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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1859　13 October 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1115)　11 October 1950

PW was very cooperative, possessed a good memory, and spoke freely. Reliability is considered fair.

7 Sep 48: Volunteered in NKA in NANAM (羅南) and assigned to 2nd Div, Sig Bn, Wireless Co, Operation Plt, 2nd Sqd. PW was specially trained for telephone and line maintenance.

o/a 10 Apr 49: Transferred to Sig Bn supply as a clerk.

18 Mar 50: Given an entrance examination to the OCS and failed to meet the requirement. Detailed as a guard at the OCS with 180 others who failed to pass the entrance examination. Performed guard duty for 3 mos at this school.

20 Jun 50: PW was permitted to enter the OCS without examination. Primary subject was communications.

9 Jul 50: Commissioned Jr Lt after attending OCS for 19 days and assigned to Sig Co, Sig Bn of 17th Armored Brigade as a Sig Co CO in P'YONGYANG (平壤).

10 Aug 50: 17th Armored Brigade reinforced and designated the 17th Armored Div. PW was transferred to 1st Plt, Comm Co, Comm Bn of 17th Armored Div. Repaired telephones and telephone lines.

22 Aug 50: 17th Armored Div departed P’YONGYANG and arrived in SEOUL. Enroute they were attacked by aircraft receiving some casualties.

28 Aug 50: Departed SEOUL by train and arrived in TANYANG (丹陽) with 8 tanks and approximately 140 men. All tanks of 17th Armored Div had bean divided into 8 tank conveys and arrived in TANYANG. All the tanks either traveled behind schedule or were delayed by aerial activity.

3 Sep 50: While attempting to cross the bridge over the NAKTONG River (洛東江) on the south edge of ANDONG (安東), the Sig Co was bombed and strafed. 11 telephones (out of 17), 36 rolls of telephone line and a 500 m roll were damaged.

6 Sep 50: Arrived in UIHUNG (義興) where 17th Armored Div Hq was established. The entire unit bivouaced until 12 Sep 50.

12 Sep 50: 8th Div engaged in battle approximately 8 km S of UIHUNG to 14 Sep 50. 1st Inf Bn of 17th Armored Div went to reinforce the 8th Div. When the engagement was over only 28 men came back tn the 17th Armored Div.

14 Sep 50: Order was issued for the entire 17th Armored Div to withdraw to YONGJU (寧州). Attacked enroute by F-80 jet fighter planes and B-26 bombers. Between UIHUNG (義興) and YONGJU the casualties and number of men killed was so great only 209 men out of entire 17th Armored Div survived.

26 Sep 50: All personnel scattered in various directions. PW took 8 enlisted men and decided to return to TANYANG (丹陽) to located his unit.

27 Sep 50: 8 km NW of YONGJU PW and 8 enlisted man surrendered to ROK troops.

Name: CHONG, Ch'ol U (鄭철우)

Rank: Maj Gen

Age: 35

Position: CG, 17th Div

Name: HAN, Ho Nam (韓호남)

Rank: Capt

Age: 23

Position: CO, Sig Bn

Remarks: Graduate of CH'ONGJIN Middle School. Entered service 1946 as an enlisted man.

42 x T-34/85 M tank

5 x 12.7mm DSHK M1938 AA gun

2 x Mortar (Size unknown)

7 x MAXIM HMG M1910

9 x DP LMG

110 x PPsh M1941 SMG

17 x Field telephone

2 x GAZ-63 trucks

When 17th Armored Brigade was redesignated the 17th Armored Div, 5 Russian Lts and 3 Russian majors were attached to the Div as advisors. They remained with the Div until 19 Aug 50.

PW estimated that 90% of the losses in the 17th Armored Div were caused by aircraft. If more UN aircraft had been used in the early part of the war the NKA would not have been able to advance as far as they did.

For the Commanding Officer: