ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1154 17 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0864) 16 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | Jon Yong Kwon (田龍權) (전용권) |
| PW NO: | 63 NK 2954 |
| RANK: | 2nd Lt |
| AGE: | 24 |
| DUTY: | Plt Leader |
| ORGN: | 5th Div, 10th Regt (617 unit), 3rd Bn, 82mm Mortar Company, 2nd Platoon |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 6 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | P’ONGYANG NAMDO, CHUNGHWA GUN, WONKOK MYON, TOKYO RI (平安南道 中和郡 元谷面 土槁里 298) |
| DATE & PLACE CAPTURED: | 12 Sep 50, 2200 hrs, 3 kms west of CHOCHUNG RI by ROK Forces. |
| INTERROGATOR: | T.M.O. |
Information is limited but seems reliable. Informant seems to be sincere.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:T/O & E of PW's Unit:
Inf Platoon (4 x sqds, 10 x men each): 36 x men, 1 x officer 4 x NCO's
Weapons:
4 x DP LMG's, 3 x 47 round magazines per LMG
4 x PPsh M1941 SMG's, 2 x 72 round magazines per SMG
36 x M1891/30 rifles, 100 x rourds per rifle
2 x handgrenades per soldier,
Company (3 x rifle plts): 120 men, 6 x officers, 15 x NCO's HMG Plt
Weapons:
3 x M1910 HMG’s
3 x 250 round bolts
Battalion: 500 men and officers·
3 x Rifle companies
HMG Company
82mm Mortar Company
Signal Platoon
Supply Platoon
Medic Platoon
45mm AT Platoon
14.5mm At Rifle Plt
Weapons:
9 x M1937 mortars, 40 x fragmentation shells per mortar.
4 x TAM Field telephones and wire laying equipment.
2 x wagons
4 horses
Medical supplies included bandages, mercurochrome and soda.
6 x M1942 AT Guns, 40 x AP shells per gun
6 x 14.5mm PTRD-41 AT Rifles, 40 x AP rounds
Regiment: 2,000 men and officers
3 x Rifle Battalions
SMG Company
T.C. Company
Signal Company
Medic Company
Supply Unit
Recon Platoon
Engr Platoon
45mm Mortar Company
120mm Mortar Co
76m Artillery Company
12.7mm AA HMG Platoon
Weapons & Equipment
(SMG Co): 120 x PPsh M1941 SMG’s
3 or 4 x 2½ ton trucks
Mine detectors, landmines, & demolisions equipment (number unknown)
6 x M1938 120mm Heavy Mortars
3 x M1942 76mm Guns
4 x 12.7mm M1938 AA HMG’s
Division: Little over 10,000 men and officers
3 x Rifle Regiments
Arty Regiment
Recon Company
Engr Battalion
Medic Battalion
Signal Battalion
Supply Battalion
Division AT Company (45mm)
SP Gun Battalion
Weapons
4 x 122mm Howitzers
12 x M1942 76mm guns
12 x M1942 45mm AT Guns
12 x M1938 120mm Mortars
50 x 2½ ton trucks
16 x Self Propelled Guns
Disposition of Units:
The 5th Div Hq on 12 Sep 50 was located 8 kms west of POHANG in the mountain 2 km south of PALCHONG NI (village). The Div Hq was a bomb shelter camouflaged with transplanted rice and grass.
The 12 Regt Hq and troops were in prepared defensive positions on Hill 9 2 kms south of POHANG (12 Sep 50).
The 11th Regt was located 2 kms west of POHANG on a mountain. The Regt was preparing to move to the mountain 4 kms SW of POHANG (12 Sep 50)
The 10th Regt was located on the mountain 12 kms due South of POHANG. The 11th Regt was preparing to attack the airfield from the South.
Estimated Strength of Above Units:
| Original | Present (12 Sep 50) | |
| 10th Regt | 2,000 troops | 250 as of 13 Sep 50 |
| 11th Regt | 2,000 troops | 2,000 after receiving replacements |
| 12th Regt | 2,000 troops | 2,000 after receiving replacements |
Personalities:
SONG Pyong Do (宋炳道) (송병도), 1st Lt, age 27. 10th Regt, 3rd Bn, Mortar Co C.O.
UM Yong Yul (嚴榮律) (엄영율), 2nd Lt, age 29. 10th Regt, 3rd Bn, Mortar Co, 3rd Plt.
KIM, Pyong Han (金炳漢) (김병한), 10th Regt, 3rd Bn, Mortar Co, 1st Plt. Killed in action 11 Sep 50.
CHANG Man Ik (張萬益) (장만익), Major, age 35. 10th Regt, 3rd Bn C.O.
KYE U Hyok (桂寓赫) (계우혁), Col, age 35. 10th Regt C.O.
Personal & Unit History:
Inducted 23 Mar 47 at PYOGYANG NAMDO, CHUNHA GUN with 13 others. Trained as security police for two months and transferred to 5th Regt, 2nd Div on 25 May 1947. Between May 47 to Sep 47, the informant was trained as an infantryman. On 21 Sep 47, the informant was transferred to the Army Officers Candidate School at PY’ONGYANG NAMDO, SADONG. On 5 Oct 48, the informant graduated and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. On 22 Oct 48, the informant was assigned to the 5th Division, 10th Regt, 3rd Bn, 82mm Mortar Co at NANAM. From Oct 48 until 17 June 50, the 10th Regt received tactical training. On 17 June. 50, the 10th Regt received tactical training. On 17 June 50, the 5th Div moved by rail to WONSAN. (arrived 23 Jun 50).
| Departed | Date | Mode of Travel | Arrived | Date |
| WONSAN | 23 Jun 50 | Train | YANGYANG | 24 Jun 50 |
| YANGYANG | 25 Jun 50 | Marched | KANGWOL RI | 26 Jun 50 |
| KANGWOL RI | 27 Jun 50 | Train (Informant was wounded & hospitalized.) | WONSAN | 29 Jun 50 |
| WONSAN | 5 Sep 50 | Truck | KANGNUNG | 6 Sep 50 |
| KANGNUNG | 6 Sep 50 | Truck | YONGDOK | 7 Sep 50 |
| YONGDOK | 7 Sep 50 | Truck | PALCHONG RI | 8 Sep 50 |
The informant was taken prisoner at CHOCHONG RI, on 12 Sep 50, when his unit was separated from the main body.
Armor:
The remaining 4 x SP guns (SU-76's) of the 5th Div were last seen near the Div Hq at TALCHONG RI 8 km west of POHANG (8 destroyed SP guns were observed in the vicinity of TALCHONG RI).
Artillery:
The Div Arty was located near the Div Hq on the South bank of the river flowing to POHANG (8 kms West of POHANG near TALCHONG RI).
Food & Ammo Supplies:
The main food and ammo supply dump for the 5th Div is located in TALCHONG RI, 8 kms West of POHANG. Food was stored in the village (farmer's homes) and ammo was stored in the nearby hills (exact location unknown).
Ammo and food from TALCHONG RI was carried to the front line by troops on A frames. During daylight hours, the troops carrying ammo, walked in small groups (2 or 3) to avoid detection by aircraft. At night, the troops carrying ammo and food marched in a single file of 50 to 100 troops. Troops carrying ammo and food to the Regt's generally failed to reach their objectives because of air attacks and naval shelling.
When taken P.O.W., the 10th, 11th, 12th Regt’s ammo and food supply was very low. The troops were to conserve the ammo as much as possible.
Replacements:
Replacements for the 5th Div consisted of conscripted South Koreans (GIYU GUN Volunteer Unit) and untrained North Koreans who were rushed to the front. The replacements are said to be following the coastal road from WONSAN to POHANG. At TALCHONG RI, the replacements are assigned to the 10th, 11th and 12th Regts. The replacements were employed to carry supplies to the frontline; evacuate wounded, and when weapons are available, fight with the frontline troops.
Wounded troops were evacuated to TALCHONG RI, through channels on stretchers or wagons by newly arrived replacements.
Medical facilities were inadequate and a large percentage of the wounded died from lack of medical care.
The informant was wounded once and, after recovering at the WORSAN Army Hospital, was ordered back to his original unit.
Troops cannot join the adjacent unit if separated during battle but must find their parent unit. This rule is due to the increase of desertion among the troops.
Enemy Intentions:
The mission of the 5th Div is to capture the POHANG Airfield.
The plan of attack was as follows:
The 10th Regt was to attack the airfield from the southern flank (10th Regt presently is in the mountains, 8 kms South of the airfield).
The 12th Regt is to attack the airfield from the North from its prepared positions.
The 11th Regt is to move from its present position 2 kms West of POHANG to the mountain 4 Kms SW of POHANG, then attack the airfield from the West.
The Division up to now has not bean able to stage the attack because of air attacks and naval shelling.
The troops were ordered never to surrender and, if surrender seemed inevitable, to commit suicide.
Hearsay: The CCF is helping the North Korean Army by conscripting Koreans living in CHINA and sending them to the North Korean Army as frontline troops. No further information.
Morale:
Morale low.
North Korean AF & NAVY:
The informant while hospitalized at the WONSAN Army Hospital heard that there were several PT boats at the navy base.
South Korean Sentiment:
The true sentiment of the South Koreans in newly-occupied territory remains unknown because they cannot voice their opinion.
For the AC of S G-2:
SAKAMOTO
