ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1508 30 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0927) 27 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CH’A Kun Ho (車根鎬) (차근호) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 4860 |
| RANK: | Sgt (中士) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | Signalman |
| UNIT: | 3rd Div, 9th Regt, 76mm AT Gun Co, Command Plt, Radia Transceiver Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | 11 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Electrician |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | TABU-DONG (多富洞) (1140-1460) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 22 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | P’YONGYANG PUKTO, YONGBYON GUN, P’ALWON MYON, CH’ON YANG DONG #702 (平安南道 寧邊郡 八院面 天陽洞 七0二) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | S/Sgt NAKAYAMA (FEAF) |
PW was in good health, above average. intelligence, very cooperative and observant. He surrendered voluntarily to the 8th Cav.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Inducted in NKPA 16 Feb 49 at HAMHUNG (咸興) with 300 other conscripts. PW received basic training consisting of dismounted drill approximately 3 hrs a day, radio maintenance and operation 1 hr a day. The remaining 4 hours were spent training as follows:
1. Combat engineering including bridge building.
Road construction, how to lay anti-personnel mines and use of pontoons.
2. Artillery, especially nomenclature of 76mm AT Gun.
3. Cavalry - Handling and care of horses.
4. Map reading and map making.
PW spent 2 months on above training and the following 2½ months were spent building barracks, mess halls, etc.
| 1 Jul 49: | Departed HAMHUNG by train and arrived CHIP'ORI (芝浦里). |
| 3 Jul 49: | Built barracks and mess halls. Entire 9th Regt of 3rd Div was engaged in construction. A small percentage of the 9th Regt suffered from malaria. |
| 5 Nov 49: | Departed CHIP'ORI on foot and arrived KUMHWA (金化). |
| 6 Nov 49: | Until 15 Jun 50 the entire unit did construction work. |
| 15 Jun 50: | Weapons and equipment were issued to 1,000 men of 9th Regt of 3rd Div: |
| 300 x M1891/30 rifles and M1938 carbines | |
| 135 x PPsh M1941 guns | |
| 81 x DP LMG | |
| 60 x MAXIM HMG 1910 | |
| 24 x 82mm Mortar M1937 | |
| 6 x 120mm Mortar M1938 | |
| 4 x 76mm M1943 Howitzer | |
| 6 x 45mm M1937 AT gun | |
| 8 x 45mm M1942 AT gun | |
| 12 x 14.5 PTRD-41 | |
| 8 x 12. 711m DShk M1938 AA gun | |
| 40 x ZIS-151 trucks. | |
| 20 x Radio transceivers | |
| 40 x Field telephone | |
| 4 x R-60 switchboard | |
| 21 Jun 50: | Departed KUMHWA by marching and arrived 38° parallel 24 Jun 50. PW promoted to Sqd Ldr with rank of Sgt, |
| 25 Jun 50: | Departed 38° parallel marched am arrived SEOUL 29 Jun 50. 9th Inf Regt crossed the 38° parallel line approx 0800 hrs, 25 Jun 50. Engaged in major battle 3 times in SEOUL. Tank unit of an unknown division was there when 9th Regt of 3rd Div arrived. Suffered light casualties. |
| 30 Jun 50: | Departed SEOUL and marched arriving CH’ONGJU (淸州) 7 Jul 50. 9th Regt crossed the HAN River (漢江) over a pontoon. |
| 14 Jul 50: | Departed CH’ONGJU marched and arrived SINTANJIN (薪灘津) 16 Jul 50. 9th Regt of 3rd Div entered SINT’ANJIN and was attacked by US Arty Bn and ROK Inf Bn, approximately 30 to 40 men being killed. The total strength at this time was approximately 800 men. PW observed 20 to 25 ROK and US soldiers taken prisoner. |
| 17 Jul 50: | Departed SINT’ANJIN by marching and arrived TAEJON (大田) 19 Jul 50. When 9th Regt of 3rd Div arrived in TAEJON the city was occupied by NK soldiers. |
| 20 Jul 50: | Departed TAEJON by marching and arrived YONGDONG (永同) 23 Jul 50. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bn of 9th Regt crossed the KUM (錦江) River and fought the ROK Infantry and US Artillery. Artillery unit of 9th Regt of 3rd Div remained back and when the battle was over the artillery unit moved into YONGDONG. 1st and 2nd Bn suffered heavy losses and were almost annihilated. |
| 23 Jul 50: | Departed YONGDONG by marching and arrived KUMCHON (金泉) 29 Jul 50. The strength was only 500 men after the battle in YONGDONG. Enroute they engaged in 5 major battles before entering the city of KUMCH'ON. This battle was named the “CH'U P’UNG YONG" (秋風嶺) battle. When 9th Regt entered KUMCH'ON the city was occupied by various units. |
| 1 Aug 50: | Departed KUMCH’ON by marching and arrived YANGMOK (若木) 4 Aug 50. |
| 6 Aug 50: | Departed YANGMOK by marching and arrived SOKCH’ON MYON (石村面) 8 Aug 50. While crossing the NAKTONG (洛東江) River PW and approximately 10 men were casualties. 450 men were left when they arrived in SOKCH’ON MYON. While PW was hospitalized replacements were sent to reinforce the 9th Regt. All the physicians and surgeons had been conscripted into NKPA medical units. |
| 22 Sep 50: | PW surrendered to US soldiers. He was taken to TAEGU (大邱) for brief interrogation and was brought to PUSAN (釜山) PW Camp on 23 Sep 50. |
Original Organization & strength:
3rd Div was composed of 3 Inf Regts - 7th, 8th, 9th Inf Regts.
9th Regt composed of 3 Inf Bns - and 1 artillery Bn. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Inf Bns - 1,000 men.
76mm Gun Co composed of 2 artillery p1ts, 1 command plt and 1 ammunition plt of 80 men.
Equipment for 9th Regt of 3rd Div as of 19 Sep 50:
50 x PPsh M1941 guns
60 x DP LMG
40 x MAXIM HMG M1910
6 x 82mm Mortar M1937
4 x 120mm Mortar M1938
3 x 76mm M1943 Howitzer
4 x 45mm M1937 AT guns
6 x 45mm M1942 AT suns
0 x ZIS-151 truck
0 x Radio transceiver
20 x Field telephones
Communications:
PW operated radio transceiver while taking basic training in HAMHUNG. "LEE" (ㄹ 베) model was the transceiver used by 76mm AT Gun Co of 9th Regt, 3rd Div. Nomenclature of the set - 8 tube set using DIODE tubes - operated on C.W. and voice. Received via ear phone. Operated on one (1) 2.5 V dry cell and three (3) 80 V wet cells. Transmitting range was 10-15 miles radius. Output of radio frequency is 1 to 5 watts. Antenna 6 to 7 ft high. 3rd Div operated mobile radio transceiver.
The command plt of 76mm AT Gun Co, 9th Regt, 3rd Div had 2 transceivers and 76mm AT Gun Co had 1 radio transceiver. The radio operators of command plt transmitted firing positions and directions to operators in 76mm. AT Gun Co.
Intentions:
Before PW was ta~ten prisoner the unit's intention was to capture TAEGU at any cost.
Personalities:
3rd Div CO: KIM Kwang Hyop (金광협), Maj Gen
9th Regt CO: KIM Man Ik (金萬益), Col
76mm AT Gun CO: MYONG Yong Guk (明竜國), Capt
Command Plt Ldr: KIM Son Gyu (金善奎), Jr Lt
Remarks: Col KIM Man Ik CO of 9th Regt, Capt MYONG Yong Guk, CO of 76mm AT Gun Co, Jr Lt KIM Son Gyu, plt ldr of Command Plt were killed in action.
When PW was in HAMHUNG (咸興) 16 Feb 49 - 1 Jul 49 he saw a Russian Military advisor. Name unknown, rank was Lt Col. He was called "TAKOI" by nickname meaning "here" in Russian. Reason he was always using the word "TAKOI" when he wanted something or pointing at certain objects. He wore Russian officers field uniform or service uniform.
Morale:
Morale was low. Heard that the NK Army was losing a great number of men and equipment and that rood was very scarce. Morale remained low until he surrendered. At the present time PW feels safe and realizes that he was one of the victims of NK propaganda.
Propaganda Leaflets:
PW read leaflet when he was in TABU-DONG and passed the leaflet around to the other members of the unit. Majority of the soldiers who read the “Safe Conduct Pass” were beginning to think that it would be better to surrender than to remain in the NKPA. PW feels that in the near future the leaflets will have greater effect than ever. PW thinks constant bombing and strafing of NKPA troops and cutting off the supply lines will cause morale of the soldiers to drop greatly.
Remarks:
PW was employed by KANGSOCHON GI KIGYE CHECHAKSO (KANGSO Electric Machine Manufacturing Plant) in KANGSO (850-1810) operated by NK government. The products are as follows:
AC motor - 5 HP & 10 HP. In 1948 produced 300 motors and 1949 the production increased to 600 actors.
AC generator - 110 V and 220 V. Produced 2 generators in 1949 Transformers - 3300 V stopdown to 110 V and 220 V Produced 800 stepdown transformers in 1949
Employs approximately 2,000 men and women. Due to lack of materials the production has declined. Current production unknown.
For the Commanding Officer;
WEELDREYER
Executive
