ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3506 21 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (154 MISDI 1547) 16 February 1951
| PW NAME: | PAK, U Hong (朴雨弘) (박우홍) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Sergeant (中士) |
| ORGANIZATION: | I Corps, 8th Div (Code: KANG CH’OL 銅鉄), 1st Regt, 3rd Bn, 82mm mortar Co (Code: MASAN 馬山), 2nd Plat, 3rd Sqd. |
| DUTIES: | Squad Leader |
| EDUCATION: | High School |
| AGE: | 19 |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| ADDRESS: | SEOUL, YONGSAN KU, HUAM-DONG, #257 (서울市 龍山區 厚岩洞 #257) |
| DATE AND PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 151200 I Feb 51 at CS 3047 |
| INTERROGATOR: | HN |
| INTERROGATED AT: | TAEJON PW Compound |
PW was very cooperative and spoke willingly. He seems to be very observant and seems to possess good memory.
Information seems reliable.
a. Chronology:
PW was inducted into the SK Volunteer Unit at SEOUL 5 Aug 50.
PW and 5,000 others departed SEOUL 5 Aug 50 and marched to SINKO-SAN (新高山), arriving there during late Aug 50.
PW and 5,000 others received 2 weeks of basic infantry training at SINKO-SAN.
8 Sep 50, PW and 5,000 others departed SINKO-SAN and marched to ANBYON (CU 7223) where PW was assigned to the 590th unit.
The 590th Unit trained at ANBYON until early Oct 50. During early Oct 50, the 590th unit retreated Northward to YANGDOK (BU 9744) where the 590th unit was deactivated and the troops were assigned to the 8th Division, 15 Oct 50.
15 Oct 50, the 5th Division departed YANGDOK and marched Northward through TAECHON (XE 1322) to CH’OSAN (XE 3824), arriving there during early Nov 50. The 8th Division trained at CH’OSAN until early Dec 50.
During early Dec 50, the 8th Division departed CH’OSAN and travelled through PYONGYANG to HAEJU (YC 3613), where 22 Dec 50, the 8th Division engaged UN Units. During late Dec 50, the 8th Division departed HAEJU and travelled to CHANGGONG (YC 1220) and YONGNAM (BT 8213) where the 8th Division engaged SK Security Police during Jan 51.
22 Jan 51, the 8th Division arrived in SEOUL.
Departing from SEOUL immediately, the 8th Division travelled to a place approx 8 Km North of ANYANG (CS 1741), 5 Feb 51.
7 Feb 51, the 1st Regt, 8th Division attacked southward from a place 8 Km north of ANYANG but the US 25th Division counterattacked and the entire 8th Division went on the defensive.
10 Feb 51, the 8th Division retreated northward. PW heard that the CCF Units were to replace the 8th Division on the line.
10 Feb 51, the 8th Division arrived at SEOUL and prepared defensive positions on the North Bank of the HAN River in the SOGANG area of SEOUL.
12 Feb 51, the 1st Regt, 8th Division departed SEOUL and infiltrated into the UN line.
13 Feb 51, the 1st Regt, 8th Division surrounded a US artillery position and planned to attack it at night, but they were detected by a UN observation plane and received heavy fire from US artillery and machine guns.
14 Feb 51, the 1st Regt, 8th Division arrived at a mountain 12 Km south of SEOUL.
141200 I Feb 51, the 1st Regt was attacked by a US Force, and the troops were disorganized and withdrew in confusion.
PW and his platoon hid on the mountain as US troops overran their position.
During the night of 14 Feb 51, PW and his platoon entered a village and was told by the village people that PW of the UN were treated fairly. PW and 7 others surrendered to the US 15th Regt 15 Feb 51 at CS 3047.
b. Location and Activities of Units:
According to the Political Officer of PW Company the NKA and CCF were supposed to rest until 15 Mar 51. But, because Un units attacked northward, the 1st Regt, 8th Division was ordered to infiltrate into the UN lines during night of 12-13 Feb 51 and cause confusion among the UN units at which time the NK I Corps was to attack southward from the HAN River in the SEOUL Area.
13 Feb 51, the 1st Regiment was detected and received heavy fire approx 10 Km south of SEOUL. 14 Feb 51, the 1st Regiment, 8th Division was overrun by a UN unit. PW believes that the 1st Regiment does not exist as a unit as of 14 Feb 51.
12 Feb 51, the 8th Division, less infantry units of 1st Regiment, was located in the SOGANG Area of SEOUL, preparing defense positions on the North Bank of the HAN River.
Feb 51, PW observed the 17th Division located in SEOUL.
c. T/O & E and Strength of Unit:
I Corps: 8th, 17th and an unknown Div.
8th Div: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Rifle Regt and Artillery, Recon, Medical, Signal, and Engineer Units, (strength of the 4 units total approximately an Inf Regt.)
1st Regt: 3 Rifle Battalions, 76mm Field Gun Co, 120mm Mortar Co, Engineer Co, Signal Co, Recon Co, Medical Unit, and Rear Service Unit.
3rd Bn: 3 Rifle Companies, 82mm Mortar Co, 45mm Field Gun Platoon, Medical Platoon.
82mm Mortar Co: 3 Plat.
| 2nd Plat, 82mm Mortar Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 8th Div (as of Jan 51) | |
| Personnel | 17 |
| Equipment & Ammo | |
| Rifles (USSR M1891/30) | 16 (200 rd per) |
| 82mm Mortars (USSR) | 1 (60 rd) |
| Pistols (TOKAREV) | 1 (300 rd) |
| Binoculars | 1 |
| Hand Grenades | over 2 ea man |
| 82mm Mortar Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 8th Div | |
| Personnel | 58 |
| Equipment & Ammo | |
| SMG (PPsh M1941) | 1 (1,000 rd) |
| 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 8th Div | |
| Personnel | approx 500 |
| Equipment & Ammo | |
| HMG (USSR MAKIM) | 20 (rd unknown) |
| LMG (USSR & CZECH) | 10(rd unknown) |
| Rifles (USSR M1891/30) | Unknown |
| SMG (USSR PPsh M1941) | 50 (Unknown) |
| Telephones | 10 |
| 1/4 Ton, 4 x 4, Jeep (US) | |
| 1st Regt, 8th Div | |
| Personnel | approx 1,500 |
| Equipment & Ammo | |
| 120mm Mortar (USSR) | 1 |
| 76mm Field Guns (USSR ZIS 3) | 3 |
| Trucks 2 Ton (US Make) | 3 |
| 1/4 Ton, 4 x 4, Jeeps (US Make) | 3 |
| Wireless Transceiver | 1 |
During an engagement with UN Force on 13 and 14 Feb 51, the 1st Regt, 8th Div was completely disorganized. PW believes that the 1st Regt does not exist as a unit after the engagement on 14 Feb 51. 120mm Mortar Co, 76mm Field Gun Co, and other Service Units of the 1st Regt did not participate in the battle of 13 and 14 Feb 51. They are believed to be intact and in SEOUL.
d. Personalities:
LEE, Kwon Mu (이권무), CG, I Corps
LEE, Hang Lae (이항래), Sr Colonel, C/S, 8th Division.
KIM, Pok Mun (김복문), Maj Gen, CG, 8th Division.
PAEK, Hak Im (백학임), Colonel, CO, 1st Regt, 8th Division.
U, Yang Gi (우양기), C/S, 1st Regt, 8th Division.
KIM, Lee Hyon (김리현), Sr Lt, CO, 82mm Mortar Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 8th Division.
e. Supplies:
Food was obtained locally by the Rear Service Unit. Food was sufficient but the quality was poor. During early Feb 51, the 1st Regt, 8th Division troops were fed pork which came from CHINA.
O/a 10 Feb 51, the 1st Regt, 8th Division was issued mortar, rifle, and SMG ammo at SEOUL. Trucks transported the ammo to the 1st Regt. Other details unknown.
During early Feb 51, the 1st Regt, 8th Division troops were issued shoes, caps, and hand grenade pouches, all made in CHINA.
During late Jan 51, PW heard from the Political Officer, 82mm Mortar Company, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 8th Division that supplies from CHINA are brought in on train up to SARIWON (YC 4065).
f. Armor:
On 12 Feb 51, PW observed 5 tanks with muzzle brakes entering SEOUL from SODAE MUN (西大門) (West Gate).
PW believes the tanks were larger than the T-34 Tank.
g. Signal:
Regiment and higher echelons used wireless. Regiment, battalions, and companies utilized telephones. One runner with each company was used to carry messages to platoons or battalion.
h. Morale:
The morale of the 8th Division troops was high until they engaged UN Units on 7 Feb 51. The morale dropped because of heavy casualties suffered from UN air strikes during combat operations.
Lack of NKA or CCF aircraft was the chief factor in causing low morale, as the 8th Division troops believe they can win if friendly air were available.
PW believes that the morale will improve, if, and when, the NKA or CCF aircraft begin to operate.
i. Medical:
No communicable disease or frostbitten feet were noted with the 8th Division.
j. Psychological Warfare:
PW and 7 others surrendered because their regiment was almost completely wiped out.
PW saw leaflets.
It was written in Chinese but PW, a Korean, was able to understand part of it. It said: “What are you (Chinese) doing in KOREA. You are being used as a tool for RUSSIA”.
PW claimed that he was unaffected.
k. Intelligence Briefings:
During early Feb 51, when the 8th Division was moving southward from SEOUL to the line, the Political Officer, Mortar Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 8th Division told the PW the following information:
“The 8th Division will face the 25th US Division when we hit the line.
The 25th US Division is at present on the line with the Turkish and British Brigades in reserve. These units are about the best UN units in KOREA at present”.
Previously the Political Officer, Mortar Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt, 8th Division told the PW that the ROK Capital Division is advancing Northward from POHANG DONG through ANDONG. PW also asserted that ROK Marine recruits are undergoing training in PUSAN.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
