ATIS-ALLIED TRANSLATOR & INTERPRETER SECTION-FEC
ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4000 14 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (521 LDI 0498) 2 March 1951
| PW NAME: | YU, Pyong Won |
| AGE: | 30 |
| RANK: | None |
| DUTY: | Handyman |
| UNIT: | 15th Div, 1st Regt, 3d Bn, 1st Co, 1st Plat, 2d Sqd |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 8 km N of PYONGCHANG (DS4535) |
| DATE & BY WHOM CAPTURED: | 281700 Feb 51 by 7th Div |
PW despises NKA as a whole. Has 2 older brothers sentenced by NK to 18 and 20 years respectively. Through-out the course of interrogation, source was cooperative and talked freely. Information considered reliable.
a. Chronology:
20 Sep 50 - Inducted at SARIWON (TC4065) and assigned to 1st Bn, 98th Unit.
Late Sep 50 - Only 1st Bn departed SARIWON for KANGGYE (BA9838).
10 Oct 50 - 1st Bn arrived vicinity KANGGYE; integrated into 15th Div and received military training.
15 Nov 50 - 15th Div departed vicinity of KANGGYE.
3 Feb 51 - Arrived PUNGAM NI (DS2873) via HUICH’ON (BV6849), KUZANG (phonetic, approx 4 km ESE of ULLYONG DONG BV 5225), TOKCH’ON (BV7014), YANDOK (BU9743), SOKCH’ON (BU6047), INJE (DT2714) and PANGMAE RI (DS2586).
13 Feb 51 - 15th Div departed PUNGAM NI.
15 Feb 51 - Arrived HOENGSONG (DS1048). Observed 1st NK Div.
17 Feb 51 - 15th and 1st Div departed HOENGSONG.
19 Feb 51 - Arrived approx 20 km N of PYONGCHANG (DS4535).
23 Feb 51 - Two Div headed south but due to unknown reason, both retreated to place called “KOLMI” (unlocated, approx 16 km N of PYONGCHANG).
25 Feb 51 - PW and two others deserted.
28 Feb 51 - Above men surrendered with safe conduct leaflets.
b. Organization, Strength, and Weapons:
III NK Corps: 1st, 3d, and 15th Div
15th Div: 1st, 2d, and 3d Regt, PPsh SMG Bn, Com Unit
1st Regt: 1st, 2d, and 3d Bn (service units unk)
3d Bn: 1st, 2d, and 3d Co, Sup Plat
1st Co: 1st, 2d, and 3d Plat, HMG Plat
1st Plat: 1st, 2d, and 3d Sqd
| Unit | Strength | Wpn & Ammo |
| 2d Sqd: | 5 men | 1 PPsh SMG, 4 Russ rifles w/100-300 rd |
| 1st Plat: | 21 men | 2 LMG, 5 PPsh SMG, rest Russ rifles |
| 1st Co: | 80 men | 2 HMG, 20 PPsh SMG, 50 Russ rifles, 2-4 LMG (?) |
| 3d Bn: | 400 men | 2/82mm mortars w/30 rd ea, 6 HMG, 12 LMG, rest unk. |
c. Supplies:
1. 1st Co (Obs 13 Nov 50, vicinity of KANGGYE or HUICHON)
50% of personnel received black service boots with nailed soles from Bn Supply. Rumors were that these boots came from RUSSIA or HUNGARY.
2. 1st Co (Obs 6 Feb 51 at PUNGAM NI)
80% received shoes from Bn supply with canvas top and had Chinese markings. These shoes replaced Russ or Hungarian type service boots, because majority were unserviceable.
3. 1st Co (Obs 24 Feb 51 at KOLMI - phonetic, 16 km N of PYONGCHANG)
Resupplied with 100 rd of rifle ammo. Initial issue was 200 rd. PW surrendered with 300 rd of ammo in his possession. 1st Co personnel also received gift bags, one bag to a man, consisting of 4 chocolate bars, a pack (20) of cigarettes, a sewing needle and a safety pin. PW heard from his Co Co that the gift bags came from HUNGARY and they (soldiers) should write a letter of thanks to the Hungarian people.
4. 1st Co (Obs 16 Feb 51 at place near PYONGCHANG)
Since personnel of 1st Co had old winter clothing on, they asked troops of II Corps where they received their new winter clothing. They replied that it came from RUSSIA. Since PW is inquisitive type, he looked at the lining of the clothing and it had Russian markings. (color - light green)
d. Foreign Elements:
While PW was in training, he observed, between the period 10-15 Nov 50 an estimated Regt of CCF at place 32 km E of HUICHON, moving south. They were armed with M-1, M-99 rifles, carbines with 6-7 defensive grenades. Also observed approx 10/122mm howitzers (M-1910/30). Each howitzer was pulled by 5 horses. Also heard from his Co CO that “KATSUSHA” (rocket launcher) are going to be used in future and 600,000 troops are ready for a new offensive.
12 Nov 50 at SENDONG (unlocated, approx 32 km E of HUICH’ON), a Bn of CCF came to PW Co area to bivouac. Here a Japanese was acting as an interpreter for the CCF. He conversed with PW for one hour and talked about his family and his experience in KWANGTUNG Army.
Hearsay, Nov 50: PW Co CO told the men that top Russian advisors are now in KANGGYE.
e. Replacements: (3 Feb 51, PANGAM NI)
1st Plat received 2 ROK soldiers.
f. Medical: (15th Div while enroute south)
Approx 7-8 soldiers from PW Plat suffered from high fever and were left in villages. Wounded personnel received no medical attention. Cuttle bone which is dried and crushed is applied on wounds to stop bleeding.
g. Codes:
15th Div: 778 KUN Unit
1st Regt: TAEDONG GANG
3d Bn: HALLA SAN
1st Co: PIRU BONG
h. Morale:
Low; due to exhausting marches and no resupply. Majority waiting to desert.
i. Armour: (Between PUSONGDONG (BV6739) and KAEGOGAE DONG (BV7272) 15 Nov 50)
PW was granted a day’s rest by his Co CO on above date. While enroute home he observed 20 T-34’s and 7-8 Russ 2½ ton (6 wheels) trucks on flatcars in tunnels, between above-mentioned locations. PW is also a good friend of HUICHON RR station master (RA, Hyong Ho). RA claims that there are about 70 tanks and trucks between KAEGOGAE DONG and KUTANG.
j. Road Construction (MSR?) Obs 15 Nov 50
PW heard from civilians who worked on construction of a road from MASANDONG (BV7448) to YONGWAN (BV8812) that this road will be a tank route. When observed this road, the construction was half completed. (Const of road started 2 Nov 50). Also bombing remains were seen. PW thinks that it may be completed by this time. Also observed unk number of vehicles travelling from KOIN (BV7976) to SAENGDONG (BV9060) and HUICHON (BV6849).
Note: Obv - 15 Nov 50 MSR?
k. Submarines:
Hearsay from Co CO: YANGYANG (DT6714) was a supply point and that Russ submarines were docking on coast somewhere near YANGYANG.
l. Psychological Warfare:
15 Jan 51, PW observed safe conduct leaflets in vic of HUNGCHON. He hid 3 leaflets in right trousers cuff and waited for his chance to desert. The majority of NK would like to desert and surrender due to lack of food, clothing, etc, but are afraid that they would be killed by their officers. The political officers will tell troops that you could not trust the Americans.
PW opinion on leaflets: To omit words such as food, good treatment, and clothing on leaflets and to add: To all officers and EM! Why are you still fighting when you are treated like dogs. The strafing of planes and the firing of arty could end if you gave yourselves up. This is UN, not two countries like RUSSIA and CHINA, etc.
24 Feb 51, PW heard a broadcast from a plane in vicinity of P’YONGCHANG. Broadcast was not clear due to high altitude and the roaring of engines. The troops were ordered not to shoot at any planes because it might give away their position.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SINGLETON
