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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3805　6 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1628)　1 March 1951

PW had only approx five months of military experience, but since he was an officer assigned to 3rd Div and III Corps Hq, he had the opportunity to observe much.

Information was apparently given freely.

Information seems reliable.

PW was conscripted into the NKA 29 Sep 50 at P’YONGYANG (YD 4020). Here, received political training for 6 days after which assigned to 3rd Division located at WIWON (BA 5329).

Travelled on foot to WIWON, arriving there 20 Nov 50 and assigned to 1st Co, 1st Bn, 8th Regt, 3rd Division as Political Officer. Remained at WIWON with 3rd Division for ten days. Left WIWON on approx 30 Nov 50 with 3rd Division, and marched to KUMHWA (CT 6438) via HAMHUNG (CU 7518), WONSAN (CU 6734), and ANBYON (CU 7222). The 3rd Division arrived at KUMHWA 20 Jan 51.

21 Jan 51 removed from his position as Political Officer of 1st Co, 1st Bn, 8th Regiment because he was found incompetent. Left KUMHWA 23 Jan with an unknown element of 3rd Division and travelled by train, arriving HABANG NI (DS 4536) in late Jan 51.

Assigned to Civil Affairs Section (of III Corps Hq), which was then being organized 18 Feb 51 at HABANG-NI (DS 4536). Composed of mature men (30 to 40 yr) who lacked military experience. Duties of Civil Affairs Section were to collect food supplies; to handle refugees; to supervise road repair; and to indoctrinate troops on communism.

Another function of Civil Affairs Section was to organize civilians into groups such as Young men’s League, Women’s League, Labor Party, Self-Defense Party, and People’s Committee.

22 Feb 51 PW and several others from Civil Affairs Section were ordered to P’YONGCHANG (DS 4535) to take care of refugees in this area. Captured 23 Feb 51 at YOMAN NI, while performing his duty of persuading refugees to return to their homes.

1st and 15th Divisions of III Corps were located approx 3 Km North of P’YONGCHANG 22 Feb 51. However, they had been in process of withdrawing, because of a UN attack.

III Corps Hq was located at approx 12 Km NE of PANGNIM NI (DS 4943) 22 Feb 51.

3rd Division of III Corps was located at approx 16 Km NE of the Corps Hq.

c. T/O & E and Strength: (As of 21 Jan 51)

III Corps: 1st, 3rd, 15th Divisions, Recon Co, Engineer Bn, Security Co, Sanitary Plat, Signal Plat, Supply Plat, Civil Affairs Sec, Finance Section.

3rd Rifle Division: 7th, 8th, 9th Regiments, Signal Plat, Sanitary Plat, Supply Plat, Political Section (approx 5 men).

8th Rifle Regiment (Code: 389): 3 Rifle Bn, Signal Plat, Sanitary Plat, Supply Plat, Security Co.

1st Rifle Battalion: 3 Rifle Companies, Mortar Co, HMG Co, Sanitary Plat, Signal Plat.

1st Rifle Company: 3 Rifle Platoons, HMG Platoon.

Additional personnel, equipment and ammo were received at WIWON (BA 5329) prior to the departure for KUMHWA (CT 6438) in Nov 50. “Present” strength was as of 21 Jan 51 (the date which PW left the 3rd Division).

KIM, Won Sik (金元植), Sr Lt, CO, 1st Co, 1st Bn, 8th Regt, 3rd Division.

1st Company received 40 additional men 27 Nov 50 at WIWON (BA 5329). These men were from various units which had been disorganized during the fall retreat. Most of them had been in the NKA for at least a year and were well-trained. A few were men with only a few months of army experience.

personnel of Civil Affairs Section searched for food in deserted and burnt buildings. Upon finding food they reported it to the Civil Affairs Section chief. Various divisions requisitioned food supplies from the Civil Affairs Chief who referred them to food supplies that were located. It was the responsibility of these divisions and their regiments to transport this food.

Food supplies were moved only at night when movement was relatively safe from attacks by UN aircraft.

Runners were used between platoon and company. A field phone (US) was used between Battalion and Regiment. Each Regiment had a field phone (US). Division and Corps had wireless sets (PW had not seen the wireless sets but learned of them from others).

Approx 60% of the men of III Corps Civil Affairs Section had high morale. Other 40% feared for their lives, hence, their morale was low.

Most of the officers had very high morale, enlisted men’s morale was not quite as high.

4 Jan 51 there were 5 typhus cases in 1st Company, which were sent to rear area hospitals.

No preventive treatment was given for diseases.

PW was captured when surrounded. Saw leaflets o/a 27 Dec 50 at ANBYON. These leaflets said: “If you want to see your families again, surrender before it is too late!”

Believed the leaflets to some extent.

About 60% of the others did not believe leaflets.

Leaflets were seldom discussed, and so he did not know a great deal about the troops’ reactions to them.

For the AC of S, G-2: