ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4059 17 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1682) 9 March 1951
| NAME: | LEE, Chong Yong (李宗永) (리종영) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Sr Sgt |
| ORGN: | VI Corps, 19th Div, 37th Regt, 2d Bn, 6th Co, 3d Plat |
| DUTIES: | Asst Plat Ldr |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 6 yr |
| AGE: | 21 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | PYONGAN NAMDO, ANJU GUN, YONHO MYON, YONG-RI #467 (平安南道 安州郡 燕湖面 竜五里 467) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 011200 I Mar 51 in the YONAN (BS5099) area by 1st ROK Div Guerilla Unit |
| INTERROGATOR: | WTO |
Cooperative and appeared to be alert. He was precise in answering questions.
Information seems reliable.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted 4 Jul 50 at KAECH’ON, and received three months of basic training along with approx 200 other conscripts.
PW and his group retreated north o/a 13 Oct 50, passing through SAKCHU (XE7472), (24 Oct 50), and arriving CHANGJU (XE8394) (24 Oct 50).
Entire group crossed a bridge into MANCHURIA o/a 25 Oct 50 and proceed to ANTUNG SHENG, HUANJEI HSIEN HUANGHUALO TSUN, (安東省 桓仁縣 黃花落村).
3 Nov 50, VI Corps was activated and consisted of the NK 18th and 19th Divisions.
Units were composed of recruits conscripted after Jul 50 in the 17 to 40 age group and veterans who were recovering from wounds. Among the officers, three out of every four had combat experience.
Although none were observed, each division was supposed to include one Arty Regiment.
VI Corps was in training from 3 Nov 50 to 1 Feb 51, using dummy weapons. During this period, PW was promoted to assistant platoon leader.
Training was difficult for the men in the 30 to 40 age group, which was approx 1/3 of the 19th Div complement. Between 24 and 28 Nov 50 new winter clothing was issued to the 18th and 19th Divisions. Clothes were of Chinese manufacture.
25 Jan 51, both divisions were issued new weapons.
27 Jan 51, the PW unit (37th Regt) had its first target practice, each person firing 4 to 8 rifle rounds.
VI Corps was issued ammo (100 rd per man) o/a 1 Feb 51.
VI Corps departed the place of training 2 Feb 51. 2 divisions travelled close together until they neared the YALU River.
19th Division crossed the YALU River 9 Feb 51 and reentered KOREA at CHOSAN (YF3624).
It was rumored that the 18th Division remained at ANTUNG for additional training.
19th Division, using secondary roads and mountain trails, passed thru YONGBYON (YE4011) (13 Feb 51), KAECHON (YE4998). (14 Feb 51), SUNCHON (YD5267) (14 Feb 51), NAMCHONJON (BT7346) (23 Feb 51).
2d Bn, 37th Regt proceeded to YONBAEK GUN, ONJONG MYON, SANDANG NI 25 Feb 51.
O/a 28 Feb 51 PW unit was shelled by naval craft in the area which caused the units to retreat northward.
PW became separated from his unit when it retreated and was captured with four other men of the 19th Div, 1 Mar 51 at BS5099.
b. Location and Activities of Units:
2d Bn, 37th Regt, was separated from its Regt and division approx 40 Km N of NAMCHONJOM (BT7346). Bn had stopped at NAMCHONJOM for two days and proceeded southward to YONAN, arriving 25 Feb 51. Bn was shelled by UN naval craft which resulted in the Bn retreating northwestward.
The 19th Division was last seen approx 40 Km N of NAMCHONJOM on 23 Feb 51.
c. T/O & E and Strength of Unit:
VI Corps: 18th and 19th Div.
19th Div: 35th, 36th & 37th Regt, Arty Regt (hearsay).
37th Regt: 3 Rifle Bn, SMG Co, Engr Co & 1 Recon Plat.
2d Bn: 4th, 5th & 6th Rifle Co, 82mm Mortar Co, HMG Co, 45mm Gun Plat, Sig Plat, Med Plat, AT Plat & Supply Plat.
6th Co: 3 Rifle Plat, HMG Plat.
3rd Plat: 3 Rifle Sqd.
Each HMG Plat: 2 HMG Sqd.
Each Rifle Sqd: 7 to 9 men
Each HMG Sqd: 6 men
| 3d Plat, 6th Co, 2d Bn, 37th Regt: | Original (Feb 51) | Present (Mar 51) |
| EH | 32 | 25 |
| Off | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| LMG | 3 (124 rd ea) | 3 (124 rd ea) |
| SMG | 6 (140 rd ea) | 6 (146 rd ea) |
| M1891/30 rifles | 24 (100 rd ea) | 17 (100 rd ea) |
| 6th Co, 2d Bn, 37th Regt: | ||
| EM | 114 | 99 |
| Off | 6 | 6 |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| HMG (water-cooled) | 2 | Unk |
| Other weapons same as those mentioned in platoon. Casualties in PW unit resulted from illness and swollen feet caused by long marches. Most of their weapons were taken away from them before they were separated from their unit. | ||
| 45m Gun Plat: | ||
| EM | 12 | Further “Present” unk |
| Off | 1 | |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| 45mm Guns | 3 | |
| Due to the lack of transportation, this unit was left in MANCHURIA. Weapons were reported to be new. | ||
| 82mm Mortar Co, 2d Bn: | ||
| EM | 43 | |
| Off | 2 | |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| HMG (water-cooled) | 7 | |
| A few of the guns were new. | ||
| AT Plat, 2d Bn: | ||
| EM | 8 | |
| Off | 1 | |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| PTRD, 1941 AT Rifles | 4 (total 64 rd) | |
| Pistol | 1 | |
| Sig Plat, 2d Bn: | ||
| EM | 11 | |
| Off | 1 | |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| M1891/30 Rifles | Unk (100 rd ea) | |
| Telephones | 3 | |
| Telephone Wire | 3 reels | |
| SMG Co, 37th Regt: | ||
| EM | 120 | |
| Off | 6 | |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| SMG | 120 | |
| Pistols | 5 | |
| An undetermined number of the sub-machine guns were observed to be new. | ||
| Engr Co, 37th Regt (composed of 2 plat): | ||
| EM | 64 | |
| Off | 4 | |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| Only shovels were noticed. No weapons or other equipment were observed. | ||
| 2d Plat: | ||
| EM | 18 | |
| Off | 2 | |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| Pistols | 2 | |
| Those were the only types of weapons observed. | ||
2d Bn strength, prior to leaving MANCHURIA was 380 troops. Bn was caught in a rainstorm at NAMCHONJOM (BT7346) and many fell ill and became separated from the Bn. Present 2d Bn strength is estimated at 300 troops.
37th Regimental strength was approx 2,000 men, prior to leaving MANCHURIA. Present strength is estimated to be 1,700 troops.
d. Personalities
KIM, Yong Chin (金用鎭)
CG, VI Corps
KIM, Chang Pong (김창봉)
CG, 19th Div, VI Corps
YOM, Myong Sun (염명순)
CO, 37th Regt, 19th Div.
KIM, Hyong Kyun (김형균)
CO, 2d Bn, 37th Regt
LEE, Ku Hyon (리구현)
Political Officer
LEE, Kwan Chun (리관춘)
CO, 5th Co, 2d Bn
O, U Song (오우성)
Plat Ldr, 3d Plat, 5th Co
e. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
Food was procured locally by the supply platoon of the 2d Bn. This platoon usually travelled in front of the Bn and prepared food for the entire Bn.
Two or three meals were received daily in insufficient quantity.
Each soldier usually carried 3 days supply of food (rice flour) with them. It was replenished from villages or towns.
No ammo other than that initially issued received by the 2d Bn.
Up until the time of capture the PW Bn had not been engaged in battle, so initial issue of ammo was still intact.
f. Armor, Artillery and Aircraft:
See T/O & E - (3 x 45mm Guns).
g. Morale:
Morale of the troops since the 19th Division was activated, was low. Most of them were conscripted during the period of the NKA retreat to the North.
Many were heard to say that food was inadequate and that the NKA has no chance of winning the war. Officers frequently tried to bolster their morale, but results were discouraging.
Many did not like the idea of the possibility of being killed in combat.
Officers constantly warned the troops against being captured as they would be killed. They told the troops to use their own guns on themselves if circumstances were such that they were to be captured.
However, the troops were heard to say that even if they were to be captured and killed by the UN troops, they were still willing to surrender.
h. UN PW:
O/a 6 Jan 51, the Bn commander read Order #70 to his troops. It stated that upon capturing a UN soldier, the PW was not to be killed. If the PW wished to join the NKA, he would be allowed to do so; if he did not want to, he was to be given some money and allowed to return to his home.
i. Signal:
Communication between Bn and Regt was conducted through telephones.
1 telephone was supposed to be installed in the 6th Co for communication between the Bn and companies. Runners were used from the other companies to the company equipped with the phone.
j. Psychological Warfare:
PW was captured.
No leaflets or loudspeaker broadcasts heard by the 2d Bn.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
