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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4078　19 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1695)　13 March 1951

Cooperative, spoke freely. Well-informed on locations of I Corps units.

Although lacking education, PW possessed common sense and sharp sense of observation.

Information seems fairly reliable.

Conscripted Sep 50 at HOENGSONG and taken to CH’OSAN (YF3624), where assigned to present unit Oct 50. At CHOSAN received 1½ months infantry training.

8th Div departed CHOSAN 10 Dec 50 and passed through:

UNSAN (BV4365)

CH’ONGCH’ONG River (YD1090)

SINANJU (YD2988)

P’YONGYANG

SARIWON (YC4064)

KAESONG (BT8505) and arrived SEOUL 5 Jan 51

8th Div remained S of SEOUL 1½ months.

Div retreated northward 20 Feb 51. Arrived 8 km N of SEOUL.

1st Regt separated from division late Feb and proceeded southward. Heard 1st Regt annihilated at KWANAK SAN (CS2046).

Late Feb, 8th Div proceeded to ILSAN (CS0373) where it went into defensive positions north side of the HAN River.

Recon Co left 8th Div. Proceeded to SONDON-NI(Phonetic).

PW and 2 others were sent out 090330 to gather information on UN troops in the KANGWHA (BS8081) area.

Captured same day.

8th Div Hq was in ILSAN (CS0373).

8th Div was in defensive positions 12 km long, on north bank of HAN River; extending from the fork of the HAN-IMJIN River (approx BS9583) to a point 12 km southward.

17th Div was in defensive positions, SW of 8th Div, tying in with 8th Div.

47th Div was in defensive positions, SW of 17th Div in TUKSOM (CS2855) area.

Recon Co mission was to cross HAN River and capture PW from the areas directly in front of 8th Div.

Recon Co CO frequently was heard saying fresh units from CHINA, including mechanized and air units, were on way to Korean front, and that these units were in the general area N of 38th Parallel.

I Corps: 17th, 47th, and 8th Div.

8th Div: 1st, 2d, and 3d Regt, engr bn, sig bn, guard plat, and recon co.

Recon Co: 3 Plat.

Recon Plat: 3 Sqd.

Recon Sqd: 10 men

While training at CH’OSAN (YF3624), observed Engr Bn undergoing training. Strength heard to be 900 men. 500 were attached to the division. Remaining were distributed to other units within the division.

1st Regt, 8th Div, while at CH’OSAN, composed of 3,500 men.

Present strength estimated 1,500.

2nd Regt, 8th Div, while at CH’OSAN composed of 3,500 men. Suffered heavy casualties at SURYU SAN (phonetic). Present strength estimated 800 troops.

8th Div, 3d Regt former strength was 3,500 men. Presently, estimated 2,500. Suffered causalities in the ANYANG area from aircraft, shelling, and ground attacks.

Present 8th Div strength estimated not more than 5,00 men.

Heard from company CO that 17th Div formerly a tank division. Believed he heard it was former 105th Tank Div. Heard 17th Div possesses some tanks, but never seen any.

KIM, Bong Mun (김봉문)

Maj Gen, CG, 8th Div

Assigned as division CO when 8th Div was undergoing training during Oct 50.

Formerly in the CCF Army.

PAK, Si Hwa (박시화)

Sr Capt, CO; Recon Co, 8th Div

Assumed command of company Jan 51.

Formerly with CCF in CHINA.

LEE, Ch’ang Su(이창수)

Sr Capt, Staff off, 1st Regt, 8th Div

Former Recon Co CO. Transferred to 1st Regt Jan 51 and assumed duties as Recon Staff Officer.

PAEK, Won Ki (백원기)

Jr Lt, Plat CO, Recon Co, 8th Div

PAK, Song Tok (박성덕)

Capt, Asst Co CO, Recon Co, 8th Div

Food was received from various villages and towns in insufficient amounts. Two or three meals were received daily, usually consisting of 800 to 1,000 grams per man.

Limited amount of ammo was received by wagons.

While 8th Div was proceeding to ILSAN (CS0373), PW observed 15 45mm guns pulled by oxen. No ammo seen being transported with them. Believed guns belonged to a II Corps unit.

50% of 8th Div composed of recruits forceably conscripted. These men had no will to fight and would have surrendered if convinced they would not be killed by their captors. The only obstacle to their surrendering was that they were frequently told of atrocities by the UN Forces.

Remaining 50% was composed of regular NKA troops who, regardless of hardships, would not surrender. These believe NKA and CCF will have ultimate victory.

Phones and wireless were used by Recon Co in communicating with 8th Div Hq.

Runners were employed within Recon Co.

Forceably conscripted into NKA from his home in South KOREA.

Leaflets observed frequently.

NKA regulars did not believed leaflets’ contents. They stated it was nothing but lies. 50% (former South Koreans) doubted contents, too, but not as emphatically as the others. However, since they read leaflets and still did not surrender, leaflets seemed ineffective. Nevertheless, leaflets maintain an ultimate hope within the South Koreans that they have an alternative available to them when circumstances force them to act one way or the other.

For the AC of S, G-2: