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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3880　8 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1637)　3 March 1951

Although limited, the information seems reliable.

Conscripted into NKA 30 Aug 50 at SARIWON (YC 4064) where he joined 98th Regiment. He and about 800 recruits were sent to a training area located 20 km East of SARIWON. Departed SARIWON 1 Sep 50 and walked to the training area, arriving the same day. Basic training received at this training area consisted mainly of physical conditioning supplemented by a nominal amount of tactics and weapons.

20 Sep 50 98th Regt departed SARIWON Area and proceeded northward on foot, arriving TOKCHON (BV 6903) 10 Oct 50. As this movement to TOKCHON was made during night and on mountain trails, PW was unable to recall names of places.

20 Oct 50 Regt departed TOKCHON on foot, travelling at night and following trails, proceeded Northward to KU HYON DONG (BV 7577). Arriving 5 Nov 50. At KU HYON DONG integrated into 15th Div as 2nd Regt. At this time, Div was occupying KANGGYE Area. PW 2nd Regt immediately took up defensive position at KU HYON DONG and continued to occupy this defensive area until 5 Dec 50.

6 Dec 50 15th Div began its southward move, this time following the main highway to TOKCHON arriving 21 Dec 50. 22 Dec 50 continued its southward march to CHANGNIN-NI (BU 7353), arriving 24 Dec 50.

29 Dec 50 proceeded southeastward, arriving INJE (DT 2813) 14 Jan 51. Resumed its southeastward march 19 Jan 51, to KANGNUNG (DS 9178), arriving 24 Jan 51. Thereafter the Div proceeded south to 8 km N W of YONGWOL (DS 5315), then marched north to PANGNIM-NI (DS 5043), arriving 21 Feb 51.

From PANGNIN-NI PW and 2 companies deserted and remained in PANGNIM-NI vicinity until all three surrendered to 17th RCT 26 Jan 51.

15th Div arrived PANGNIN-NI (DS 5043) 21 Feb 51. When PW deserted PANGNIM-NI, 15th Div had already withdrawn northwest.

The mission of 15th Div was to push back UN Army and to regain YONGWOL.

III Corps: 1st, 3rd and 15th Rifle Divisions

15th Rifle Div: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Rifle Regiments, Arty Regt (hearsay)

2nd Rifle Regt: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Rifle Battalions (code: TONG RYO KANG)

2nd Rifle Bn: (code: PAKTALNAMU) 1st, 2nd and 3rd Rifle Companies, HMG Co, Intendance Plat, Med Section, Supply Section, Mortar Section.

3rd Rifle Co: 3 Rifle Platoons, HMG Platoon.

1st Rifle Plat: 3 Rifle Squads, 2 HMG Squads.

CH’OE, HYON Kuk (崔峴國)

Jr Lt, Plat Ldr, 1st Plat, 3d Co, 2d Bn, 2d Regt, 15th Div

CHONG, In Mo (鄭仁模)

Sr Lt, Former CO, 3d Co, 2d, Bn 2d Regt, 15th Div (with the 2nd Regt Hq at present)

LIM, Hak Chae (林學在)

Major, CO, 2d Bn, 2d Regt, 15th Div

LEE, Tu Ch’on (李斗千)

CO, 2d Regt, 15th Div

Food was taken by force from villages and farm houses along the route of march.

Runners were used between Platoon and Company, and between Company and Battalion. A field phone was used at Battalion level.

50% of men in 3d Co did not want to fight but favored surrendering, because they lacked weapons and ammo. The men also resented having to get their food by ravishing villages. Also they had not expected the war to last long, and are getting tired of it.

Dec 50, saw a group of approximately 1,000 ROK and US PW at TOKCH’ON which was travelling northward. They were escorted by CCF unit. The PW were going to receive “education”.

Each company had 2 medics, who had no training, no equipment, and no medicine.

Jan 51, approximately 3 men out of each 20 in 3d Co suffered from typhus. Men afflicted with typhus were given no treatment but were left behind to take care of themselves.

About 5 men in PW platoon suffered from frostbitten feet but were able to walk and perform their duties. No treatment was given.

Surrendered voluntarily because he was bitter and disgusted with the methods of the NKA. When he was drafted, he was told he would serve only a few days. When he discovered they lied to him, he vowed to surrender at the first opportunity. Many men felt the same way.

Had not seen leaflets.

For the AC of S, G-2: