ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3632 27 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS 1373) 28 February 1951
| PW NAME: | SIM, Pok Man (沈福萬)(심복만) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 125307 |
| RANK: | Major (少佐) |
| AGE: | 26 |
| DUTY: | Executive Officer |
| UNIT: | NKA V Corps, Recon Bn |
| EDUCATION: | 6 yr Primary School |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | HOENGSONG (橫城) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 6 Feb 51 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, HWANGHAE-DO, PONGSAN-GUN, TOKJAE-MYON, TAECH’ANG-NI #33 (黃海道 鳳山郡 德在面 大昌里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pfc NAKAZAWA (ATIS) |
PW cooperative and intelligent. Talked freely and seemed to give all information to the best of his knowledge. Reliability - Good.
a. Chronology:
20 Jul 47 - Enlisted in the NKA at CHINNAMP’O (鎭南浦). Assigned to 2nd Sqd, 2nd Plat, 5th Co, 2nd Bn, CHINNAMP‘O Brigade.
12 Nov 47 - Reassigned to 2nd Sqd, 4th Plat, 2nd Bn, CHINNAMP’O Brigade. Promoted to Jr Sgt.
26 Jun 48 - Reassigned to 2nd Sqd, 2nd Plat, 2nd Bn, CHINNAMP‘O Brigade. Promoted to Sgt.
20 Jul 48 - 2nd Bn departed CHINNAMP’O by train.
21 Jul 48 - Arrived SARIWON (沙里院). 2nd Bn integrated into SARIWON 3rd Brigade. Assigned to 2nd Sqd, 2nd Plat, 4th Co, 2nd Bn, SARIWON Brigade.
9 Dec 48 - Reassigned to 3rd Plat, SMG Co, directly attached to Brigade. Promoted to Sr Sgt.
20 Jul 49 - Reassigned to 1st Plat, Recon Co directly attached to 3rd Brigade. Promoted to Jr Lt and Plat Ldr.
12 Nov 49 - Recon Co departed SARIWON by train. Arrived KANSONG (杆城) and transferred to KANSONG Brigade. Assigned to 1st Plat, 1st Co direct attached Recon Bn as Plat Ldr. Promoted to Lt.
25 Jun 50 - KANSONG Brigade departed on foot.
10 Jul 50 - Arrived KANGNUNG (江陵). Rested five days.
15 Jul 50 - Transferred to 1st Co, 3rd Bn, 3rd Regt, 8th Div. Promoted to Sr Lt.
20 Jul 50 - 8th Div departed KANGNUNG.
8 Aug 50 - Arrived UISONG (義城), about 16km S of ANDONG (安東).
11 Aug 50 - PW enroute to SEOUL by train for hospitalization.
16 Aug 50 - Confined in #2 University Hospital in SEOUL.
10 Sep 50 - Released from hospital and promoted to Capt. Walked to WONJU (原州).
15 Sep 50 - Arrived HOENGSONG (橫城). Assigned to Recon Co, 38th Brigade which was being organized.
30 Sep 50 - 38th Brigade retreated on foot, approx 1,500 strong.
20 Oct 50 - 38th Brigade arrived HAOU-RI (下䃖隅里), via HONGCH‘ON (洪川), CH'UNCHON (春川), YANGGU (楊口), HWIYANG (淮陽), TOKWON (德源), YONGHUNG (永興) and HAMHUNG (咸興). 38th Brigade redesignated 38th Div and brought under V Corps. Received 1,000 replacements.
3 Nov 50 - Arrived CH’ILP’YONG (七坪) via CHANGJIN (長津). 1,000 replacements assigned to various units of 38th Div.
7 Nov 50 - Assigned CO, Recon Co, directly attached to 38th Div, V Corps at CH’ILP’YONG.
20 Nov 50 - Assigned Ass’t CO, Recon Section, 38th Div, V Corps and also promoted to Maj at CH’ILP’YONG. V Corps Hq located in vicinity of KANGGYE (江界).
21 Nov 50 - V Corps departed KANGGYE, 38th Div departed CH’ILP’YONG.
3 Jan 51 - Arrived HOENGSONG (橫城) via HONGCH’ON (洪川), HWACH’ON (華川), KUMHWA (金化), KOKSAN (谷山), MENGSAN (孟山) and HUICH’ON (熙川).
6 Jan 51 - V Corps departed HOENGSONG by Div. 38th Div arrived TOKCH’IL-RI (德七里). V Corps Hq located 5km E of TOKCH’IL-RI.
15 Jan 51 - 38th Div deactivated and personnel reassigned to V Corps Hq and other Div under V Corps. Reason for disorganization was lack of strength in 38th Div and to bring V Corps strength up. Assigned as Executive Officer Recon Bn, directly attached to V Corps. Recon Bn reorganized from January 15 to 31st.
31 Jan 51 - Received orders to obtain information pertaining to the strength of UN troops in vicinity of roads from HOENGSONG to KANGNUNG (江陵), WONJU (原州) and roads from WONJU to CHECH’ON (提川).
5 Feb 51 - Said Recon Patrol departed KALEKOL-RI (가레골리).
6 Feb 51 - PW with 7 others left main patrol in order to reconnoiter the HOENGSONG area, and surrendered to ROK unit approx 10km E of HOENGSONG.
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
Strength: (Present - as of 6 Feb 51)
V Corps - 14,000
6th Div - 4,300
7th Div - 4,300
12th Div - 4,300
Recon Bn - 350
Weapons:
As of 5 Feb 51, 6 x 82mm mortars were assigned to each Bn of each Div under V Corps.
c. Personalities:
PANG, Ho San (方虎山)(방호산), Lt Gen, CG, V Corps, NKA, 40, 1.6m, heavy built, complexion: yellow, round face, married, last seen: KALEKOL-RI (가레골리), 25 Jan 51.
SIM, Ch’ong (沈淸)(심청), Maj Gen, C/S, V Corps, 45, 1.6m, fat, complexion: blackish yellow, round face, last seen: KALEKOL-RI (가레골리), 25 Jan 51.
LEE, Ik Song (李益成)(이익성), Maj Gen, CG, 7th Div, V Corps, 40, 1.6m, slim, complexion: white, married.
PAK, Hung Su (朴興洙)(박흥수), Sr Col, CO, Recon Section, V Corps, 30, 1.7m, tall and slim, complexion: white, last seen: KALEKOL-RI (가레골리), 28 Jan 51.
KIM, Hung Nam (金興南)(김흥남), Lt Col, Operations officer, V Corps, 30, 1.6m, average, complexion: dark, round face, single, last seen: KALEKOL-RI (가레골리), 22 Jan 51.
LEE, Hak Mun (李學文)(이학문), Col, Asst CO, Recon Section, V Corps, 38, 1.7m, tall and slim, complexion: dark, long face, married, last seen: vicinity of HOENGSONG (橫城), 6 Feb 51. 6 Feb 51, was on patrol mission in vicinity of HOENGSONG (橫城).
NO, Kyu Song (盧奎成)(노규성), CO, Recon Bn, V Corps, 34, 1.6m, fat, complexion: yellow, large face, married, last seen: KALEKOL-RI (가레골리), 31 Jan 51.
HWANG, Han Su (黃韓洙)(황한수), Ass’t CO, Recon Bn, V Corps, 27, 1.62m, average, complexion: dark, small and round, single, last seen: KALEKOL-RI (가레골리), 31 Jan 51.
d. Code and APO Number:
V Corps 327th Army Unit
Recon Bn KUMSAKANG (金士江)
V Corps, Recon Section - SAMSANBONG (三山峯)
All code and APO numbers were designated by the Corps commander. Communication code tables were made by the Corps Recon Section CO and such code tables were filed in the “Secret Document Sections” located above Div level.
e. Communications:
Battery (company) and below - Runners.
Battalion - Runners.
Regiment - Field phones (2 each).
Division - 2-way radio set (1 each). Phones (2 each).
Corps - 2-way radio sets (4 each). Phones (10 each).
Signal Flags:
Flags were only used by infantry units. Color of flags were red, blue, yellow and white. Flags measured as follows:
Plat flag - 20cm x 30cm
Co flag - 30cm x 40cm
Bn flag - 40cm x 60cm
No info as to use of flags.
f. Disposition:
When last observed, CP of Recon Bn and V Corps Hq were located at KALEKOL-RI (가레골리) approx 16km E of HONGCH’ON (洪川).
g. Intentions:
PW heard from the CO of Recon Section, V Corps that the intention of V Corps only was to commence attacking from Mar 51 along the following attack routes:
KALEKOL-RI - HOENGSONG (橫城) - WONJU (原州)
CHONGJU (淸州) - CHECHON (提川)
Refer to sketch #3.
h. Morale:
Morale was very high among officers but very low among the EM.
i. Replacements:
No replacements were received after 15 Jan 51.
j. Supply:
Each man carried 3 days rations and 100 rd rifle ammo, 4 to 5 anti-tank grenades per Plat and 200 rd ammo per SMG.
k. Weapons Feared Most:
Strafing.
Fragmentation bomb with parachute attached.
l. Medical:
Disease unknown but symptoms were:
Headache and fever.
Vomiting.
Delirious with high fever and chills.
From Jan 51 till now, 5 to 6 persons died and 500 to 600 were affected by this disease.
m. Political Defense Unit (政治保衛部):
These Political Defense Units were assigned to the NKA above Div level by the North Korean Government. In other words, these units were independent units and came under the control of the Government, not the Army. Work conducted in these units concerned interior security.
Criminal Investigation Units (檢察所) and courts (裁判所) were assigned to the NKA above Div level by the NK Government.
n. Planned Offensive (See Par 3g “Intentions”):
V Corps was to receive new equipment consisting of artillery, tanks and vehicles by 1 Mar 51. Amount unknown. PW also heard that during the attack starting 1 Mar 51 V Corps would receive air support. Type and number of planes unknown.
o. Anti-Aircraft Defense Units:
In order to take advantage of the low flight of UN planes, the NKA organized teams consisting of 10 to 30 men called “Hunter Group” armed with rifles and SMG. These groups were to establish a base on top or on the side of a hill where UN planes usually flew at low altitude. If planes passed by, they concentrated their small arms fire on the planes. Such groups were organized on Regt, Div and Corps level. Groups were organized after 20 Jan 51.
For the Commanding Officer:
ROBINSON
NKA V CORPS ORGANIZATIONAL BREAKDOWN (As of 6 Feb 51)
V CORPS RCN BATTALION (As of 6 Feb 51)
PLANS FOR V CORPS, NKA (VICINITY OF HOENGSONG, KOREA Chart - 3)
NOTE: V Corps date of attack - 1 Mar 51
