the 7th Div, No further troop replacements received.

PW stated that he observed 3 x T-34/85 tanks going north from KIGYE on 18 Aug 50. No camouflage was observed on tanks. Following the tanks were 10 x GAZ-51 trucks, each pulling a 76-mm Gun, (according to description it could be either the 76-mm M1943 Howitzer of the 76-mm M1938 Mountain Gun). On each of the 10 GAZ-51 trucks were 10 men. Some of the trucks were loaded with ammunition and some with other supplies unknown to PW.

No supplies of ammunitions were observed brought to the unit after it arrived in P’OHANG-DONG 13 Aug 50.

Food Supplies: The PW stated 4 days before driving into P’OHANG-DONG the food was cut off and good became very poor. Food supplies were brought by trucks daily, but the troops were served potatoes mixed with rice and nothing else. Some men were served twice a day, other only once a day. The food served was about one full ordinary Korean rice bowl. The supply tucks brought the food from rear of the unit, but PW does not know whether is came from a village or through regular supply channels.

4 days before driving in P’OHANG-DONG the troops were fed rice twice a day. Usually the troops supplemented their diet with what could be found on the march or during resting periods.

The Div objectives were ANDONG, P’OHANG-DONG and now, is T’AEGU.

PW heard that the 7th Div was redesignated the 12th Div but did not see it in writing. It was only rumored among the troops in early August.