ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3204 6 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1429) 27 January 1951
| PW NAME: | YEN, Wan Ch’uan (嚴萬春) (CCF) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGANIZATION: | 4th Field Army, 50th Army, 150th Div. 450th Inf Regt, 1st Bn, 3rd Co, 2nd Plat, 6th Sqd. |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| AGE: | 22 |
| OCCUPATION: | Waiter (Restaurant) |
| ADDRESS: | HUPEI-SHENG, I CHANG-HSIEN, P’00 MA KANG (胡北省 義昌縣 泡馬關) |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 260700 Ⅰ Jan 51 at a point 200 meters SE of YANGJI RI (CS 4622) |
| INTERROGATOR: | C.H.S |
| INTERROGATED AT: | HAYANG(DQ 8374) |
PW was cooperative and seemed frank upon questioning.
Although information seems limited, it is considered to be fairly reliable.
50th Army: 148th, 149th, 150th Div, Arty Regt, Guard Bn.
150th Div: 450th, and two others, Guard Bn.
440th Regt: 3 Bn (1st, 2nd, 3rd) 92mm Arty Co, 82mm Mortar Co, Med Co, Sig Co.
1st Bn: 3 Rifle Co, HMG Company.
3rd Company: 3 Rifle Plat, 60mm Mortar Sqd.
2nd Platoon: 3 Rifle Squad.
| 2nd Platoon | Original(as of d/u Oct 50) | Present(as of 25 Jan 51) |
| Personnel: | ||
| EM | 25 | 20 |
| Officers | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 26 | 21 |
| Equipment and ammo: | ||
| LMG (Chinese make) | 2 (1000 rd ea) | 2 (1000 rd ea) |
| SMG (Make unknown) | 1 | 1 |
| Type 79 rifles | 16 (60 to 70 rd ea) | 15(60 to 70 rd ea) |
| Grenades | 4 per man | |
| PW claims that his company had not been engaged in combat. | ||
| Mortar Squad | ||
| Personnel: | 16 | 16 |
| EM | 16 | 16 |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| 60mm Mortar | 2(35 rd ea) | 2 (35 rd per) |
| 3rd Company | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| EM | 124 | 104 |
| Officers | 6 | 6 |
| Total | 130 | 110 |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| Bugle | 1 | 1 |
The equipment was in good condition, but since they traveled at nights, it was difficult to determine the general condition of the equipment.
The losses of personnel in Company were due to a sickness (type unknown). Symptoms were: fever, diarrhea, chills and vomiting.
| HMG Company | Original(as of d/u Oct 50) | Present(as of 25 Jan 51) |
| Personnel: | ||
| EM | 74 | Unk |
| Officers | 6 | Unk |
| Total | 80 | Unk |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| HMG(water cooled Chinese made) | 4 | Unk |
| 1st Battalion | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Officers and EM | 500(approx) | 400(approx) |
| Battalion had not been engaged in combat. | ||
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| Field Telephones | 2 | 2 |
| Horses | 2 | 2 |
| 92mm Artillery Company | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Negative | ||
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| 92mm Guns (make unk) | 4 | 4 |
| Horses | 10(approx) | 10 |
| 82mm Mortar Company | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Negative | ||
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| 82mm Mortar | 4 | 4 |
| 450th Regiment | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| EM and Officer | 1,000(approx) | Unk |
| 2nd and 3rd Battalion engaged UN forces, however, casualties were unknown. | ||
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| Wireless | 1 | 1 |
| Artillery Regiment | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Negative | ||
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| Mt Gun(cal Unk make unk) | 12 | Unk |
PW last saw his Co 200 meters SE of YANGJI RI trying to advance to a hill in order to surround the US force which was in YANGJI RI.
PW claimed that the three Battalions of the 450th Regiment were in the area 6 Km NW of YANGJI RI (exact location unk) on 25 Jan 51. At 1600 hour, PW platoon spearheaded the 3rd Co, 1st Bn which was to take a hill approx. 400 meters East of YANGJI RI. PW believed the 1st Battalion would follow the Company’s route while the other 2 battalions were to take up positions on a Mountain North and NE of YANGJI RI. The battalions were supposed to attack YANGJI RI At H-Hour.
Inducted into the CNA 15th Army, 604th Div, 190th Regt, 1st Bn, 3rd Company in Oct 46 at I CHANG HSIEN (義昌縣).
Received no special training. When there was time, they were taught infantry tactics.
In Dec 49 at SSUCH’UAN SHENG, CH’ENG TUHSIEN (四川省成都), the 15th Army (personnel unknown), surrendered to an unknown CCF unit by order of LIU, P’ING (劉平) CG of 15th Army.
In Dec 49 2,000 men were placed into the CCF 50th Army. Disposition of the others unknown. PW was placed into the 6th Sqd, 2nd Plat, 3rd Co, 1st Bn, 450th Regiment, 150th Division, 50th Army, 4th Field Army at SSUCH’UAN SHENG, CH’ENG TUHSIEN.
PW received no training.
PW did not receive new weapons when he entered the CCF: he used the same weapon he had in the CNA.
50th Army departed SUCH’UAN SHENG in Jan 50 by food and arrived at HUPEI-SHENG CHING-MEN HSIEN (河北省荆門縣) d/u Feb 50.
50th Army stayed in this area for 6 months and cultivated land. Received no training.
50th Army departed FUBEI, SHUN, SHINMUN SHIEN by foot d/u Sep 50 and arrived at HONAN SHENG CH’UEH-SHAN-HSIEN (河南省確山縣)
d/u Sep 50.
Received approx. one month of bayonet and grenade training.
50th Army departed TSUI SAN SHIEN d/u Oct 50 by train and arrived at HAILUNG HSIEN(海龍縣) on d/u Oct 50.
Received no training.
The 50th Army departed HAILUN SHIEN d/u Oct 50 by train and arrived at ANTUNG(安東) on Oct 50. The troops were told that they would guard the YALU River frontier.
On d/u Oct 50 the 1st Battalion crossed the steel bridge over the YALU River by foot and arrived at SINUIJU (KE 1839) airfield on d/u Oct 50.
Before crossing the YALU River, summer clothing was turned in and troops received winter clothing with 70 rd of ammo and 4 grenades each.
PW heard from the Battalion CO that the 50th Army crossed the YALU River into North KOREA.
While traveling in North KOREA, from SINUIJU to a point 200 meters SE of YANGJI RI the following places were passed:
| DERPARTED | DATE | MODE OF TRAVEL | ARRIVED | DATE |
| SINUIJU | d/u Oct 50 | Marched | CHOISAN (ID 4303) | d/u Nov 50 |
| CHOISAN | d/u Nov 50 | Marched | SINANJU (YD 2989) | d/u Nov 50 |
| SINANJU | d/u Nov 50 | Marched | PYONGYANG (YD 3020) | d/u Dec 50 |
| PYONGYANG | d/u Dec 50 | Marched | KAESONG (BT 8505) | d/u Dec 50 |
| KAESONG | d/u Dec 50 | Marched | SEOUL (CS 2060) | d/u Dec 50 |
| SEOUL | d/u Dec 50 | Marched | 6KM NW of YANGJI RI 10 Yan 51. | |
PW was captured by US troops on 26 Jan 51 at a point 200 meters SE of YANGJI RI.
PERSONALITIES:
LIN, PLAO, CG, 4th Field Army, no rank
WANG, CG, 150th Division, no rank
WANG, CO, 450th Regiment, no rank
LI, CO, 1st Battalion, no rank
TUAN, CO, 3rd Company, no rank
Ammo was last received at ANTUNG on d/u Oct 50 with no rations. While traveling in North KOREA, food was confiscated from villages.
Supply source: Negative.
No new supply of clothing was received while in KOREA.
PW stated that the Artillery Regiment which was directly attached to the Division did not come over to KOREA.
PW saw the 92mm Artillery Company last at SINANJU on d/u Nov 50 in the road. Four pieces were observed.
Battalion-Regiment-Division : Telephone.
Company-Battalion: Messenger.
PW states that since he had not been in combat, he did not hear bugles or see flares being used.
The morale was low in PW Company because most of them had stomach trouble due to eating soybeans. In general, morale was low because of the lack of food.
PW stated that 50% of the troops had stomach trouble with fever, vomiting and shivering. 30% of the men, including the sick and nonstick, had frost bitten feet. No treatment was given to those with frost bitten feet because they lacked medicine. If one could not walk he was left behind.
PW did not receive any immunization since arriving in KOREA.
a. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so, why?
a. PW voluntarily surrendered to US troops because he was hungry.
b. Did you see any UN leaflets or hear UN loudspeaker broadcast?
a. PW saw UN leaflets in the YANGJI RI area on d/u Jan 51. He did not hear any broadcasts.
c. Can you describe what they said?
a. UN leaflets asked “why are you fighting in KOREA Aren’t you one of the former CNA soldiers”? PW forget the other statements.
d. What was your reaction to them?
a. PW believed the leaflets.
e. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets of broadcasts?
a. Other soldiers felt that the leaflets were telling the truth and many wanted to return to their own country.
a. Marches - CCF troops usually travel at night till day break (no specific time). They march in single file on small roads, and on wide roads in double column. Roads, mountains, and plains were utilized when the situation demanded.
During marches, a platoon was usually an advance party, approx. 40 meters away from the battalion.
During halts, 4 men from a battalion were posted on four sides (distance unk).
Units marched 2 hours and rested for 10 minutes.
b. Bivouacs- PW stated that bivouac area was usually situated at valleys or at the base of a mountain. Company’s bivouac areas were usually 200 meters apart. 3 guards were posted on the highest ground around a company.
Since they sleep in fox holes, camouflaged with branches, planes were not able to see them. They also used white sheets which were carried; their jackets were reversible to blend with the white snow.
c. Attack- PW stated that he never came across any assembly areas before attacking because he had never been in combat. PW believed that the CO sent messengers to each platoon with instructions in lieu of using an assembly area.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
