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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3171　5 February 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1416)　24 January 1951

PW appeared in good physical condition, relaxed and was cooperative. Information reliable.

II Corps was composed of 3 Inf Divs (1st, 31st and 1 unknown Div).

31st Div was composed of 3 Inf Regt 1 Arty Bn and other unk units.

3rd Inf Regt was composed of 3 Inf Bn, 1 Eng Plat, 1 Sig Plat, 1 Supply Plat, 1 Recon Plat, 1 Political Office, and 1 Dispensary.

1st Bn was composed of 3 Rifle Cos, 1 Mort Co, 1 HMG Co.

Mortar Co was composed of 3 Plats. Each Plat was composed of 3 sqds.

3rd Plat, Mortar Co|original (17 Nov 50)|present (17 Jan 51)

Personnel:

EM|37|20

Officer|1|1

Total|38|21

Equipment and Ammo:

M1891/30 Rifles|20 (50 rds ea)|Unk

M99 type rifles (Jap)|10 (20 rds ea)|Unk

Carbines (US)|3 (15 rds ea)|Unk

M-1 Rifles|2 (8 rds ea)|Unk

Pistol|1|1

45 mm Mortars|2 (none)|0

Mort Co, 1st Bn

Personnel:

EM|60|40 (approx)

Officers|4|4

Total|64|44

1st Bn, 3rd Regt|original (17 Nov 50)|present (17 Jan 51)

Personnel:

EM and Officers|500|250

3rd Regt, 31st Div

Personnel:

EM and Officers|3,000 (approx)|1,100

Losses of this unit were all battle casualties when it met heavy ROK opposition S of YANGGU (DT 1519) o/a 3 Jan 51.

The mission of 31st Div was secret, however, he heard a rumor among the men that its mission was to infiltrate behind UN positions and to conduct guerrilla activities.

On 17 Jan 51, 31st Division was to move toward area S of YONGCHON (DS 5502). But because of heavy ROK opposition, 31st Div changed its route and travelled northward toward YONGWOL (DS 5414).

PW was inducted on 20 Sep 50 at SEOUL into 31st Div, 1st Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Rifle Co.

The following day this unit disintegrated because of the UN offensive. PW retreated northward over mountain trails with a great number of NKA troops.

After leaving SEOUL, NKA troops walked during day light in pairs through mountain trails in order not to suffer any mass casualties by UN air attacks and they were to meet in a designated area. During the night, when the entire unit met in the area, it marched in mass formation.

o/a 14 Nov 50, PW arrived Vic YONWON GUN (寧越郡) and there he rejoined his former unit. The 31st Div at this time had suffered only a few casualties; approx 30 local citizens from Vic YONWON GUN (MANPOJIN, BA 7529, area) were conscripted to fill the vacancies.

o/a 17 Nov 50, PW was transferred into mort co, 1st Bn, 3rd Regt, 31st Div. O/a 20 Nov 50, 31st Division started to advance southward by foot over mountain trails. PW stated that his unit travelled in a mass formation at night to avoid aerial attacks, and during the day, they slept in mountains under pine trees and covered themselves with straw mats.

After a month of walking, 31st Division passed through ICHON (CT 1664), left the same day over mountain trails, and reached YANGGU (DT 1519) approx 10 days later.

o/a 1 Jan 51, 31st Div moved southward again over mountain trails. Approx 2 days after leaving YANGGU it met opposition from a ROK unit. After 3 days of battle, 31st Div suffered heavy battle casualties, advanced south over mountain trails, arrived at YONGCHON (DS 5502) o/a 11 Jan 51. 31st Div recuperated here, and o/a 17 Jan 51, this unit was to advance further south of YONGCHON, but because of heavy UN opposition, 31st Div changed its route and headed towards YONGWOL (DS 5414).

After listening to a ROK PW, who stated that the UN forces will not mistreat prisoners, PW deserted 17 Jan 51. PW voluntarily surrendered to US 2nd Bn, 32nd RCT on 19 Jan 51.

o/a 17 Nov 50, in the IWON GUN area, approx 30 local citizens were conscripted and assigned to the component units of 31st Div. None of these had any prior training nor any will to fight.

Food was confiscated.

Ammo supplies were very low; however, no new supplies were brought in. Because of this, PW believes 31st Division was unable to oppose UN forces South of YONGCHON (DS 5502) and retreated northward to YONGWOL (DS 5414) on 17 Jan 51.

The morale of the troops was low because of lack of food and clothing, and also because of the constant UN air assaults.

9. CCF INFORMATION:

On or about 20 Nov 50, PW observed an unestimated number of CCF troops, dressed in black uniforms, heading southward from the YONWON GUN (MANPOJIN, BA 7259, rea) mountain ranges.

a. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so, why?

a. PW surrendered voluntarily after listening to a ROK PW, who told him that the UN forces do not mistreat prisoners.

b. Did you see any United Nations leaflets or hear any loudspeaker broadcasts?

a. Negative

c. Can you describe what they said?

a. Negative

d. What was your reaction to them?

a. Negative

e. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets or broadcasts?

a. Negative

For the AC of S G-2: