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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2383　27 November 1950

FIELD REPORT (521 - MISD - 0292)　24 November 1950

PW was cooperative and very talkative. He voluntarily gave military information. Memory of dates was good.

Reliability: Good

Length of Service: 4 months

Education: 6 years primary school

Physical condition: Fair

Age: 22

29 Jul 50 - Inducted at HUNGNAM (興南) with about 10 others and assigned to 588th Unit, 2nd Bn, Signal Section. While stationed in HUNGNAM most of the time was spent in digging gun positions for the 2nd Bn in the mountains along the sea coast.

16 Oct 50 - The 588th Unit retreated when a UN mechanized unit advanced toward HUNGNAM, leaving behind only the guns (12x76mm) and. the gunners who were ordered to defend the city as long as possible.

17 Oct 50 - The 588th Unit arrived in SINHUNG (新興).

19 Oct 50 - Arrived in PUNG SAN (豐山).

o/a 24 Oct 50 - The 588th Unit departed PUNGSAN on foot.

o/a 28 Oat 50 - Arrived in HYESANJIN (惠山鎭).

1 Nov 50 - PW was told by his. Company CO that the 588th Unit, which was an artillery unit was now an infantry unit since all artillery pieces were lost at WONSAN (元山) or HUNGNAM. The 588th Unit departed HYESANJIN and moved southward on foot.

4 Nov 50 - The 588th Unit returned to vicinity of PUNGSAN and defended a mountain NW of the town.

9 Nov 50 - The same unit departed the mountain on foot and arrived in SANNAM MYON (山南面), a small village located approximately 8 km N of PUNGSAN. PW heard that the strength of the 588th Unit had dropped to 180 men.

16 Nov 50 - Captured by UN Forces with 10 others while the unit was retreating North from SANNAM MYON.

Russian, Col, 40 (?), Military Advisor of the 588th Unit, observed in Jul 50 at WONSAN (元山).

APO number of the 588th Unit was 4866.

Original (as of 16 Oct 50) 588th Unit was composed of 3 Bns and one Hqs Co. Each Bn consisted of 3 Companies. The strength of the unit was 280 officers and 1200 men.

The Headquarters Company was composed of a Transportation Platoon for hauling food (2 trucks, 10 men), a Communications Platoon, an Intelligence Platoon, an Operations (S-3) Section (1), and a Political Section.

Each Battalion was armed with 12x76 mm field guns M1942 “ZIS 3”, and 12 Russian trucks (“ZIS”). 4/5 of the men were armed with 7.6 mm rifles (called model 39) and all officers were armed with 7.62 mm Automatic Pistols (“TOKAREV” TT 1930).

The strength of the 588th had been reduced to 35 officers and 150 men, but the unit was still composed of 3 battalions. The 2nd Battalion was composed of 2 companies with a total strength of about 50 officers and men The composition of the 1st and 3d Battalions was believed to be similar to the 2nd.

The unit lost all it’s guns when departing HUNGNAM on 16th Oct and no replacements were made. When the unit was last observed (16 Nov 50) each man was armed with a rifle and approximately 200 rounds and all officers were armed with 7.6 mm PPSH submachine guns

in addition to their pistols. No vehicles were observed.

Food was plentiful but was frozen. It was obtained from the 588th Unit Headquarters. Source of arms was unknown.

The wounded were sent to KAPSAN (甲山) or HYESANJIN at night by trucks (hear say). There were no replacements for the killed and wounded.

Other Units: PW heard that the 586th Unit and 401st Unit were engaged in battle against the UN Forces along with the 588th Unit at SANNAM MYON o/a S Nov 50.

While the 588th Unit was stationed in HYESANJIN (惠山鎭) between o/a 28 Oct 50 and 1 Nov 50, PW did not observe or hear that troops were crossing the YALU River and entering MANCHURIA. The 588th Unit was the only unit stationed in HYESANJIN at this time.

For the AC of S, G-2: