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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 760　26 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0562)　23 August 1950

Cooperative, seems to be reliable. PW surrendered to ROK Troops.

PW was forced into the Army Feb 49 at TIENTSIN (天津), CHINA after he had completed 6 months of Medical School in KILIN, MANCHURIA. He worked in the 13th Army Base Hospital for approximately 1 year. The Hospital moved to the following places while PW was in the service with the 13th Army.

TIENTSIN (天津) Feb 49 to Mar 49

FANCH’UNG (礬城) May 49 to Jul 49

SHINSHI (少市) Aug 49 to Nov 49

KUILIN (桂林) Dec 49 to 20 Dec 49

LIUCHOU (柳州) Feb 49 to Jan 50

NANNING (南寧) Feb 50 to Mar 50

PW stated that the gap between dates constituted travel time. Mode of travel was either by train or trucks. Sometimes they also walked. 13th Army Hospital staffed as follows:

Chief of this Hospital Staff was a Chinese named YU, ? . There were 7 x 13th Army Hospitals and they were all within 30 km of each other.

The 13th, 12th and 15th Army Hospitals have Japanese on their staffs. PW last observed the Japanese in his hospital on 11 Mar 50, when he departed CHINA.

Most of the hospital equipment is of American, either captured from Nationalist Army or purchased from the black market.

The 13th Army Hospital had a capacity of 2,500 patients.

9 Mar 50, PW received orders from the Hospital Commandant to report to CHONGJU, CHINA. All the Korean hospital personnel received identical orders and reported to CHONGJU. At CHONJU, PW received a new uniform and joined the 15th Div. PW knows this is the 15th Div because the clothing was marked 15th DIv and he has also heard it called the 15th Div by other Koreans in the unit.

The 15th DIv departed CHONGCHOU, CHINA, 10 Apr 50. The 15th Div was in CHONGCHOU for approximately 30 days because they had to wait for Korean troops coming in from various parts of CHINA.

15th Div departed CHONGCHOU, CHINA by train via SANHAKUAN (山河官) PONGCHOUNG (HOTEN) and ANTUNG in MANCURIA; SINUIJU, N. P’YONGYANG, SONCHON (宣川) in KOREA, to WONSAN, arriving there 16 Apr 50.

PW does not know when, but the 15th Div was redesignated the 12th Div when it arrived at WONAN, There were about 15,000 troops from CHINA but, about 3,000 who were sick or too old were discharged. No new troops arrived in this Division at WONSAN.

On 2 May 50, at WONSAN, PW was assigned to the 12th Div, 1st Regt, 1st Bn, 377-mm AT Arty Independent Plt, 2nd Sqd. PW did not want to take arms and wanted to be in a medical unit but was assigned the 2nd squad leader commanding an AT Gun.

The 12th Div departed WONSAN 19 Jun 50, by train - arrived at KANSONG the next day. From KANSOGN marched to INJE and crossed the 38° parallel 25 Jun 50, with the 3rd Regt. Whereabouts of the 2nd Regt at the time unknown.

Crossing the 38° parallel the platoon leader told the men that the 12 Div was redesignated the 7th Div.

After crossing the 38° parallel the 37-mm AT Arty Plt travelled with the Div Hqs approx 8 km to the rear of the infantry regiments, and sometimes with the Arty Regt.

The route of travel was HONGCH’ON (洪川), wonju (原州), CHECH’ON (堤川)?, TANYANG (丹陽), YONGJU (榮州), ANDONG (安東) and KIGYE (杞溪). Arrived at KIGYE o/a 15 Aug 50. Platoon did not go to P’OHANG-DONG.

18 Aug 50, the 7th Div assembled on the outskirts of KIGYE town on the read leading to ANDONG. The 7th Div was fired upon in this assembly area 19 Aug 50 by enemy troops and so withdrew to the mountains. While PW withdrew into the mountains during the attack he overhead the 1st Regt’s Chief of Staff and Cultural Officer talking about orders from Div Hqs to organize the troops and assemble at PIHAKSAN (1210-1470) (飛鶴山).

19 Aug 50, when the 1st Regt assembled on the mountain NW of KIGYE, PW was ordered by platoon leader, Lt KIM TONG PIN to take a man with 2 x 37-mm AT Guns and 5 horses into the mountains and destroy them.

The PW finding opportunity to desert the army told the men with him to desert the army but because the man. AN. YON SON (안영선) wanted to carry out the ordered of the platoon leader, PW had to shoot him. After killing the man, he proceeded with the 5 hours and 2 x 37-mm AT Guns northward to and enemy position which was located 3 km north where he was taken prisoner with the 2 x 37-mm AT Guns, 90 rounds, 5 horses, 2 grenades and 1 US “grease” gun with 130 rounds. PW stated he threw away the Jap Model 99 rifle with which the killed his companion.

7th Div: CHON, U (전우) Maj Gen: Age 40

Replaced by an unknown commander. PW heard CHON became the military governor of SEOUL.

Div: 1,200 men; 1st Regt: 400 men; 1st Bn: 120 men; 37-mm AT Gun Plt: 9 men

2nd Squad: None, only PW and the man he killed were alive at the assembly area. Rifleman had 80-100 rounds of ammunition.

37-mm AT Gun Independent Plt and 2 x 37-mm AT Guns, but PW turned them over to ROK troops when he surrendered.

PW heard that during the early part of Aug 50, about 1,000 or more troops joined the 7th Div as replacements. They were distributed among the regiments but he did not observe any.

Observed 2 x SP Guns 19 Aug 50 when the 7th Div assembled on the outskirts of KIGYE, 3 km NW of KIGYE.

Observed 2 x 76-mm M1942 AT Guns and 4 x 45-mm M1942 AT Guns at a point 3 km NW of KIGYE where the Division assembled 19 Aug 50.

Observed 10 x GAZ-51 trucks leaded with wounded soldiers at the above location.

Since 13 Aug 50 the supply of food and ammunition has been out.

Objective of the 7th Division was to assemble at PIHAKSAN (overheard in a conversation between a1st Regt C/S and Culture Officer 19 Aug 50).