ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4048 16 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1670) 8 March 1951
| PW NAME: | LEE, Yong Chae (李英在)（리영재) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Lt (中尉) |
| ORGN: | III NK Corps, 15th Div, 45th Regt, 1st Bn, HMG Co |
| DUTIES: | Company Commander |
| EDUCATION: | High School, 3 yr |
| AGE: | 30 |
| OCCUPATION: | Train Conductor |
| ADDRESS: | TUNG PEI CHILINSHENG, YENCHI HSIEN, LUNG CHING SHIH, TIEN TU MIAO (東北 吉林省 延吉縣 龍井市 天圖■■六門 #6) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 011500 I March 51 approx 4 km NE of PANGNIM-NI (DS 4942) by US troops (2d Bn, 17th RCT) |
| INTERROGATOR: | MT |
PW complained that he had not fully recovered from typhus and very weak.
During the interrogation, PW cooperative and gave information freely.
Information seemed fairly reliable.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted 18 Sep 46 into the Police Constabulary Unit (保安隊) at CHILIN-SHENG (吉林省), MANCHURIA.
In Apr 50, one division of Koreans was formed from the various Guard Units in MANCHURIA. There were approx 15,000 troops in this division when it departed for KOREA.
Before entering KOREA, this group was designated as the Independent 15th Div (1st, 2d and 3d Regt) and the Indep 7th Regt, which was formed because of the surplus of troops encountered in organizing the 15th Division.
15th Div and the Indep 7th Regt arrived HOERYONG (EB 6298) by train 21 Apr 50.
PW and the 1st Bn (500 troops) from the Indep 7th Regt were integrated into the NKA because they were experienced troops. They became a part of the 15th Div, 50th Regt (NKA) in HOERYONG.
Jun 50 one company (approx 120 troops) from the 50th Regt was used as a guard unit in the city. This company remained in the city, guarding factories for approx 4 months.
Rest of the 50th Regt had left HOERYONG 24 Jun 50.
PW remained in the city when the 15th Div became ineffective in South KOREA during the fall of 50.
After hearing that the 15th Div was to be reorganized at TOKCH'ON (BV6903) in Nov 50, the PW took his company and left HOERYONG on foot for TOKCH’ON, arriving in late Nov 50. When the 15th Div was reorganized in TOKCH'ON, the PW was assigned to the 1st Regt, 1st Bn, HMG Company.
There were approx 8,000 troops at TOKCH'ON when the 15th Div was reorganized.
O/a 17 Dec 50, 15th Div (1st, 2d and 3d Regt) departed TOKCH'ON on foot and advanced south.
With the 15th Div, passed the following places: KACHANG-NI (BU 6779), SONGCHON (BU6048), KOKSAN (BT9795), ICHON (CT1563), PYONGGANG (CT5253), KUMHWA (CT6438), HWACHON (CT 8717), YANGGU (DT 1117), INJE, a village approx 24 km NE of HONGCHON (DS 0272), mountain routes, PYONGCHANG (DS 4735) and arrived MA HA-RI (DS 5927) 260600 I Feb 51.
After the 15th Div crossed the 38th Parallel, heard that the 1st Regt was also known as the 45th Regt. 2d Regt was the 48th Regt, and the 3d Regt was the 50th Regt.
Upon arriving at MA HA-RI, the 2d Regt of the 15th Div engaged in its first battle against UN troops for 12 hours.
During this period the 1st and 3d Regiments were not engaged in combat.
Ar 261800 I Feb 51, the entire 15th Div (1st, 2d and 3d Regt) retreated from MA HA-RI.
While retreating northward 27 Feb 51, the PW was separated from the HMG Co, 1st Bn, 1st Regt, 15th Div at PYONGCH'ANG because of illness (typhus fever).
From this point the PW could not give any information about the 15th Div except on the 1st Bn of the 1st Regt.
At the time of separation from the 1st Bn at PYONGCH'ANG the 1st Bn Commander informed his man that the Bn was to dig in defensive positions at PANGNIM-NI (DS 4942).
Upon arriving at MULGOL-RI (DS 2582) 28 Feb 51 the PW was unable to locate the Regt Hq.
At this time, PW became very sick and rested in a farmer's home for 3 days.
1 Mar 51, the PW was captured by UN troops while resting.
b. Location and Activities of Unit:
1st Regt Hq was last located in a village approx 4 km NE of PANGNIM-NI (DS 4942) as of 28 Feb 51.
2d Regt was approx 4 to 6 km NW of PANGNIM-NI where the 1st Regt (1st, 2d and 3d Bn) had dug defensive positions, as of 28 Feb 51.
3d Regt was across a small stream approx 6 km N of PANGNIM-NI as of 28 Feb 51.
1st Div of the II NK Corps was last seen on the left flank (approx 20 km) of the 15th Div at MA HA-RI (DS 5927), as of 26 Feb 51.
c. T/O & E and Strength:
III NK Corps: 4th, 12th, and 15th Rifle Divisions.
15th Division: 45th, 48th, and 50th Rifle Regiments, Engr Bn, HMG Bn.
45th Regt: 1st, 2d, and 3d Rifle Battalions, HMG Co, Recon Plat, Signal Co, Supply Plat and Transportation Platoon.
1st Battalion: 1st, 2d, and 3d Rifle Companies, HMG Co, 80mm Mortar Co, Med Plat, AT Gun Plat, Signal Sqd, Supply Plat, 45mm AT Gun Plat (no weapons).
HMG Company: 1st, 2d, and 3d HMG Platoons.
HMG Plat: 3 HMG Sqd. Each HMG Sqd consisted of 23 men.
Rifle Co: 3 Rifle Platoons, 1 HMG Platoon.
Rifle Plat: 3 Rifle Sqd. Each sqd consisted of 12 men.
HMG Plat: 3 HMG Sqd. Each sqd consisted of 7 or 8 men.
| HMG Company: | Original (17 Dec 50) | Present (27 Feb 51) |
| EM | 57 | 31 |
| Officers | 5 | 3 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| HMG (Maxim) | 6 (4,000 rd ea) | 6 (4,000 rd ea) |
| M1891/30 rifles | 57 (50 rd ea) | 31 (50 rd ea) |
| Pistol | 1 (200 rd ea) | 0 |
| SMG (PPSH) | 4 (200 rd ea) | 3 |
| Remarks: | ||
| HMG Co had never been engaged in battle, however, the following were personnel and weapons losses: | ||
| Personnel Losses: 26 men | ||
| 6: Air strafing | ||
| 2: Frozen Feet | ||
| 18: Caused by various illnesses. | ||
| Weapon Losses: | ||
| 26 M1891/30 rifles: Sent to the rear unit attached directly to the Regt Hq. | ||
| 1 Pistol: Captured | ||
| 1 SMG: Left behind with a Plat Ldr. | ||
| 1st Battalion: | ||
| EM & Officers | Approx 550 | Approx 450 |
| Equipment & ammo: | ||
| M1891/30 rifles | 〃 300 (150 rd ea) | 〃 300 |
| LMG | 30 (4,000 rd ea) | 30 |
| HMG (Maxim) | 12 (4,000 rd ea) | 12 (4,000 rd ea) |
| SMG (PPSH) | 80 (200 rd ea) | 80 (200 rd ea) |
| 80mm Mortars (Russian) | 12 | 12 |
| AT Guns | 12 | 12 |
| Pistols | 13 (200 rd ea) | 12 |
| Grenades | 2 per rifleman | 2 per rifleman |
d. Personalities:
PAK, Won Kun (朴元根), Maj Gen, CG, 15th Div, III NK Corps.
KIM, Pak Ho (金朴鎬), Col, CO, 45th Regt, 15th Div.
Remarks: PW heard that the Subject was from RUSSIA.
KWON, Yon Pom (권영범), Capt, CO, 1st Bn, 45th Regt
e. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
Food was obtained locally.
After crossing the 38th Parallel, PW HMG Company had great difficulty in obtaining food because most villages were deserted and stripped.
Sometimes the troops were fed once a day while travelling.
Believed that the 15th Div had never received any additional ammo supply since Dec 50.
Since PW 1st Bn had never been engaged in combat, each man still had his initial issue of ammunition when the 15th Div departed from TOKCH'ON (BV 6903) Dec 50.
f. Signal:
1 wireless set in the Div Hq was used for communication between the Div Hq and the III NK Corps Hq.
Below Regt levels, field telephones were used.
g. Morale and Battle Effectiveness:
Recent morale of the PW Bn was low due to the lack of food, clothing, suffering from frozen feet, and fatigue.
Because of these reasons, believed that the 1st Bn had approx 20 deserters.
After these desertions occurred, troops were carefully watched.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
