ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1212 22 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0836) 20 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | AN Chong Sul (安鐘述) (안종술) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 3414 |
| RANK: | Sr Sgt (上士) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | Medical Aideman |
| UNIT: | 5th Div, Arty Regt (Code #623), 2nd Bn, 4th Btry |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 100 m E of AN’GANG-NI (安廣里) (1210-150) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 16 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KYONGSANG NAMDO, YANGSAN GUN, YANGSAN MYON, CHICHONGNI #620 (慶尙南道 梁山郡 梁山面 止停里 六二0) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, NANAM City, KOKSANNI #210 (咸鏡北道 羅南市 谷山里 二一0番地) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HORISHIGE (ATIS) |
PW was fairly intelligent and talked freely. His information seemed fairly reliable. PW's Bn (2nd Bn, Arty Regt, 5th Div) was attached to the 7th Div when the war started. PW had information on his Bn only. PW stated that he would like to work as an aideman in the prison camp. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
| 1 May 49: | While PW was still a civilian, he received military training once a week at the Nanam Youth Training Center. Military training consisted of close order drill, manual of arms with wooden rifles, squad tactics, etc. About 80 men including PW finished military training o/a 17 Sep 49. |
| 23 Sep 49: | PW volunteered for the N. Korean Army at NANAM. PW was assigned to the 4th Btry, 2nd Bn, Artillery Regt, 5th Div. PW received medical training in the Medical Training Co, Medical Bn, 5th Div. Medical training was a 4 month course. Seventy-three (73) men including PW received the training. Subjects covered in the 4 month course were elementary physiology, surgery, bacteriology, knowledge of contagious diseases, etc. The 73 men took examinations after they completed the 4 month course. PW and three (3) others who passed the examination with excellent grades were promoted to Sr Sgts. Rest of the men were promoted to Sgts, Jr Sgts and Cpls. PW trained in surgical work in the Medical Bn of the 5th Div until 13 Jun 50. |
| 13 Jun 50: | PW returned to the 4th Btry, 2nd Bn, Artillery Regt, 5th Div. PW was the only aideman in the 4th Battery. The 5th Div (10th, 11th, 12th Regts and Div Apty) departed NANAM by train. |
| 15 Jun 50: | The 5th Div reached KANSONG (杆城) via HAMHUNG (咸興) and WONSAN (元山). The 10th, 11th, 12th Inf Regts and the 1st and 3rd Arty Bns of the 5th Div departed by trucks for YANGYANG (襄陽). The 2nd Bn, Arty Regt, 5th Div was ordered to join the 7th Div, because the 7th Div did not have artillery. |
| 25 Jun 50: | The 2nd Bn advanced to 8 km N of CH’UNCH’ON (春川) from KANSONG via INJE (麟蹄). The 2nd Bn shelled the town of CH’UNCH’ON for about 7 hours. |
| 27 Jun 50: | the 2nd Bn entered the town of CH’UNCH’ON and was ordered by the 5th Div Hqs to join the 5th Div at KANGNUNG (江陵). |
| 29 Jun 50: | The 2nd Bn advanced to a point 12 km N of KANGNUNG via INJE and YANGYANG. When the 2nd Bn reached a point 12 km N of KANGNUNG, the 5th Div Hqs again ordered the 2nd Bn to join the 7th Div. |
| ? Jul 50: | The 2nd Bn advanced to a point 8 km N of WONJU (原州) via YANGYANG, INJE and HONGCH’ON (洪川). |
| 3 Jul 50: | After the 7th Div captured WONJU, the 2nd Bn advanced to arriver located N of CH'UNGJU (忠州). The 2nd Bn shelled the city of CH'UNGJU for a week. They shelled the city only during the night, because the UN aircraft was active during the day. |
| 10 Jul 50: | The 2nd Bn could not haul their artilery pieces across the river N of CHUNGJU, so they moved to CHECH’ON (堤川). |
| 13 Jul 50: | The 2nd Bn advanced to TANYANG (丹陽). The 2nd Bn advanced towards YONGJU (榮州) same day by truck. |
| 19 Jul 50: | The 2nd Bn shelled the town of YONGJU for 1 day. |
| 20 Jul 50: | After the 7th Div captured YONGJU, the 2nd Bn advanced to 8 km S of YONGJU. Here, the 2nd Bn shelled the ROK troops defending the hills. |
| 28 Jul 50: | The 2nd Bn fought for 2 days 8 km N of ANDONG (安東). |
| 2 Aug 50: | The 2nd Bn entered ANDONG. |
| o/a 8 Aug 50: | The 2nd Bn advanced to somewhere W of CH'ONGSONG (靑松) and fought here for 3 days. |
| o/a 12 Aug 50: | The 2nd Bn shelled the town of KIGYE (杞溪) for about 10 days. |
| o/a 22 Aug 50: | The 2nd Bn withdrew to a point 8 km NW of KIGYE. Here the 2nd Bn received ammunition. |
| o/a 8 Sep 50: | After the 2nd Bn moved into KIGYE, the 2nd Bn advanced to a point 4 km W of AN'GANG-NI (安康里). The 2nd Bn shelled the ROK troops who were on the hill located approx 200 m S of ANGANG-NI. |
| o/a 13 Sep 50: | The 2nd Bn was ordered to withdraw to the KIGYE Area. However, the ROK troops were so close that the 2nd Bn could not displace their artillery pieces immediately. Therefore, the Bn CO selected 40 men, including PW, and ordered them to hold the line SE of ANGANG-NI while the rest of the 2nd Bn withdraw. |
| 16 Sep 50: | The 40 men were surrounded by the ROK troops at a point approx 100 m E of AN'GANG-NI. Most of the troops were killed and some escaped. PW and three (3) others were captured by the ROK troops. |
Unit Organization and Strength:
2nd Bn, Arty Regt, 5th Div - 3 Btrys, Medical Plt, Observation Section, Wireless Sqd
Personnel - approx 220 men
Weapons - 8 x 76mm AT guns and 4 x 120mm Howitzers
Vehicles - 4 x (10 wheel) trucks, 9 x (6 wheel) trucks
Note: The 4th and 5th Batteries had 4 x 76mm AT guns each. The 6th battery had 4 x 120mm howitzers.
Last known composition of unit (13 Sep 50):
2nd Bn, Arty Regt, 5th Div:
Personnel - PW estimated that there were approx 200 men in the 2nd Bn, including the 70 replacements who arrived from N. KOREA and joined the unit 8 km NW of KIGYE o/a 22 Aug 50.
Weapons - 4 x 76mm AT guns and 2 x 120mm were last seen by PW 4 km W of ANGANG-NI 13 Sep 50.
Vehicles - 1 (10 wheel) truck and 5 (6 wheel) trucks were seen by PW 4 km W of ANGANG-NI 13 Sep 50.
Ammunition - PW stated that the ammunition was limited because trucks could not haul the ammunition during the day.
Intentions:
PW heard from his Battery Political Officer o/a 5 Sep 50 that the objective of the 7th Div was KYONGJU (慶州).
Personalities:
Name: KIM Ch'ang Dok (金昌德) (김창덕)
Rank: Maj Gen
Age: About 42
Position: CG, 5th Div
Remarks: It was rumored that Maj Gen KIM Chang Duk formerly served under CHINA's MO T'aek Tong (毛澤東) as a personal guard.
Name: KIM Song Il (金成日) (김성일)
Rank: Lt Col
Age: About 28
Position: CO, Arty Regt, 5th Div
Remarks: Formerly lived in MANCHURIA.
2nd Bn CO - PW did not know the name of his Bn CO, because the Bn CO transferred from another unit in Jun 50.
Name: HO Pong C'hol (許鳳喆) (허봉철)
Rank: Sr Lt
Age: About 24
Position: CO, 4th Btry
Remarks: Formerly served with the CCF in MANCHURIA.
Name: HAN Tae Yong (韓大竜) (한대룡)
Rank: Jr Lt
Age: About 27
Position: 1st Plt ldr
Remarks: Joined the NKPA in 1946.
Name: SIN Tong Ch'il (申東七) (신도질)
Rank: Jr Lt
Age: About 24
Position: 2nd Plt ldr
Remarks: Killed in action at AN’GANG-NI 15 Sep 50
Morale and Propaganda:
The troops were told to fight to the last man. Morale of the troops was high at the beginning. However, the morale of the troops dropped as the supplies and ammunition became scarce. The officers did not forbid the troops to read surrender leaflets. However, the officers told the troops not to believe anything that was written on the leaflets. Troops read the leaflets but did not believe the contents entirely. PW thinks that the replacements had little training and the leaflets would be effective with them.
4. GENERAL:Since PW could not handle all the casualties by himself, the casualties were sent to the rear by truck and horse cart. The medical bn of the 5th Div set up in houses. PW took care of only minor wounds. There were more than 10 medical officers in the Medical Bn. PW believed that casualties were given adequate treatment. PW stated that the Medical personnel did not carry weapons. however, medical officers carried pistols.
PW stated that the Red Cross Insignia was used on hospital vehicles and buildings. PW believes that the medical supplies and medicine was becoming scarce. Most of the medical supplies were US made. One N. Korean won was worth 8 S. Korean won.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
