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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 737　25 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 554)　23 August 1950

Cooperative, information seems reliable.

Inducted 28 Dec 47 at HARBIN, MANCHURIA. Received 3 months of infantry basic training at HARBIN. PW was in the Independent 5th Regt, 1st Bn, 3rd Co, 1st Plt, 1st Sqd. This unit was under the 4th Field Army Hqs. PW was the only Korean in this unit, all others were Manchurian. In the field hospital PW stated that there were Japanese doctors, number unknown.

Departed HARBIN - ? Mar 48 - arrived CHANGCH'UN, Manchuria - Mar 48. Unit redesignated Special Unit, unknown Div, 4th Arty Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Co, Recon Plt, Op Sq. Received one month of artillery basic training.

Departed CHANGCH'UN ? May 48 - marched - arrived T’IENTSIN (天津) Jun 48.

Departed T’IENTSIN - Jul 48 - fought through to SHANHSI Province TAIYUN (山市省 大原) arriving Dec 48.

Departed TAIYUN Feb 49 - arrived HUPEI Province, HANKOW (湖北省) ? Sep 49. Heard that all Koreans will go the CHUNGCHOU to rehabilitate the army.

Departed NANYUEH (南獄) - Oct 49 - by rail - arrived CHUNGCHOU (鄭注) ? Oct 49. Here 10,000 KOrans were placed in the 15th Div, PW was placed in the artillery regiment, observation and reconnaissance Battery, on platoon, 2nd Sqd as squad leader.

Departed CHUNGHOU Mar 50 - by rail - via ANTUNG (安東) MANCHURIA and SINUIJU - arrived WONSAN 15 Apr 50. Received 2 moths of basic training. Unit redesignated 7th Div, 12th Arty Regt, Obs & Recon Btry, Rcn Plt, 2nd Sqd as sqd leader.

Departed WONSAN - 18 Jun 50 - by rail - arrived KANSONG and marched to INJE - arrived 21 Jun 50. At that time the CO told him that they were on field manuevers, however he believed they were preparing for was.

Departed INJE 21 Jun 50 - marched - arrived near the 38° parallel 22 Jun 50.

Crossed 38° parallel 25 Jun 50.

The 38th Inf Regt and Arty Regt arrived at CH’UNCH’ON (春川) 27 Jun 50. Only infantry fought.

Departed CH’UNCH’ON 27 Jun - marched - arrived HONGCH’ON (洪川) 29 Jun 50. Only infantry fought. Arty Regt joined 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Inf Regt.

Departed HONGCH’ON 29 Jun 50 - marched - arrived WONJU - ? Jul 50. Joined 3 infantry regiment.

Departed WONJU - ? Jul 50 - marched (3rd Regt left for CH’UNGJU) Arty, 1st and 2nd Inf Regt arrived CHECH’ON (堤川) ? Jul 50.

Departed CHECH’ON - ? Jul 50 - before arriving in TANYANG fought 5 days at HAN River. Over 100 KIA. No artillery pieces damaged - arrived TANYANG (丹陽) ? Jul 50. Casualties unknown.

Departed TANYANG - marched - arrived near ANDONG via YONGJU. Infantry engagement. Casualties unknown. All artillery pieces in Regt sent to rear - destination unknown because there was no ammunition. 1st, 2nd, 3rd Arty Bn’s men armed with rifle and fought as infantrymen. Arrived ANDONG (1160-1520) ? Jul 50.

Departed ANDONG - foot. Between CH’ONG-SONG (靑松) (1200-1500) and KIGYE (杞溪), wounded soldiers told PW that the 1st Div, 5th Div, 7th Div and the 15th Div (?) engaged ROK troops between 1-15 Aug 50. Later he heard that in the infantry regiments there were only 200 to 300 men left. PW believe other Div’s suffered heavy casualties.

17 Aug 50, arrived KIGYE. Met the 2nd Inft Regt. He saw about 200 former 2nd Regt men and about 30,000 recruits. 1st Regt believed to be near POHANG-DONG (1230-1460). 3rd Regt was believed to be heading toward T’AEGU.

17 Aug 50, while bringing food to his unit of 20 men he met ROK troops and fled. 18 Aug 50, at noon he was captured by the ROK 17th Regt near KIGYE.

PW stated that 12th Div was just to confuse the enemy. It was really the 7th Div. This he heard from a signal man at ANDONG.

Former 7th Div CG: CHON, U (전우) Maj Gen; Age 40

12th Arty Regt CO; SON, HUNG SAM (孫興三) (손흥삼) Col; Age 40

Recon Plt Ldr: LEE, HUNG N NAK (李興洛) (리흥낙) Jr Lt Age 20

Obs & Recon Btry - Originally 60 men. Present strength 25 men (19 Aug 50).

Recon Platoon - 2 squads, each squad 5 men. 1 Jap Type 93 Range Finder.

Topographical Platoon - 3 squads - each squad 6 men. 1 Jap Type 93 range Finder. PW collated information, ran surveys, prepared maps.

Signal Platoon - 5 squads - each squad 5 - 6 men. 2 switchboards, 11 field telephone. Message were always sent in Manchurian - either verbal or written.

1st Bn: 3 Btrys - 9 x 76-mm Jap Field Guns - horse drawn.

2nd Bn: 3 Btrys - 9 x 120-mm Jap Mortars - horse drawn.

3rd Bn: 3 Btrys - 9 x 75-mm Jap Mountain Guns - horse drawn.

Saw 40 armored-cars armed with 10-mm MGs moving toward SEOUL from CH’UNCH’ON ? Jul 50.

None observed in Div at time of capture.

Food and ammunition came from the rear by truck at TANYANG but after ANDONG no supplies were brought from the rear.

PW believed all railroad tunnels were utilized as ammunition dumps because he once saw ammunition being hauled out of a RR tunnel at CHECH’ON.

PW stated that when they came from MANCHURIA, they brought all their weapons and equipment with them.

PW believed his 7th Div is now practically annihilated.