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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2547　6 December 1950

FIELD REPORT (Ⅸ CORPS LDI - 0146)　8 November 1950

PW was cooperative and willing in giving information. His information appeared fairly reliable, however, he is not recommended for further interrogation.

PW was inducted on 8 Jul 50 at WONSAN, sent to HAEJU (YC3813) and assigned to the 3rd Regt, 7th Div. After 5 days of basic training, he, with the 2nd Bn (approx 450 troops) of the Regt, departed here by rail on 14 Jul and arrived at SEOUL on 16 Jul. That very day he departed there and arrived at CHINJU (DP1695) o/a 26 Aug via SUWON, CHOCHIWON, TAEJON, KUMCHON, NAMWON. Enroute his Bn lost approx 50 men by enemy air strikes. Heaviest losses were sustained while travelling near TAEJON o/a 25 Jul. The Bn took up positions along the NAM River approx 1 km NE of CHINJU. O/a 10 Aug the 2nd Bn received approx 100 SK forced volunteers as replacements. Bn strength, then, was approx 500 men and the composition was as follows: 3 Rifle Companies and 1-82mm Mortar Plat of 8 Mortars. A company was composed of 3 Rifle Platoons and 1 HMG Plat of 12 HMGS. A platoon was composed of 4 squads with 4 LMG’s with one LMG per Sqd.

O/a 12 Sep when retreat orders were received the Bn (approx 500 troops) departed CHINJU. He heard from a plat ldr that they were to retreat back to CHUNCH’ON through the TAEBAEK Mt range. O/a 18 Oct they arrived at an unknown mountain which was located approx 4 kms MW of MUNGYONG via SONGJU and SANGJU. On 18 Oct PW deserted the unit and surrendered to SK Police in the vicinity of MUNGYONG on 19 Oct and turned in his rifle to the police.

When PW separated from his Bn on 18 Oct at an unknown mountain which was located approx 4 kms NE of MUNGYONG, there were approx 470 troops. They were armed with 400 rifles (150 rds ea), 20 LMGs (160 rds ea), 15 SMGs (140 rds ea), 8 HMGs (3000 rds ea), 8 Mortars (23 rds ea), 15 Pistols (70 rds ca) and 2 Hand Grenades per man.

O/a 17 Oct when PW’s Bn was in the vic of MUNGYONG, he observed approx 300 NK troops (Unit unk). They were armed with approx 250 rifles, 20 SMG’s, 2 HMG’s, 10 LMG’s and handgrenades. No further details.

PW heard from his plat ldr that the Bn was going to CHUNCHPON through the SOBAEK and TAEBAEK Mt ranges. Howovor, present mission is unk.

They looted food from villages. Once they went without food for 4 or 5 days which resulted in the death of approx 15 men because they could not find any food in some villages.

A 5-6 man patrol was sent approx 1 km to the front of their unit to scout the area. Movement was then made into the area scouted. All mevoments were done in this manner. They travelled 12 kms per night. While travelling they were told not to smoke or talk.

The Bn received no orders from higher Hq after they departed CHINJU. All movement was done by orders from the Bn Comdr.

2nd Bn Comdr KIM Han Kyu (金漢九) Major, age 26

1st plat Ldr PA Kil Ho (朴吉鎬) A) Jr Lt, age 27

Morale was very low because most of the troops were forcibly conscripted.

PW road a leaflet just before he surrendered, with which he induced his follow soldiers to surrender with him. He thinks that if leaflets were dropped where NK troops were holding out they would all surrender.

They were told that if they picked up and read leaflets they would be killed immediately by their superior officers and they were also told that if they were captured by UN Forces they would be killed. They were threatened with death if they did not follow their officers to NORTH KOREA.

For the AC of S, G-2: