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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1906　18 October 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1161)　16 October 1950

PW was very cooperative and seemed to be quite intelligent. He claims he has no liking for the NKA because they have driven him into poverty. Appeared to be quite sincere.

26 Jan 50 - Inducted into the security force at CHUKCH’ON-NI as a Capt and assigned to the 3rd Security Brigade as a surgeon.

10 Jul 50 - The 3rd Brigade transferred to Seoul. Here the 3rd Security Brigade was incorporated into the NKA and designated the 9th Inf Div. PW was assigned to the medical Bn as a surgeon. The 9th Div Medical Bn established its hospital in Seoul, using a former civilian hospital.

o/a 15 Jul 50 - The 3rd Regt of the 9th Div was subjected to an air attack while training near the YONGSAN RR Station. Hospital received 500 casualties of which 200 died. Injured troops requiring more than 15 days of hospitalization were sent to the 16th Field Hospital which was then at the Seoul Medical University Hospital.

o/a 10 Aug 50 - The 9th Div departed Seoul.

o/a 17 Aug 50 - The 9th Div, including the medical Bn arrived in Taejon. The 9th Div regrouped at SANGSORYON-DONG (산소령동), 12 km S of TAEJON.

o/a 25 Aug 50 - The 9th Div Medical Bn arrived at SINBAN-NI (新反里).

o/a 31 Aug 50 - The Med Bn arrived at IPSAN-NI (立山里). Here the Bn set up the 9th Div Field Hospital.

o/a 2 Sep 50 - The hospital received its greatest number of litter cases. For about 7 days the hospital received as many as 150 patients per day. When casualties were extremely heavy thy were immediately evacuated to the Corps Hospital, 6 km to the rear. Trucks available in the evacuation plt were insufficient to handle the heavy numbers of casualties so casualties were carried on litters to the Corps Hospital. The 9th Div Field Hospital handled about 2,000 cases while in IPSAN-NI. About 70% of the cases were caused by arty and mortar fragments.

The 9th Div field hospital, while in IPSAN-NI used civilian homes as its hospital. PW stated no tents were used for fear of air attacks. Red Cross insignia was never used, since they were told such insignia made good air targets. Originally the ambulances had red crosses painted on them, but they were removed when they moved into a combat area.

o/a 24 Sep 50 - The 9th Div Medical Bn received orders to go to TAEJON. All patients in the hospital were sent to the Corps Hospital.

o/a 27 Sep 50 - Only about 2/3 of the medical bn arrived in TAEJON.

28 Sep 50 - The medical bn was ordered to evacuate TAEJON, so bn departed without waiting for the other 1/3 of the bn which had not yet arrived in TAEJON. No definite orders were given except to evacuate and go north.

28 Sep 50 - Travelled by truck to a point 6 km S of CHOCH’IWON which was then under UN attack from the N. Here the vehicles were abandoned and the Bn took a mountain route.

29 Sep 50 - PW and two other doctors left the Bn with intention of surrendering.

30 Sep 50 - Arrived at a point near UMSONG (陰城) where the three doctors surrendered to ROK troops.

Original:

Div Medical Bn had a total strength of 130 men and was organized as follows:

1. Chief Medical Officers was with the Div Hq and was CO of all medical units in the Div.

2. Medican Bn CO was a doctor, but supervised all Bn activities.

3. Hospital CO was a doctor with direct supervision over the hospital. The hospital was composed of the following sections:

a. In-patient classification Section which had 3 doctors, one nurse, and 6 medical aid men. All casualties entering the hospital were first classified as follows:

1. Heavy injury

2. Light injury

3. Extreme injury requiring major surgery. These men were sent directly to the Corps Hospital.

4. Contagious diseases which were sent to the isolation ward.

5. Battle fatigue and neuro-psychiatric cases which required therapy.

b. Surgical Section which had 6 doctors, 8 nurses, and 2 aid men. Two of the doctors were surgeons.

c. Medical Section which was staffed with 5 doctors, 6 nurses, and 2 aid men.

d. Dental Section with 2 dentists and one nurse.

e. Sanitation Section with 2 doctors and 3 aid men.

f. Decontamination Section with one doctor and 2 nurses. The Med Bn CO had direct supervision over the following:

1. Evacuation and litter bearing plts. These two platoons were separated, but their duties were identical. Evacuation of patients from the Div hospital to rear echelon hospitals.

2, Supply Section with about 6 persons.

In combat, all sections were merged into the Surgical Section. No patients requiring treatment by the Medical Section were accepted by the hospital.

Although doctors tried to adhere to sterile technique, adverse conditions prevented it- Post surgical infections were frequent.

Both local and general anasthetics were used. No oxygen was used when general anasthetics were administered. Often candles and oil lamps were used during operations. All gauze and compresses were washed, sterilized, and re-used. The hospital carried autoclaves for sterilizing such items.

Pharmaceutical products were ample. Most were post war chemicals obtained from South Korea. Bandages and compresses were of Russian origin. Penicillin, and sulfa drugs were ample. A large supply was obtained from SEOUL. Surgical sutures were gut or silk, no clamps were ever used. No blood plasma was available. No facilities for whole blood. Direct transfusion were often used.

NKA medical officers were of two categories, those who graduated from a medical university and passed the national medical examination, and those who graduated from a medical school but failed to pass the national examination. A doctor need not necessarily have a formal education, but if he could pass the examination he is free to practice.

When PW separated from his unit on 29 Sep 50, they were somewhere between CH’OCHIWON and UMSONG. Unit planned to go to North Korea via WONJU.

Medical Officers were generally citizens with wealth and prestige prior to Aug 1945, but with the present North Korean government they have been lowered to a standard equivalent to that of the masses. Consequently, they had no love for North Korean ideologies and had no enthusiasm for the war. They were confident that NKA would be defeated.

1. All doctors, except the aged were taken in by the NKA, consequently PW believes that North Korean civilians are in dire need of medical attention.

2. PW states that the doctors and farmers are the two classes that have greatest contempt for the Peoples Government. All doctors who practiced prior to the establishment of the present government would voice their dislike if permitted. Over 50% of the farmers are also unhappy.

3. PW expressed his desire to contribute his medical knowledge to the UN cause.

For the Commanding Officer: