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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1627　4 October 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0978)　1 October 1950

PW was extremely cooperative and tried to be as informative as he could. He was a civilian refugee who was used as a driver by the NKPA while enroute to PUSAN. He escaped from the NKPA and surrendered voluntarily. Considered reliable.

24 Jul 50 : PW left SEOUL on foot to escape NKPA draft.

o/a 18 Aug 50 : Arrived at CHOCH'IWON. Questioned by A Lt plt ldr, 3rd Div. Requested to act as jeep driver to a point between YONGDONG and KUMCH'ON (金泉). Was forced to drive jeep to KUMCH'ON.

o/a 19 Aug 50 : Arrived at KUMCH'ON. Here PW discovered that the Plt ldr intended to use him as a permanent driver and had no intention of releasing him, so he escaped to SONGJU (星州).

o/a 22 Aug 50: Arrived at SONGJU.

25 Sep 50 : Arrived at a point 4km South of UIRYONG near the NAM River. Tried to cross the river, but was discovered by NKPA troops and accused of being a spy. Taken to the 2nd Bn Hq, 2nd Regt, 7th Div located 4km SW of UIRYONG where he was questioned by the Bn commander and the Regimental commander. PW told the Bn CO that he was formerly a civilian driver for the 3rd Div, 8th Regt, 3rd Bn, AT Plt but was released when the jeep was destroyed by an air attack. Bn CO then told him be was to be his driver.

26 Sep 50 : Reports came into Bn Hq that UN troops had crossed the NAM River, the Hq immediately retreated to a school in TOKSIL (덕실). Here the Bn was to assemble for further withdrawals. 2nd Bn, 7th Div at that time had 340 men. At the school PW heard the Bn CO order the CO of the 1st Company to gather the rest of his troops and meet the Bn at SANGA where the Div Hq was the located. The PW and the remnants of the 2nd Bn marched toward SAMGA. At a point about 8km SE of SAMGA (三嘉) the Bn stopped to rest were joined by another Regt or Bn from the 7th Div. retreating from CHUNGGYO-RI. The total strength of this portion of the 7th Div was then about 1,100 men. PW heard the 2nd Bn Commander giving orders for a rendezvous with the 7th Div at SAMGA. The 6th Div was at that time withdrawing from CHINJU.

27 Sep 50 : When the 2nd Bn was ordered to march, PW slipped away and walked to UIRYONG where he surrendered to US troops.

As of 26 Sep 50 the 2nd Bn had 1 x HMG, no ammunition, 20 x PPsh (M1941) submachine guns with ample ammunition. All but 30 men had rifles. The remnants of the 7th Div which joined the 2nd Bn near SAMGA had 2 x 45mm (M1942) AT guns with four boxes of ammunition and a 76mm Howitzer.

As of 26 Sep 50, the 2nd Bn had no food on hand.

During PW's stay with the 2nd Div, he observed that majority were replacements who were afraid. They seemed to fear that they might be killed if captured in spite of the propaganda leaflets guarantee. The original members of the NKPA were few in number and PW believes they will not easily surrender. They seemed to have faith in the NKPA and that they will shortly be reinforced.

PW observed about 40 US PsW loaded on a truck heading toward YONGDONG (永同) on the road from KUMCH'ON. PW heard them speak Japanese to the Koreans and it appeared that they were well treated.

For the Commanding Officer: