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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1641　4 October 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0991)　2 October 1950

Despite the fact that he had not eaten for the past three days, he was very cooperative and tried to be helpful. His memory appeared to be fair.

15 Jun 48 : Conscripted into the NKPA at CH’ORWON (鐵原) and assigned to the 7th Inf Regt Hq, 3rd Div as an intendance clark. Received no basic training. Remained in that position for two years. His principal duty was to distribute expendable items such as paper, pencils, ink, etc in the Regt Hq.

15 Feb 49 : Promoted to intendance officer (Lt 中尉) of the 7th Inf Regt Hq Intendance Section.

4 Sep 50 : The main elements of the 3rd Div crossed the NAKTONG River and held a position near WAEGWAN (倭館) for about 20 days. The rear units of the 3rd Div, including the intendance a section, remained 12 km East of KUMCH’ON.

o/a 22 Sep 50 : The advance elements of the 3rd Div retreated in disorder with heavy casualties. He estimated that only a 1,000 men remained in the 3rd Div at the time of retreat. Majority of the troops retreated to TAEJON (大田) via SANGJU (尙州). Some retreated to CH’ONGJU (淸州).

23 Sep 50 : Retreated to SANGJU with the Intendance Section by truck. The PW voluntarily surrendered with a leaflet (Safe Conduct Pass) to US troops 8 km West of SANGJU.

Actual battle organization and strength: Actual strength of the 3rd Div at the NAKTONG River line was estimated to be 5,000. At the time of retreat (22 Sep 50) the Div was reduced to a 1,000. Wounded (3,000 men) were evacuated toward TAEJON by truck. The destination of the casualties was not known. He estimated that 2,000 were killed on the NAKTONG front. Majority of the casualties of the 3rd Div were original NKPA troops. Korean casualties in the 3rd Div was estimated at about 600. Most of them were engaged in transporting supplies to the front.

At the NAKTONG River front, the 7th Regt of the 3rd Div was equipped with the following weapons:

2 x 120mm mortars

5 x 82mm mortars

4 x 76mm field guns

4 x 45mm AT guns

At the time of retreat from the NAKTONG River front, only three (3) 122mm mortars remained. The 3rd Div originally had 80 tracks but there were only 30 trucks when the Div retreated.

The 3rd Div ammo dump was located 12 k E of KUMCH’ON. He heard from a liaison supply office that the Ⅱ Corps ammo dumps were located at ANDONG (安東) and UISONG (義城). The Ⅰ Corps ammo dump was said to be located at TAEJON. The majority of the 3rd Div ammunition was hauled from ANDONG and TAEJON ammo dumps by truck. As of 17 Sep 50 the supply of ammunition to the 3rd Div was cut-off.

The 3rd Div had the following communication equipment:

TAM field telephones - six to each Regt

UNA F-31 field telephone - 2 to 3 in each Regt

Radio transceiver 4R (RBS-40) - 2 in each Regt, 6 in the Div Hq.

Mobile wireless set which was called I SEBE (phonetic) - one in the Div Hq. He heard that TAM field telephone was superior in quality to that UNA F-31 field telephone. He stated that the radio transceiver was mainly used for communication between Div Hq and Regt Hq to prevent leakage of military information. The mobile wireless set was used above in division level. The set measured 1 m x 80 cm x 50 cm.

At SONSAN (善山) PW observed about 200 men led by a Regt'l CO (Lt Col 中佐) retreating towards TAEJON. He heard from one of the troops that this unit was part of the 13th Regt.

Name: LEE Yong Ho (李龍鎬) (이용호)

Rank: Maj Gen (少將), Age: 40, Position: CG, 3rd Div

Remarks: He heard from one of officers at the Div Hq that the Div CG was formerly in the CCF. It was rumored that he was in RUSSIA at one time. The Div CG spoke Chinese fluently.

Name: PAK U Sop (朴禹燮) (박우섭), Rank: Sr Col (總佐)

Age: 40, Position: Ass’t Arty Div CO, Remarks: Former member of CCF

Name: HAN Ch’ang Bong (韓昌鳳) (한창봉), Rank: Lt Col (中佐)

Age: 30, Position: 7th Regt CO, Remarks: Former member of Manchurian Guerilla forces.

Name: HO Chong Gon (許鐘根) (허종근)

Rank: Lt Col (中佐), Age: 28, Position: C/S of the 7th Regt

Name: CHU Pyong Jong (朱柄鐘) (주병종)

Rank: Lt Col (中佐), Age: 30, Position: Ass’t 7th Regt CO

Name: KIM T’ae Son (金泰善)

Rank: Lt Col (中佐), Age: 35, Position: Rear 7th Regt CO

Remarks: From CHINA

PW stated that the 3rd Div lacked the will to fight due to lack of training and lack of air support. Majority of the veterans of the 3rd Div who had the will to fight were either wounded or dead. Front line troops were most afraid of artillery while the rear echelon troops were most afraid of aircraft. o/a 17 Sep 50 PW observed leaflets announcing the INCH’ON landing. He believed that since they were signed by the UN. Within a few days the entire unit also believed the leaflets as supply from the rear was cut off.

The PW observed a NK leaflet stating that the US prison camp was in P’YONGYANG (平壤). It further stated that all the US prisoners were in good health and well fed. The leaflet was signed it by US PsW.

O/a 20 Jul 50 about a 100 US PsW were observed being shipped north from CH’ONAN (天安). No wounded seen.

For the Commanding Officer: