ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1510 30 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0929) 28 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE, Chong T’ak (李鐘卓) (이종탁) |
| RANK: | Sr Sgt (上士) |
| AGE: | 23 |
| DUTY: | Co Clerk |
| UNIT: | 5th Div, 11th Regt, 2nd Bn, 6th Co |
| EDUCATION: | Middle School - 2 years |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CH’OGOKTONG (車谷洞) located 3 km W of P’OHANG-DONG (1230-1460) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 22 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KANGWON-Do, ULCHIN-Gun, KISONG-Myon, PANGYUL-Ri (江原道 蔚珍郡 箕城面 芳栗里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | MORI (FEAF) |
PW was shaking with fear before interrogated and gave false information which he later admitted was false. He stated that he was a member of the CH’ONGJU TANG (靑友黨) a Native Religious Youth Organization) for three months in 46, and voluntarily joined NKPA while a member of this party.
PW was talkative during latter part of interrogation, but reliability is questionable as he was determined not to give information during early part of interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
7 Apr 46 - Volunteered for NKPA at NANAM. Assigned to 5th Div, 11th Regt, 45-mm AT Gun Co. Received 45-nm AT Gun training for 14 months. Training consisted of map reading, service of piece, political training.
Apr 50 - Two Regts of the 15th Div were combined with the 5th Div troops and carried designation of 5th Div. The 15th Div was deactivated. With this addition of approx 3,000 the strength of the 5th Div was 8,000 troops.
28 Jun 50 - Departed NANAM by train with the 5th Div.
2 Jul 50 - Arrived YANGYANG (襄陽) via HUNGNAM (興南) and WONSAN (元山). Departed on foot with 5th Div.
6 Jul 50 - Arrived KANGNUNG (江陵). Stayed one day. Departed on foot with Div.
9 Jul 50 - Arrived YONGWOL via SAMCH’OK (三陟). The 11th Regt departed from the 5th Div main forces, which advanced southward, at SAMCH’OK. The 11th Regt was lightly counterattacked by ROK Police Force at YONGWOL. Attack repelled, Regt departed on foot
12 Jul 50 - Arrived TANYANG (丹陽). Attacked by ROK police force. 20 ROK police killed and 10 casualties in 11th Regt.
20 Jul 50 - Arrived ULCHIN (蔚珍). Departed on foot the same day.
3 Aug 50 - Arrived YONGDOK (盈德) with 5th Div forces. Attacked by ROK 22nd and 23rd Regts. Also attacked almost daily by F-80 aircraft and on two occasions by 4 x B-29 type bombers. Approx 500 casualties suffered in the 5th Div during the 20 day fight.
O/a 25 Aug 50 - Arrived at KANGGU, located 6 km S of YONGDOK. Fought for approx 15 days with ROK 22nd and 23rd Regts. Approx 400 ROK troops were killed and the 5th Div suffered approx 100 casualties.
Departed KANGGU in early Sep 50, on foot with 5th Div forces.
14 Sep 50. - Captured P'OHAMG-DONG. The 5th Div forces had had the town surrounded for 10 days and captured the town when the ROK forces withdrew.
16 Sep 50 - The 5th Div, now occupying P'OHANG-DONG was attacked by ROK forces and forced to retreat to CH’OGOKTONG (草谷洞), located 3 km W of P’OHANG-DONG. Stayed with the 5th Div Supply Plt at CH’OGOKTONG until 20 Sep 50, when the 5th Div was forced to retreat. PW stayed in CH’OGOKTONG village when the 5th Div retreated due to illness.
22 Sep 50 - PW was captured by ROK Forces.
Last Known Composition of Unit:
PW estimated the strength of the 5th Div to be approx 4,000 men as of 20 Sep 50. Approx 3,000 of the remaining strength were believed to be recently conscripted replacements.
Equipment (as of 20 Sep 50):
4 x 122-mm Howitzer M1910/30
12 x 76-mm Guns
4 x SU-76 SP Guns
2 x 120-mm Mortars
2 x 76-mm M1942 Mortars
4 x 45-mm M1942 AT Guns
2 x 20-mm DShk type AA MG
4 x 82-mm Mortars
2 x M1910 HMG
Unit History:
The 5th Div was activated in Dec 45 at NANAM. The 10th Regt, 5th Div was credited with the heroic battle of YONGDOK.
Disposition:
The 10th Regt, 5th Div was transfered on 17 Sep 50, to defend SAMCH’OK after their battle at YONGDOK and the 12th Regt was sent to YONGDOK. The 11th Regt was in the vicinity of P’OHANG-DONG.
On 20 Sep 50, while with the 11th Regt Supply Plt, PW heard that the 11th Regt was to retreat to T'AEBAEK-San (太白山) (Hill 963). Supply was brought to unit from dumps located at YONGDOK. Supply route was through SAMCH'OK. by truck.
Communication:
Road and bridges along the east coast were in good condition. PW stated that when a RR tunnel was destroyed at a point N of P'OHANG-DONG by the ROK marine amphibious forces, tha tunnel was soon repaired by local civilians.
Communication between Bn and higher level units of the 5th Div was by radio. Communication between Cos or Plts was by field telephones.
The following signal flares were used by units of the 5th Div:
One red - hill captured by their unit.
Two blue - unit has advance.
One white - Attack.
PW stated that these flares were used in other code combinations from time to time.
Intentions:
The mission of the 5th Div was to capture and occupy P'OHANG-DONG by 14 Sep 50, while the 7th Div captured YONGCH'ON.
The 5th Div received 3,000 reinforcements Apr 50, and about 3,000 more reinforcements during period 28 Jun 50 to 20 Sep 50. Most replacements had less than one month service with the NKPA.
As of 20 Sep 50, PW heard that the 10th, 11th and 12th Divs were to join the 5th Div Hqs at T'AEBAEK-SAN for the purpose of regrouping.
Personalities:
5th Div CG - KIM, Ch’ang Duk (金昌德); Lt Gen; Age 62. PW heard that the CG entered the USSR at the age of 18 and returned to KOREA after Aug 45.
11th Ret CO - Km, Pong Mun (金鳳文); Sr Col; Age 42. PW heard that the Regt CO was from YENAN (延安) CHIHA, and was a Pvt in the 8th Route Chinese Communist Army. Entered NK in 48.
2nd Bn CO - HO, fnu (許 ); Maj; Age 56.
6th Co CO - CH'AE, Il Song (蔡日松); Sr Lt; Age 25.
PW stated that a Russian Arty Lt Col was advisor to the 5th Div and Arty Majors were Advisors to each Regt. The Russian officer advisors followed the 5th Div until they reached the 38° Parallel.
Morale and Propaganda:
PW stated that morale of troops of 5th Div was very low and at times troops refused to attack the enemy when so ordered. Causes of low morale were lack of provisions, equipment, and heavy casualties.
PW observed a UN Safe Conduct Pass on 22 Sep 50, near P’OHANG-DONG. He said that he had decided to fight until death but was moved by this leaflet and taken prisoner. PW believed that the leaflets would be effective on remaining troops of 5th Div.
NKPA propaganda was as follows:
1. The USSR has succeeded in uniting East and West Germany in Aug 50.
2. Do not talk of military matters if captured by UN Forces but commit suicide.
3. The NKPA soldiers would be tortured by the UN Forces if captured.
4. SANGMAN RHEE has sole himself and South KOREA to the US "Imperialists".
4. GENERAL INFORMATION:PW did not know of the INCH'ON landing made by the US Forces.
The Code and APO number of the units were as follows:
| Code | APO | |
| 5th Div | 615 | 4536 as of Jun at NANAM |
| 10th Regt | 617 | |
| 11th Regt | 619 | |
| 12th Regt | U/k | |
| 5th Div Arty Regt | 623 |
The Code number for the 11th Regt used among the 11th Regt soldiers changed periodically. The following numbers were used. 83, 85, 87, 89 ... as of 21 Sap 50. PW stated that the number has probably changed by this date, 26 Sep 50.
Too code number of the 2nd Bn was 208 and 309 for the 6th Co.
The NKPA Medical men had Red Cross arm bands and were armed with carbines.
The currency exchange rate was 1 NK WON: 10 ROK WON.
5. REMARKS:PW had a roster of the 6th Co, 2nd Bn, 11th Regt when captured. PW stated that he gave document to the ROK 22nd Regt which made the capture.
For the Commanding Officer;
WEELDREYER
Executive
