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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3851　7 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (528 MISPI - 0187)　11 February 1951

In good physical condition. A farmer prior to entering CNA Jan 1939. Cooperative, but of below average intelligence. Information fairly reliable. Not recommended for further interrogation.

a. Unit Organization. Strength and Equipment

The 50th Army was composed of 3 Div, Engr Regt, Arty Regt, Sig Bn, Cav Bn, and Transportation Co. The Engr Regt (code: 27 PU) was composed of 3 Bn and a rifle platoon. The 2nd Bn Engr Regt was composed of 3 Co and a Communications Sqd. The 3rd Co was composed of 3 Plat.

Majority of casualties were caused by air strikes.

Arty Regt (atchd to 50th Army) had 10 US Arty pieces prior to crossing YALU River. He did not observe any of these Army pieces since coming to KOREA. Each Engr Sqd had 5 sledge hammers, 3 wire cutters, 1 ox, 5 shovels, 4 picks, 1 saw, 2 sticks of dynamite and 1 generator. No heavy construction equipment available in unit. Each Mortar Co (atchd to Inf Regt) had 6x 82mm mortars. HMG Co (atchd to Inf Regt) had 6 M1910 Maxim HMG. Each Rifle Co had 6 LMG. Each Rifle Plat had 3 x 60mm mortars. The Transportation Co (atchd to Regt) had approx 50 US 2½ ton trucks after crossing YALU River Nov 50.

Heard from his Co CO 4 Feb 51, that their present mission is to repair roads and bridges in vic of YONGDUNGPO (CS1553).

Observed elements of 39th Army resting between SEOUL and MUNSAN (CS0592) 26 Jan 51. 20 Jan 51, observed elements of 49th and 40th Armies at KAESONG (BT8604) KUMCHON (BT8227) area. Believes that these armies were regrouping. The 50th Army CP was located on a hill approx 4 km N of SEOUL as of 4 Feb 51.

Telephones were used for communication between Regt and Div. Runners were used by Bn and lower units.

Morale was low due to the following reasons:

(1) Lack of food.

(2) Insufficient clothing.

(3) Fear of air strikes.

(4) Hatred of communism.

(5) Fatigue.

Most of the men are in poor physical condition because of the above reasons.

Volunteered for CNA 20th Army at LUICHOU (六周) Jan 1939 and served with this unit until captured by the CCF Jan 48. Confined in a PW camp at HARBIN, MANCHURIA for approx 1 year.

Jan 49, integrated into the CCF 39th Army and served with this unit until Sep 1950 when transferred to present unit. 50th Army arrived ANTUNG by train 28 Oct 50 and arrived UNSAN (YE3927) on foot 2 Nov 50.

2nd Bn, Engr Regt arrived vic SEOUL 2 Feb 51, and crossed HAN River 5 Feb 51 over the ice 4 km E of SEOUL. No bridging equipment was observed while crossing HAN River. Unit arrived YONDGUNPO 6 Feb 51. PW lost contact with his unit when he lagged behind because of foot trouble. Fed and quartered by a Korean farmer for 2 days and on 9 Feb 51, while he was out on the MSR attempting to locate his unit he was captured by UN Forces.

Food was procured locally and the men were fed twice a day. No food supplies arrived from CHINA.

Ammo supply was critical. As of 7 Feb 51, each man in PW unit had only 30 rd, each 60mm mortar had 10 rd, and each LMG had 100 rd of ammo remaining.

PW saw many UN surrender leaflets since coming to KOREA. He was told many times by his plat ldr and Co Comdr to disregard the leaflets because if he surrendered the Un Forces would treat him in manner contrary to that promised in the leaflets.

10 Jan 51, observed approx 100 UN PW marching northward in two columns in vic HWANGJU (YC4283).

One Chinese interpreter (Korean) assigned to each Co.

He did not receive any immunizations. There were approx 30 men in his unit afflicted with malaria. Those were not given any medical treatment.

His unit was subjected to 3 night air bombings in late Dec 50 and suffered a total of 29 men killed and 17 missing.

For the AC of S, G-2: