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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 735　25 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 552)　23 August 1950

PW was cooperative and fairly observant. PW was wearing South Korean Youth Defence Corps Uniform issued at MUN’YONG (1100-1540). PW only knew the location of the N. Korean 1st Regt. He did not have detailed information due to his short period of military service. PW asked if he could join the ROK Army. Reliability - fair.

PW was conscripted into the N. Korean Volunteer Corps SEOUL 10 Jul 50. According to the N. Korean newspaper approx 480,000 S. Koreans (19 to 36 years old) were conscripted into the N. Korean Army 9 Jul 50. However, PW estimated that approx 100,000 South Koreans were actually so conscripted. Five hundred-thirty (530) South Korean conscripts including PW departed SEOUL 14 Jul 50 and arrived MUN’GYONG (聞慶) o/a 31 Jul 50. They did not receive any military training but were issued S. Korean Youth Defense Corps uniforms. They were assigned to the 1st Div; PW and 130 others to the 1st Regt of the 1st Div as replacements.

The 1st Regt departed MUN’GYONG 2 Aug 50 on foot and reached KUNWI (軍威) (1150-1480) 17 Aug 50. The 1st Regt encountered ROK troops about four or five times on the way to KUNWI. The ROK troops withdrew because of their inferiority in numbers. About 50% of the 1st Bn of the 1st Regt became casualties to the ROK mortar shelling enroute to KUNWI. Casualties in the 2nd and 3rd Bns unknown. The 1st Regt halted on mountain approx 8 km S of KUNWI for 2 days. About 1,000 troops arrived there 19 Aug 50. PW heard from these troops that they came from N. Korea and were assigned to the 1st Regt as replacements. The 1,000 new arrivals had no military training.

The 1st Regt departed KUNWI the night of 19 Jul 50. PW heard from his company commander that the 2nd 3rd Regt’s were in the vicinity and were also advancing on T’AEGU. The 1st Regt reached approx 1 km NE of KUMAM-DONG (1154-1453) at 22 0500 K Aug 50. The 1st, 2nd and the 3rd Bns took positions along the hills located 800 m NE of KUMAM-DONG.

PW’s company was ordered to advance and out road leading north from KUMAN-DONG. PW’s company drew fire from US troops when the company advanced to a point approx 600 m from the road. PW crawled along a river and advanced towards the US troops because he wanted to surrender. Finally, PW reached the US position and surrendered to the American troops of the 23rd Inf Regt. PW surrendered 22 Aug 50.

Note: PW heard from a political officer o/a 20 Aug 50 that the 1st Div Hqrs is located at HAMCH’ANG (1110-1520).

1st Company (1st Bn, 1st Regt) CO - SONG HAK CH’UL (松鶴出) (송학출); Lt, about 33 yrs old

PW observed a Russian wearing a civilian suit at HAMCH’ANG o/a 8 Aug 50. This Russian was riding a jeep with a N. Korean officer (rank unk), N. Korean female officer (rank unk) and a driver. The jeep which they were riding had stalled so PW and several others pushed it for them. PW believed that the Caucasian was a Russian, because he was speaking Russian to the N. Korean officer. PW said he has heard Russian before and could distinguish it from any other language. PW estimated that the 50% of the troops in the 1st Div were formerly trained with the CCF in MANCHURIA.

Div - unknown; Regt - approx 1,000 men; Bn - approx 320 men; Co - 120 men; Plt - 27-30 men; Sqd - 8-10 men. Rifle company - 2 LMG’s, 1 HMG, 1 x 14.5mm PTRD-41 AT rifle and 16 x PPsh submachin guns. Riflemen armed with M1891/30 rifles. Submachine gun Co - 50 men. Each man armed with PPsh submachine gun. 82mm Mortar Unit - 15 men, 2 x 82mm mortars.

Morale of the replacement half of the unit was low, but the morale of the original troops (the other half of the unit) was very high.

PW observed approx 30 light tanks (type unknown) and 10 x T-34/76 tanks at the outskirts of MUN’GYONG o/a 1 Aug 50.

PW observed approx 40 x 45mm guns (type unknown) at a point approx 8 km SE of HAMCH’ANG o/a 7 Aug 50.

PW observed approx 20 x trucks (US) loaded with ammunition at MUN’GYONG o/a 1 Aug 50.

Begged rice from farmers. ate about twice a day. There was enough ammunition for the rifles. PW heard that ammunition for 82 mm mortars was low. The 1st Bn of the 1st Regt received 50 82mm mortar shells 22 Aug 50 at a place 1½ km N of KUNAM-DONG.

Objective of the 1st Div - T’AEGU. 20 Aug 50, Bn CO of 1st Bn, 1st Regt announced that the first unit into TAEGU would be designated a guard unit and would no longer be required to enter combat for the duration of the war.