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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1169　19 September 1950

FIELD REPORT (164 - LDI - 0870)　16 September 1950

Cooperative. No education but intelligent. Having had more military training than the average NKPA soldier, he knew more details about the NKPA. He received thorough combat training. PW was enthusiastic about NKPA until treated unjustly and cruelly by NKPA personnel between 9 Sep 50 and 11 Sep 50.

Because PW shot two (2) NKPA leaders and was called a collaborator with President RHEE, he is afraid to return to NORTH KOREA after the war.

8th Div composed of 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Rifle Regts, Arty Bn, Signal Platoon, Divisional Hq Guard Bn, an unknown Guard Bn used to guard newly-occupied areas, Independent Rifle Bn, Engineer Bn, Reconnaissance Bn, MG Bn, and an Automatic Weapons Bn.

Div Hq Guard Bn composed of 1st & 2nd Companies each having a total of 170 men.

As of 8 Sep 50 strength of 2nd Company had been reduced to approximately 100 men.

8th Div C.G.: OH, (FNU) (오); Rank & age unknown, formerly CO of the 38th Parallel Security Forces, 1st Brigade.

3rd Rifle Regt Cultural Officer: KIM, IL PAE (김일배), Lt Col, Age approx 40.

Div Guard Bn, 2nd Co, 1st Plat Ldr: PYON, KWANG CHUL (변광철), 2nd Lt, (1 star), age 25.

Div Guard Bn, 1st Co, 1st Plat Ldr: PANG, NOK PONG (박농봉), 2nd Lt (1 star), age 31.

Div Guard Bn, 2nd Co, 2nd Plat Ldr: CHANG, MYONG JIN (장명진), 2nd Lt, age 24.

Inducted on 25 Dec 48, at CHONGJIN, into the Coast Guard Security Police Hq. (The Coast Guard Security Police Hq consisted of 13, 14th, 15th companies at that time and had 40 Soviet made torpedo boats.)

Departed from CHONGJIN in Jan 49 by railroad for NAJIN where the 3rd Company was then stationed. Trained in close-order drill for 11 months at NAJIN and performed routine guard duty there.

Departed from NAJIN o/a 22 Dec 49, by railroad with approx 150 EM from the Coast Guard 3rd Co, and arrived at KANSONG on 30 Dec 49, whereupon PW was immediately assigned to the KANSONG 38th Parallel Security Guard Brigade, 3rd Bn.

Departed from KANSONG o/a 8 Jan 50, by railroad and arrived at YANGYANG o/a 9 Jan 50. Assigned immediately to 38th Parallel Security Guard Brigade, 3rd Bn, Guard Co, 1st Plat. Trained for l month in close-order drill, bayonet fighting and marksmanship.

Transferred to 38th Parallel Security Guard Brigade, 3rd Bn, 9th Co, 2nd Plat, on 30 Feb 50. Continued combat training for 2 months at YANGYANG. Transferred to MG Plat o/a 30 April 50. Trained as HMG gunner for 2 weeks. Transferred to 1st Rifle Plat o/a 15 April 50.

Departed from YANGYANG on 25 June 50 with entire 3rd Bn and arrived at KANGNUNG, o/a 3 July 50, where was promoted from rifleman to Ass’t Sqd Ldr. Arrived CHECHON o/a 25 Jul 50.

PW departed from CHECHON o/a 30 Jul 50, with a detachment to get ammo from SEOUL.

Crossed the HAN River into SEOUL on the main automobile bridge which had been hastily repaired with wooden beams and planks.

On 7 Aug 50, a two-engine train, pulling 22 freight cars arrived at SEOUL from PYONGYANG. PW's group boarded the train and departed SEOUL, arriving at an unidentified town approx 12 km north of ANDONG (on the ANDONG-YONGJU RR Line) o/a 27 Aug 50. Here, with the help of South Korean laborers, 22 freight-car loads of arty, mortar, and small arms ammo, plus grenades were unloaded.

O/a 30 Aug 50, they proceeded by truck to ANDONG arriving on 2 Sep 50.

Departed ANDONG 2 Sep 50 on foot and arrived at a mountain approx 20 km north of HWASAN Mt where 8th Div Hq was located on 4 Sep 50. Upon arrival, PW was promoted to Ass't Plat Ldr of 1st Plat.

On 8 Sep 50, artillery shelling and an ROK attack broke up the 2nd Co, Div Hq Guard Bn, and PW having lost contact with his unit walked to the rear in search of his Company Commander. Failing to find any officers, he joined a platoon of the Independent Bn, 8th Army, on 9 Sep 50. PW became unbearably disgusted with his new platoon ldr and sqd ldr, who insisted on a suicidal frontal attack against the ROK units on the south side of HWASAN mountain. Because neither the Plat nor the Sqd Ldr heeded PW’s advice, but regarded him as a cowardly rifleman, PW shot them in the back during their attempted attack. While crawling northward away from ROK fire, he was wounded between his thumb and forefinger by a rifle bullet; he continued northward until he contacted a medical platoon. The medics refused to treat his wound, accusing him of shooting himself to get out of combat. He was left with two Sgt's and 19 EM who had similarly been refused medical aid for the same reason. PW became further angered when he was fed only rice mush while the regular rear echelon personnel ate meat, pickles and rice.

On 11 Sep 50, NKPA MP's took the weapons away from PW and 22 other men with minor wounds who were still awaiting medical treatment. The MP's ordered PW and 2 Sgt’s to accompany them, stating that they were to go for medial treatment. Suspecting that the MP's were about to shoot him (as they were not heading toward the medical platoon), PW sneaked away and hid. A few minutes later PW heard rifle shots and believed the MP's killed the wounded Sgts.

On 1 Sep 50, PW found a South Korean farmer who directed him to ROK soldiers. PW surrounded at 1200 hrs, 12 Sep 50.

Observed 20 medium tanks approx 5 km North of HWASAN Mt o/a 27 Aug 50. PW believes they were part of an armored division.

Observed 2 x 122mm Howitzers being drawn by 2½ ton trucks approx 8 Km North of HWASAN mountain o/a 6 Sep 50.

Approx 50 South Korean conscripts from SEOUL arrived on 2 Sep 50 and joined the Div Hq Guard Bn, about 5 km North of HWASAN, o/a 6 Sep 50. Unknown number of S.K. conscripts arrived at same time as replacements for other 8th Div units.

In the event an NKPA soldier becomes separated from his unit, he is supposed to join the first NKPA unit he meets. In PW's case, PW's rank and position as former Asst Plat Ldr were not recognized by his new Plat Ldr.

Until 7 Sep 50, morale of the Div Hq Guard Bn, personnel was high. It rose on 7 Sep 50, when each man was given 2 packs of cigarettes in celebration of alleged NKPA victories, but dropped extremely low on 8 Sep 50, when ROK Army inflicted heavy casualties on the Bn.

II Corps Hq located 500 meters northeast of unidentified RR Station approx 12 Km North of ANDONG bn the ANDONG-YONGJU RR line as of 27 Aug 50.

Both I and II Corps consist of 4 or 5 divisions.

PW has heard rumor that two (2) CCF divisions have arrived in Korea to assist NKPA.

It was further rumored that USSR would assist North Korea by sending troops because the USA had sent troops to aid the ROK.

Objective of 8th Div was TAEGU via HAYANG (not YONGCHON) as of 11 Sep 50.

Observed 40 North Korean Coast Guard torpedo boats at CHONGJIN during December 1948.

Only members of the South Korean Labor Party (Communist Party) are enthusiastic about the NKPA invasion.

On the black market in SEOUL, 100 North Korean "Won" were worth 1,000 ROK "Won" on 6 Sep 50.

During a trip to CHONGJIN from NAJIN in April 49, PW observed a Soviet freighter unloading tires. PW believes that Soviet ships bring weapons and ammo to CHONGJIN.

Picked up and read a Safe Conduct Pass dropped by UN Aircraft on 7 Sep 50 at HWASAN. He believed its contents but dared not keep the leaflet.

For the AC of S, G-2: