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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3885　8 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 - MISDI - 1643)　4 March 1951

Suffering from frozen feet and shell fragment wounds.

PW was a former SK soldier and was captured by the NKA at HANG-ANGON (EQ2181) on 10 Aug 50. Since then, had served with NKA until his capture 26 Feb 51.

During interrogation, cooperative and gave information freely.

Information seemed fairly reliable.

PW was former ROK soldier with 25th Regt of 9th Div when captured by NKA at HANGANG (EQ2181) 10 Aug 50. PW and 5 other SK Soldiers from same Regt were taken PW by 7th Div, of NKA.

With 7th Div, used as litter-bearers in HANGANG area.

25 Aug 50, wounded by a mortar shrapnel in his right leg and was evacuated to #55 Hospital in ANDONG (DR7546). Remained in hospital for approx 25 days.

In Sep 50, after recovering from wound, was assigned to 36th Indep Guard Brigade at ANDONG.

After remaining approx one week with unit in ANDONG, PW, with 4th Bn of 36th Indep Guard Brigade which had been disorganized, retreated northward, passing through:

CHECH’ON (DS3010)

WONJU (DS0734)

CHUNCH’ON (CS8993)

YANGGU (DT1117)

KUMHWA (CT6438)

CHORWON (CT4336)

SINGYE (BT8564)

SUAN (BT7186)

P’YONGYANG

SUNCHON (YD5267)

KANGGYE (BA0837) and arrived MANPOJIN (BA7259) 25 Oct 50.

Only he and 5 others from 4th Bn arrived there at that time.

Did not remember how many troops from Bn left ANDONG but the rest of them, except 6 troops, failed to make trip to MANP’OJIN.

After remaining there for three days, a Bn (approx 600 troops) was organized and called MANPO-Guard Bn.

O/a 28 Oct 50, Bn departed from MANP’OJIN on foot and arrived HWACHONG MYON (BA7020) 31 Oct 50.

On the way heard that Bn had become a part of 12th Div as 1st Bn, 1st Regt.

Upon arriving at HWACH’ON MYON, PW and 100 others from Bn were integrated into another Bn which was formed in HWACHON MYON. New Bn (approx 550 men), composed of troops from various units of NKA became 2d Bn of 1st Regt.

3d Bn was organized in same manner.

12th Div remained in HWACHON for approx 25 days to reorganize.

25 Nov 50, 12th Div departed from HWACHON MYON on foot and advanced southward, using mountain passages, to CHONCH’ON MYON (BA8509), WONGDOK (BU9744), KUMHWA (CT6538), WONGTONG (DT3119), HYON NI (DT4101) (fought for one night), HONGCH’ON (DS0272) (engaging in a week long battle), WONJU (DS0834), and HOENGSONG (DS1149), (3 day battle). 1st Regt had been in a defensive position, digging fox holes and trenches, Feb 51, when retreated NE from HOENGSONG.

After retreating to a point approx 8 km NE of HOENGSONG, 1st Regt of 12th Div again constructed defensive positions by digging fox holes and trenches for 3 days.

12th Div was engaged in 4 hour battle and was forced to retreat from area at 1700 hr. 2nd Bn departed village and moved to a mountain approx 7 km N of CHECHON, at 120300 I Feb 51. At this time, Bn was already engaged in battle.

During battle, 2nd Bn advanced about 1 km toward CHECHON. At this point, PW was hit in his nose by mortar fragments and was evacuated to rear, approx 1 km from front line 131500 I Feb 51.

After regaining consciousness in a farmer’s home, he was informed by owner of the house that he was with them for 5 days. Remained here for another 2 days and was captured by UN troops 26 Feb 51.

1st Regt Hq of 12th Div, was last located in a village approx 8 km N of CHECHON (DE3010) as of 13 Feb 51.

1st and 2d Bn of 1st Regt were usually used in combat, while the 3d Bn remained with Regt Hq.

2d and 3d Regt were engaged against UN Forces on the east flank of 1st Regt as of 12 Feb 51.

Before 12th Div departed from HOENGSONG Feb 51, assistant company commander of HMG Co told the PW mission of V NK Corps along with CCF 34th and 66th Armies was to participate in guerrilla activities by cutting UN supply lines at ANDONG, and harassing UN forces along the NAKTONG River.

V NK Corps: 6th, 7th, 12th & 27th Div.

12th Div: 1st 2d & 3d Regt, Replacement Regt, Sig Co, Recon Plat, Med Bn, & Rear Service Unit.

1st Regt: 1st, 2d & 3d Rifle Bn, Sig Plat, Recon Plat & Supply Plat.

2d Bn: 4th, 5th & 6th Rifle Co, HMG Co, Mortar Co (120mm & 60mm).

HMG Co: 1st, 2d & 3d HMG Plat.

3d Plat: 5th & 6th HMG Sqd.

Personnel losses: 4, sick; 8 were reassigned to 2d Bn (4th, 5th & 6th Companies) as replacements; 5 battle casualties.

3d Plat picked up 1 HMG and Cal. 30 M-1 Rifle ammunition in battle at HYON-NI.

In Jan 51, at HONGCH’ON, 12th Div, received number of replacements.

HMG Co received 5 replacements believed to have been captured ROK prisoners at the same time.

These replacements were issued small arms at time of assignment.

Food procured locally. Troops in PW company were fed rice twice a day.

Usually, each man carried 3 days ration with an additional two days ration of mochi (rice cake) while travelling.

HMG Co received 180 rd of HMG ammo and 2,000 rd of SMG (PPsh) ammo at HOENGSONG in early part of Feb 51.

This ammo supply was delivered from 1st Regt.

Other ammo supplies were chiefly obtained from areas evacuated by retreating UN forces.

1 Wireless Tel Set in PW Bn was used for communication between Bn Hq and Regt Hq while in combat.

During non-combat, field telephones were used.

Morale in PW unit was generally low due to lack of combat training.

Men most feared constant UN air attacks and, artillery shelling during actual combat.

Observed 6 US PW captured by 2d Bn at HOENGSONG in early part of Feb 51. They were sent to Division Hq.

Approx 350 ROK PW, including a Bn Commander, were captured in the above area.

While retreating eastward from a mountain approx 3 km N of HOENGSONG in early Feb 51, observed an estimated division of CCF troops dug-in in fox-holes along mountain trails.

Did not see any weapons, which were probably hidden in fox-holes.

These fox holes were deep enough to conceal one from the air.

Heard from Political Officer (HMG Co) that 1 CCF Army was located in the above area.

Captured because of a mortar fragment wound and being unable to walk from frozen feet.

Had not seen UN leaflets.

For the AC of S, G-2: