포로신문
보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3066　29 January 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1333)　14 January 1951

Cooperative. PW was suffering great pain from a gun shot wound in his ankle and frostbite of both feet. This prevented him from concentrating on many specific details.

It Is believed that PW was feigning ignorance of names of officers in the guerrilla unit to which he belonged although PW did disclose the name of his guerrilla company commander.

Information is considered, nevertheless, to be fairly reliable.

The Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit was composed of the 1st and 2nd Guerrilla Bns plus Political Section, Rear Echelon Section, Guard Bn.

1st Bn composed of the 1st and 2nd Cos. The 2nd Bn also composed of a 1st and 2nd Co. Each Co composed of 2 Platoons with 2 Sqds per Plat and 5 men per squad.

It was rumored in PW’s guerrilla unit that there are approximately 150 guerrillas operating in the SOBAEK-SAN mountain range area northwest of TAEGU (as of 29 Dec 50).

The Ho■for the Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit Guerrillas was located in IWO■ SAN (mountain approx 30 km northeast of YONGJU) as of 30 Dec 50. These guerrillas maintained no liaison with NKA or CCF units.

During the first part of Dec 50 PW observed approx 1,000 guerrillas who were enroute to the mountains in CHOLLA NAMDO Province from North KOREA. These guerrillas were part of the CHIRYE San Guerrilla Unit.

PW was inducted into the TONGHAE (Eastern Sea) Independent Regt (code No. 945th Unit) 7 Sep 49 at WONSAN. There he received 4 months training in basic infantry tactics and the use of the MAXYM HMG. He was promoted to Jr Sgt during Feb 50. He then received two months training in advanced infantry tactics and was promoted to Sgt during April 50. Upon promotion to Sgt, PW was assigned as a Sqd Ldr Bn the Tonghae Independent Regt. During the middle of June 50. PW’s regt received amphibious training which consisted of embarking and debarking from power-driven fishing ships. On 25 June 50, the TONGHAE Independent Regt boarded these power-driven fishing ships at WONSAN as did one regiment of Koreans who had served in the CCF plus approx 1,000 guerrillas.

The TONGHAE Independent Regt, the Regt of Koreans from the CCF, and the guerrilla unit departed from WONSAN at 231400 Jun 50 aboard 30 power-driven fishing ships, 1 cestroyer and 2 minesweepers, and landed in South Korea approx 20 Km South of KANGNUNG (DS 9177) 260300 Jan 50. The invading forces received only light resistance from ROK police but did not advance for 5 days.

31 Jun 50, the Korean Regt from the CCF departed from the point approx 20 Km south of KANGNUNG, and marched toward KANGNUNG, the Guerrilla Unit moved into the nearby mountains; and the TONGHAE Independent Regt departed south, marched, and arrived at SAMCH’OK, (ES1443) 1 Jul 50.

the TONGHAE Independent Regt departed from SAMCH'OK, marched, returning to WONSAN o/a ■ Aug 50.

7 Aug 50, PW was promoted to Jr Lt at WULSAN and was transferred to the 1st Plat, HMG Co, 4th Co of the 245th Brigade which was in the process of activation at ■…■.

PW departed from WONSAN on 9 Aug 50, with the 4th Bn of the 249th Brigade and traveled via the following route:

From HAENAM, the 1st Bn of the 249th Brigade traveled about through the peninsula that ■■ts southward from HAENAM maintaining the security of the peninsula with intentions of defending it against possible UN attacks.

D/A 15 Sep 50, PW’s unit learned that the NKA had retreated to North Korea. Therefore, the 1st Bn, 249th Brigade, departed from HAENAM and traveled via the following route.

At SAGA-RI, the 1st Bn of the 249th Brigade was attacked by US troops. Casualties in PW’s battalion were so great-that the battalion was reduced to 26 men. These men fled to the SOBA■■-SAN Mountain range where they were again attacked by US troops with the result that everyone of the remnants of PW’s battalion were killed or wounded. PW then walked through the SOBAEK Mountain range until he accidentally met approximately 500 guerrillas of the “Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit” (慶尙北道兵團). PW joined this unit as Plat Ldr of the 2nd Plat, 2nd Co, 1st Bn, Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit during Nov 50.

(The Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit was composed of the 1st and 2nd Bns).

29 Dec 50, the Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit of guerrillas was attacked in the TAEBAEK SAN Mountain range by ROK Army troops with the result that all but 120 of the 500 guerrillas in the Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit were killed or captured. The remaining 120 scattered throughout the TAEBAEK SAN mountain range because they considered it too dangerous to continue their activities for the time being as a unit. As PW was suffering from frozen foot in addition to gun-shot wound in his ankle, and could no longer entire the pain, the surrendered to ROK police in ■■ unidentified village approx 15 Km northeast of YONGJU at D71590 I Jan 51.

LEE, Chang Yong (리장용), CO, 2nd Co, 1st Bn.

Stragglers separated from regular ■■ units were absorbed into the Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit. There were few such individuals and the guerrillas had no other source of replacements. The Guard Bn of the Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit did, however, serve as a ■…■ ■…■ pool from which the 1st and 2nd Guerrilla Battalions received replacements.

Guerrillas obtained both rations and ■…tions by raiding isolated villages where food was plentiful. The few ROK police available for protection of these villages were killed by the guerrillas and stripped of their weapons.

The Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit morale was low because heavy casualties have necessitated suspension of operations at least temporarily.

PW observed no CCF personnel. He does not know where CCF units were located.

Guerrillas exist by living in deserted villages whenever possible. If the situation necessitates their living in the mountains, they gather high up in the mountains and build bonfires to keep warm. Sentrys are posted on parks averaging 300 meters distance from these bonfires. Two sentrys stand guard at each post to ■…■ the guerrillas ■…■ around bonfires in time to scatter in the ■rant that ROK or UN troops are approaching.

Guerrillas of the Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit was a password that is changed daily. If a guerrilla from another unit were to be seem in the Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit area he would probably be killed unless he had written orders identifying him as being from a specific guerrilla band. However, he would be trusted and allowed to join the Kyongsang Pukto Army Unit if he did have any kind of orders (■…■ though these orders night be forged ones) or if he were wearing an NFA uniform.

NFA soldiers joining guerrilla units most discard their uniforms and wear Korean civilian clothing or UN uniforms.

1. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so why?

a. PW surrendered because frostbite ■■■■ it impossible to continue his activities as a guerrilla.

2. Did you see any United Nations leaflets or hear any loud speaker broadcasts:

a. No

3. Can you describe what they said?

a. Negative

4. What was your reaction to them?

a. Negative

5. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets or broadcast?

What did they say or do?

a. No

For the AC of S, G-2: