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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3173　5 February 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1418)　24 January 1951

2. ASSESSMENT: PW very cooperative and answered all questions clearly and quickly.

Information seems reliable.

II Corps was composed of the 2nd, 10th, and 31st Divisions (as of 4 Jan 51). Formerly the II Corps was composed of the 2nd, 10th, and 6th Divisions.

The 2nd Division (Code, No. 235 unit) was composed of 4th (code, No 238 unit), 6th (code, No 244 unit), and 17th (code, No 241 unit), Rifle Regiments, Artillery Regt (code, No 247 unit), Engineer Bn (code, No 251 unit, APO 4242”HO”), Signal Bn (code, No 253 unit), Medical Bn (code, No 254 or 252 unit), Security Co, and MP Co.

Engineer Bn, 2nd Div:|Original (18 Dec 50)|Present (21 Jan 51)

Personnel:|68|None

Equipment & ammo:

M1891/30 rifles|30 (100 rds per)|〃

SMGs (PPSH M1941)|33 (100 rds per)|〃

LMGs|2 (200 rds per)|〃

Pistols|4 (14 rds per)|〃

Land mines|3 (14 rds per)|〃

21 Jan 51, 39 men were in this unit. After an engagement 21 Jan 51, 13 men were still alive. These 13 men surrendered to ROK 32nd Regt 21 Jan 51.

2nd Division:

Personnel:|Approx 3,000|2,000

Equipment & ammo:

82mm Mortars|10 (3 rds ea)|10 (2 rds ea)

Rocket Launcher (bazookas)|0|10 (2 rds ea)

60mm Mortars|0|3

HMGs (Maxim)|15 (400 rds ea)|15 (400 rds ea)

LMGs|20 (400 rds ea)|20 (400 rds ea)

SMGs (PPSH M1941)|300 (350 rds ea)|200 (150 rds ea)

M1891/30 rifles|Unknown|Unknown

M-1 rifle (US)|”|”

US Carbine|”|”

|Original (18 Dec 50)|Present (21 Jan 51)

Handgrenades|2 per man|1 to 2 per man

Dynamite|1 ton|Unknown

Wireless transceivers|12|12

Telephones|10|0

Approx 20% of the men did not carry any arms.

Losses were caused chiefly by UN artillery fire.

4. LOCATIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF UNITS:

The mission of the II Corps was to sever roads and communication in the ANDONG (DR7646) area. After the II Corps completes its mission in the ANDONG Area, the Corps was to proceed to the SANGJU (DR2529) area to carry out a similar mission.

13 Jan 51, the 2nd Div Hq, 4th Regt, 17th Regt, Artillery Regt and other units of the 2nd Div were located on CHUKNYONG (竹岺) (a hill near TANYANG) (DR3988). These units were to proceed to ANDONG.

13 Jan 51, the 6th Regt, 2nd Div and Engineer Bn, 2nd Div were attacked by UN units near CHUKNYONG. The Engr Bn was separated from the 6th Regt during the engagement.

PW heard that the 10th Div was now (21 Jan 51) located on a high mountain near ANDONG.

II Corps Hq and the 31st Div were following the route taken by the 2nd Div. The II Corps Hq was usually 16 Km to the rear of the 2nd Div.

10 Dec 50 the Chief of Staff, NKA, stated, during a speech at NAMWON (near HUICHON BV6749):

“The NKA is now composed of 8 Corps. Our forces will head Southward to the rear of the UN Line and cut supply route and line of retreat of the UN Army while the CCF will attack from the front. 4,000,000 CCF troops will come and attack using the enveloping tactic. Many CCF and NKA aircraft, at least equal to that of the UN Air Force, will be available when the general attack starts. The all-out offensive will start after the NKA units reach their objectives. If you capture any UN PsW, treat them well, give them money, and release them. This is because if we release a few PsW now, this will influence many others to surrender later.

In RUSSIA they have a secret weapon that brings down any aircraft flying overhead by just pushing a button.

In RUSSIA they have an aircraft that is 400m per second faster than any aircraft in the United States.

Do not worry about the Atomic bomb of the United States because the ones now in production in US are all duds. They are all duds because those employed in the factories are laborers, and, as laborers, they support us.”

PW inducted 4 Feb 49 at NANAM (EB5118). PW was assigned to the Engineer Bn, 2nd Div, during Feb 49 and received training at NANAM until Oct 49. PW received a rank of Sr Sgt and was assigned the task of explosive expert during Oct 49.

During the spring of 50, the 2nd Div moved to HAMHUNG (CV7517).

The 2nd Div departed HAMHUNG on 10 Jun 50 on train and traveled to HWACHON (CT8617), arriving there on 15 Jun 50.

While traveling South from HWACHON, the following places were passed. (The places mentioned were the places in which the 2nd Div was engaged in combat):

Place Departed|Date|Mode of Travel|Place Arrived|Date

HWACHON|25 Jun 50|Marched|CHUNCHON (CS8893)|28 Jun 50

CHUNCHON|28 Jun 50|〃|HONGCHON (DS0372)|Jul 50

HONGCHON|Jul 50|〃|ANSONG (CR4697)|Jul 50

ANSONG|Jul 50|〃|CHONGJU (CR6554)|Jul 50

CHONGJU|Jul 50|〃|POUN (CR 5921)|Jul 50

POUN|Jul 50|〃|KUMCHON (DQ2198)|Aug 50

KUMCHON|Aug 50|〃|HYOPCHON (DQ2137)|Aug 50

31 Aug 50, the 2nd Div crossed the NAKTONG River east of HYOPCHON and attacked toward CHANGNYONG (DQ5633).

16 Sep 50, the 2nd Div retreated across the NAKTONG River to a hill located near HYOPCHON.

26 Sep 50, the 2nd Div troops dispersed without orders and fled north.

PW and 10 others fled North through the SOBAEK Mountain Range (小白山脈) and TAEBAEK Mountain Range (太白山脈) to YANGYANG (DT 6613)

Approximately 1,000 troops of the 2nd Div assembled at YANGYANG during Nov 50. The 5th Div was located in YANGYANG at this time.

1,000 troops of the 2nd Div departed from YANGYANG during Nov 50 and marched through ANBYON (CU7323), YANGDOK (BU9644), KOWON (CU4966), CHANGJIN (CA4131) to NAMWON (near HUICHON BU6749), arriving at NAMWON o/a 7 Dec 50. While retreating Northward from YANGYANG, approx 2,000 stragglers of the NKA joined the 2nd Division.

2nd Division was issued clothing and ammo at NAMWON during the period from 7 Dec 50 to 18 Dec 50.

2nd Division departed NAMWON on 18 Dec 50 and marched southward through mountainous areas (place names unknown) to HWACHON (CT8617), arriving there o/a 28 Dec 50.

2nd Division departed HWACHON o/a 29 Dec 50 and crossed the 38th Parallel into South KOREA and marched through areas east of CHUNCHON (CS8893), HONGCHON (DS0372), and WONJU (DS0734) to CHUKNYONG (a hill near TANYANG), arriving there on 11 Jan 51. The 17th Regt, 2nd Div suffered heavy casualties during an engagement with UN Force NE of WONJU o/a 5 Jan 51.

13 Jan 51, the 6th Regt, 2nd Div and Engr Bn, 2nd Div engaged UN troops near CHUNGNYON. The Engineer Bn was cut off during the engagement.

21 Jan 51, the Engr Bn, 2nd Div was engaged by a UN Force 6 Km East of YECHON (DR5256) while trying to locate the 2nd Division.

PW and 13 others, the only survivors of the Engr Bn, surrendered to ROK 32nd Regt on 21 Jan 51 6 Km E of YECHON.

KANG, Kwon (강■), Lt Gen (2 large stars), Chief of Staff, NKA, (killed during Aug 50 when the jeep he was riding hit a land mine.)

CHOE, Hyon (崔鉉), Lt Gen (2 large stars), OG, II Corps, (Formerly 2nd Div Commander)

LEE, Ho (李虎), Maj Gen(1 large star), CG, 2nd Division (Formerly 4th Regt Commander)

KAN, Ki Song (강기봉), Lt Col (2 medium starts), CO, Engr Bn, 2nd Div, (KIA 21 Jan 51, 6 Km East of YECHON)

O/a 9 Jan 51, the North Korean 15th Div was disbanded and the troops of the division were distributed to various North Korean units as replacements.

2nd Div received approx 800 former 15th Div troops as replacements o/a 10 Jan 51. Troops were assigned to the 6th and 17th Regiments of the 2nd Division.

Food was obtained from the villages. Supply was irregular. At times troops were without food for 2 to 3 days.

2nd Div was last issued ammo at NAMWON (near HUICHON) o/a 15 Dec 50.

None received thereafter.

During Dec 50, PW observed a road-enlarging project being conducted in the CHANGJIN Area. PW heard that the roads are being enlarged to accommodate CCF tanks. Other details unknown.

Morale of the troops of the 2nd Div was low because majority of the troops were tired of war. Approximately 50% of 2nd Div troops were suffering from frozen feet.

11. US PW:

See LOCATION & ACTIVITIES OF UNITS for reason that PW’s are being released.

12. SIGNAL INFORMATION:

When Division and Regiments were closely located, telephones were used for communication. Wireless was used mostly during combat operations.

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

a. PW and 12 others surrendered because they were the only survivors in their battalion and their position was surrounded.

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

a. PW observed leaflets during Aug and Sep 50 at the NAKTONG River Front.

c. Can you describe what they said?

a. The leaflets stated that the UN troops had landed on INCHON.

d. What was your reaction to them?

a. PW did not believe it.

e. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets or broadcasts? What did they say or do?

a. No

14. CASUALTIES:

Wounded personnel of the 2nd Div were left behind in farm houses unattended after the unit moved south from the 38th parallel.

For the AC of S, G-2: