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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1097　16 September 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0756)　13 September 1950

Prisoner was engaged in farming at home since graduation from primary school. He was captured by a ROK unit in a small village located 8 km West of YONGCH'ON while receiving treatment for a wounded finger.

Prisoner lived on a farm in South KOREA appox 28 km West of P'YONGCH’ANG. This district was captured by the NK Army 28 Jun 50. 10 Aug 50 prisoner joined a communist youth organization and 16 Aug 50 he was inducted into the NK Army. They were marched to WONJU (原州) arrived 20 Aug 50 and received 3 days training in a hilly area with 800 men. Then they were marched to CHECH’ON (堤川) where they arrived on evening 23 Aug 50. The total number of men at this point was 1,000.

These 1,000 men including prisoner marched through ANDONG (安東) D/U and UISONG (義城) D/U and arrived at POHYONSAN ( ) (Mountain) D/U where prisoner with 120 men were assigned to the 15th Div, 50th Regt, 3rd Bn, 7th Co, 2nd Plt, 3rd Sqd. However the 1,000 men remained at this mountain over night and were strafed by US F-80 aircraft. Casualties were suffered. 3 Sep 50, prisoner entered YONGCH'ON and for the first time received a weapon, M1891/30 rifle and bayonet. 6 Sep 50 prisoner for the first time entered combat at a point 8 km West of YONGCH’ON. During this fight PW received a wound on middle finger of left hand and left his unit to receive treatment. He observed ROK Army soldiers passing by. He shouted out to these soldiers and surrendered.

Original organization & strength: 1,000 replacements comprised prisoner's unit until they reached POHYON-SAN.

Actual battle organization and strength: 120 men of the above replacements joined the 15th Div, 50th Regt, 3rd Bn, 7th Co.

MAXIM HMG M1910 - one per Co. RG-42 offensive hand grenade and F-l defensive hand grenade - one each per man. 160mm M1943 mortar one per Bn (?). SU-76 self-propelled gun - one observed at YONGCH'ON. 14.5mm PTRS-41 AT rifles - heard that an anti-tank company was attached to his battalion.

Roads - Roads were partially destroyed but were repaired with sand bags and made passable for trucks or tanks.

RR Bridges - The RR bridge at WONJU was destroyed by US aircraft but has been repaired and trains were passing as of 23 Aug 50. The RR bridge spanning the HAN River N of TANYANG (丹陽) was also destroyed. No traffic as of 26 Aug 50. The bridge located in vicinity of UIRSONG on the road to YONGCH’ON was totally destroyed.

The 15th Div was to capture YONGCHON and KYONGJU.

Morale of the NKPA soldiers were quite high but the soldiers recruited in SK were only thinking of how to return to SK area. PW's unit seemed to be short of ammunition as the replacements received only 15 or 20 rounds but the veterans had from 75 to 100 rounds. PW heard that soldiers who saw leaflets dropped by the US Forces were quite affected and that the soldiers who saw these leaflets wanted to return to ROK controlled areas and fight for the ROK Army. Morale of unit was low due to lack of food and also the Co or Plt leaders always stayed behind the line and just told his men to “fight until death.”

For the Commanding Officer: