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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 858　31 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0648)　29 August 1950

PW was cooperative and gave information to the best of his knowledge. However he was unobservant.

Inducted into the Army 19 Mar 50 at S SINUIJU (南新義州). Trained as rifleman 3 months at S SINUIJU.

Departed S SINUIJU 27 Jun 50 - train - arrived SEOUL on or about 11 Jul 50.

Departed SEOUL 12 Jui 50 - marched - arrived INCH’ON (仁川) 15 Jul 50.

23rd Rert remained at INCH’ON 15 days guarding the port until relieved by the 15th Regt of the 9th Div. PW heard this from one of the men in the 15th Regt.

Departed INCH’ON o/a 1 Aug 50 - train - arrived SUWON same day

Departed SUWON 2 Aug 50 - marched - arrived YOJU (驪州) passed through HAMCH’ANG (咸昌), SANGJU (尙州), crossed NAKTONG (洛東江) River, PIAN (比安) and arrived at KUNWI on 27 Aug 50. The 23rd Regt arrived 2 km South of KUNWI beside the main road. Observed the following in the 23rd Regt: 4 x tanks (type unk), 4 x trucks hauling AA. guns (type unk), 4 x 120mm mortars, 8 x HMG’s and 2 x artillery pieces (type unk).

Observed 15 artillery pieces in the artillery regiment, 13th Division when the 23rd Regt left them at 2 km North of KUNWI after crossing the NAKTONG River. The artillery regiment had taken cover beside the main road to KUNWI. The PW stated the 21st and 22nd Regt were following the 23rd Regt. He also heard from his plt ldr that the 15th Div with a strength equivalent to one battlion of approximately 500 men was following the 13th Div.

On 27 Aug 50 when the 23rd Regt arrived at 2 km South of KUNWI, the regiments split up. The 3rd battalion proceeded SE towards a mountain which is located nearest to KUNWI. Did not know which way the other two Bn’s proceeded. Night of 28 Aug 50, the 3rd Bn moved up the mountain trying to occupy it, before the ROK troops. ROK troops were waiting for them at the top of the mountain and fired on them with MGs and rifles. The 3rd Battalion as disorganized and retreated down the mountain. PW being wounded in the left thigh was captured by ROK troops. The PW estimates that about 100 men of the 3rd battalion were killed and 30 men wounded on the mountain.

27 0630 Aug 50, while the 23rd Regt was undercover beside the road at the foot of the mountain, they were strafed and bombed by 4 planes. During this strafing and bombing, only two trucks of the Regt were lost.

23rd Regt CO: CH’OE P'YONG YOL (최명열), Lt Col, age 45

3rd Bn CO: unknown, transferred.

9th Co CO: CHOE CH’ANG SUN (최창순), Lt, age 31

1st Plt ldr: CHANG CH’ANG HWA (항창화), Jr Lt, age 26

Sqd ldr: KIM SONG NOK, rank Sgt, age 21

Mar 50 about one regiment of former Korean CCF men were integrated into the 13th Div at SINUIJU. PW does not know where these troops came from.

13th Div - 5,000 men (Present Strength), 23rd Regt - 600 men.

3rd Bn - 150 men

9th Co - 16 men

let Plt - 8 men

1st Sqd - 2 men

Riflemen armed with M1891/30 rifle, 100 rounds, 2 grenades. Sqd ldr PPsh submachine gun, asst sqd ldr with DP LMG, officers with pistols. 2 x HMGe in Co. 2 x 120 mm mortars in Bn. MG Co in 3rd Bn. The company has 12 x HMGs, PW did not observe any replacement of troops or equipment.

PW ate on the average of two meals a day, sometimes none. Meals consisted of wheat brought in from the villages. Ammunition last received at SEOUL 11 Jul 50.

Objective of 13th Div was TAEGU.