ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3883 8 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1641) 4 March 1951
| PW NAME: | CHANG, Shu Tang (張樹堂) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGN: | CCF 42d Army, 125th Div, 375th Regt, 2d Bn, 6th Co, 1st Plat. |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| AGE: | 23 |
| OCCUPATION: | Merchant |
| ADDRESS: | HONAN SHENG, HUA HSIEN (河南省 華縣) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | Captured on 2 Mar 51 at 1/2 M South of “LINGTOLI” by 5th Cav Regt, 1st Cav Div. Did not know whereabouts of capture. The PW stated, that he was captured at “LUNGTOLI”. This might be a Chinese corruption of TONGO-RI (CS5866) which is in the 1st Cav Sector. |
| INTERROGATOR: | DGC |
PW had his leg amputated soon after his capture. The interrogation was concluded as soon as possible. PW was a former Nationalist and did not like being in CCF Army. He was very cooperative, but was unable to complete the interrogation.
His information seems reliable.
a. Personal and Unit History:
Entered CNA in late 46, and assigned to 16th Regt, 40th Army. Served with 40th army until Apr 49, when 40th Army collapsed while engaging CCF at ANYANG, CHANG-TE-FU (張■■), HONAN Province.
Taken prisoner and sent to HSINYANG (信陽), HONAN Province where he received political training for 6 months. In Nov 49, assigned to present unit in CCF. 6th Co, 2d Bn 275th Regt, 125th Div, 42 Army. 374th and 375th Regts were engaging CNA at this time at LINGPAO (■■), HONAN Province.
In Dec 50, 42d Army moved to MANCHURIA and was stationed along YALU River at TUNG-HUA (通化). Dec 50, 42d Army marched into KOREA, crossing YALU River at approx 30 miles South of Lin CHIANG (臨江).
42d Army travelled South through mountains for approx 3 months, never engaging in combat during this time.
125th Div had been engaged with UN forces for 5 or 6 days when PW was captured in vicinity of “LUNGTO LI” by 5th Cav Regt, 1st Cav Division.
b. Location and Activities of Units: (as of 1 Mar 51)
125th Div located in “LUNG TO LI” area. 6th Co, 2d Bn, and 9th Co, 3d Bn of 375th Regt were on hill approx 1/2 mile East of “LUNGTO LI”.
4th Co, 2d Bn, 375th Regt was to rear of 6th Co, 2d Bn.
Mission of 125th Div was to hold present defense line until reinforcements were brought up.
c. T/O & E and Strength (1 Mar 51).
42d Army (Code: TUNGFEI FU TUI) 東■部隊 (Northeastern Units): 124th, 125th, and 126th Divisions
125th Rifle Division: 373th, 374th, 375th, Regiments Arty Bn
375th Rifle Regiment: 1st, 2d, 3d Rifle Battalions Mortar Co, Special Service Co (well-indoctrinated troops used to supervise troops at front and to guard Regimental CP), Signal Platoon, Supply Platoon.
2d Rifle Battalion: 4th, 6th, Rifle Companies HMG Co
6th Rifle Company: 3 Rifle Platoons, Mortar Platoon (60mm)
1st Rifle Platoon: Rifle Squad, LMG Squad
NOTE: Formerly, 375th Regt had a Medical (“carrying”) Co of approximately 110 men, but was disbanded in mid-Feb 51. These men had no military training whatsoever and were to be used as litter bearers. Sometime in Jan 51 each of 3 Battalions of 375th Regt were assigned a platoon from this medical company to be used by Battalions as stretcher bearers. However, when these units suffered heavy casualties in battle, men of Medical Platoon were integrated into Rifle Platoons as riflemen. KP personnel in Battalions were to take over duty of stretcher bearer (4 men per Co). Did not know whether this was done in other Regiments.
5th Company of 2d Bn was assigned to the Asst Commander of 125th Div (code No: 702) who had been promoted to Div Commander of 7th NKA Div. 5th Co, 2d Bn, was integrated into 7th NKA Div, according to PW.
Formerly, there were 2 Rifle Squads and HMG Sqd in 1st Plat, but due to battle casualties, Platoon reformed into 2 squads (rifle squad and HMG squad).
| 1st Rifle Platoon: | Original (Dec 50) | Present (1 Mar 51) |
| EM | 40 | 0 |
| Officers | 2 | 0 |
| Note: All personnel of 1st Platoon were either KIA, WIA, or had been captured. | ||
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| Rifles, M1903 (US Springfield) | 24 (100 rd ea) | Unk |
| LMG (Canadian Bran) | 2 (400 rd ea) | 〃 |
| Grenades | 160 (4 per man) | 〃 |
| SMG, M-3 | 2 | |
| Ammo supply for weapons was very short just before his capture. There were several captured US carbines in his platoon. | ||
| 6th Rifle Company: | ||
| EM | 130 | 40 |
| Officers | 10 | 4 |
| Many of the men in his company were killed in the attack prior to his capture. But was not certain of strength of 6th Co at this time. Figures under 〃present〃 above are what PW saw of his Company just previous to capture. | ||
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| US Rifles, M1903 | 80 (100 rd ea) | Unk |
| Mortars, 60mm (Chinese) | 3 (18 rd ea) | 2 (none) |
| Grenades | 320 (4 per man) | Unk |
| Grenades (AT) | 20 | 20 |
| LMG | 6 (400 rd ea) | 4 |
| Pistols | 4 | Unk |
| SMG, M-3 | 6 (200 rd ea) | 3 (75 rd ea) |
| One mortar in 6th Co was removed because there were no trained men to operate it. | ||
| Two LMG and 3 SMG M-3 were destroyed in action. | ||
| 2d Rifle Battalion: | ||
| EM | 479 | Unk |
| Officers | 21 | 〃 |
| Loss of personnel were due to battle casualties. | ||
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| HMG | 6 (1000 rd ea) | 4 |
| Bazookas, Rocket launcher (US) | 2 (10 rd ea) | 2 |
| 2 HMG of 2d Bn, were destroyed in action and the 2 bazookas were not in operating condition. | ||
| 375th Rifle Regiment: | ||
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| Mortars, US 81mm | 3 | 3 (10 rd ea) |
| Inf Guns, 92mm | 2 | Unk |
| Did not know the make of 92mm Inf Guns but the barrel was short (approx 4 feet), and was carried on a 2-wheeled rubber-tired mount pulled by two horses. Gun could be removed from its mount and placed on a horse’s back for transportation over mountainous terrain. | ||
d. Personalities:
CHANG, Wan Sheng (張萬生), 1st Lt, Plat Ldr, 1st Plat, 6th Co, 2d Bn, 375th Regt.
(Note: KIA)
HSU, Kwang Jen (許廣■), 2d Lt, Asst Plat Ldr, 1st Plat, 6th Co, 2d bn, 375th Regt.
LO, Tien (■田.), Former CO, 6th Co, 2d Bn, 375th Regt.
(Note: KIA)
LAO, Lin (老田), Former CO, 2d Bn, 375th Reg
(Note: KIA)
YU, ■■-hei (■■海), Political Officer, 6th Co, 2d Bn, 375th Regt.
PAI, Wan Ts■d (■文■), Asst Co, 6th Co, 2d Bn, 375th Regt
(Note: KIA)
e. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
In Dec 50 and Jan 51 food supply of his unit was locally procured. However, in Feb 51 local supplies were almost exhausted and troops began to eat fried noodles brought in from CHINA.
Occasionally (2-3 times per week), received rice which was procured in area.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
