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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 709　23 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0527)　21 August 1950

Cooperative - information seems fairly reliable.

Inducted 15 Mar 47 CHANG PAI HSIEN (長白縣), Northeast CHINA (MANCHURIA) into Northeast Democratic Allied Army, Linothing Rear Echelon Hospital. Served there 3 yrs as cook and ward boy (In 1949 name of CCF Army changed “Peoples Liberation Army”). Departed CHANG PAI HSIEN Feb 50 by railroad, arrived SINUIJU 27 Mar 50. Departed SINUIJU 27 Mar 50 by railroad, arrived WONSAN 29 Mar 50. Transferred from “Peoples Liberation Army” (CCF) to “Peoples Army” 7th Div, 3rd Regt, 1st Bn, 2nd Co, 2nd Plt, 6th Sqd on 29 Mar 50. Trained in Soviet-type close order drill and worked on WONSAN Airfield 2½ months. Hospitalized because of infected jaw at WONSAN 28 May 50. 7th Div meanwhile departed WONSAN leaving PW behind. PW was released from the hospital in the latter part of Jun 50 and departed WONSAN for SEOUL by rail with 10 other men ordered to join 7th Div. Arrived SEOUL about 15 Jun 50. Hospitalized for infected jaw again at SEOUL.

Departed SEOUL 26 Jul 50 with about 300 men by railroad arriving WONJU 27 Jul 50. Departed WONJU 31 Jul 50 marched with about 50 men and 1 Jr Lt (all to be replacements) arrived ANDONG via CHECH’ON, TANYANG, YONGJU about 8 Aug 50. Departed ANDONG 8 Aug 50, marched arrived SUSONG-DONG, 16 Aug 50. Joined his squad (6th Sqd, 2nd Plt, 2nd Co, 1st Bn, 3rd Regt, 7th Div) after reporting to 7th Div Hq there. Attacked by aircraft and shelled by artillery 17 1500 K Aug 50. About half of 2nd Co (20 men) was killed at this time. PW became separated from his unit, wandered aimlessly until he met ROK soldiers at an unknown hill near SUSONG-DONG 18 1500 K Aug 50. PW surrendered immediately.

7th Div CG - CHONG IM (全林) (전림), Maj Gen, age 50-55 yrs

3rd Regt CO - HWANG MYONG SIK (黃明植) (황명식), Maj, age 48.

1st Bn CO - LEE (fnu) (李) (리), Capt, age 40

2nd Co CO - LEE CH’UN KAP (李春甲) (리춘갑), Sr Lt, age 30

2nd Plt ldr - KIM SUNG U (金承雩) (김승우), Jr Lt, age 25, KIA at YOJU in Jul 50.

Saw 5 Soviet officers at WONSAN in Mar 50 at 7th Div Hqtrs. Observed no other foreign elements.

Div - 10,000 men (prior to battle), Regt - 1,700 men, Bn - 500 men, Co - 130 men, Plt - 35 men, Sqd - 12 men. Rifleman armed with Japanese Models 38 & 99 rifles and US M1903 rifles, 80 rounds, 2 grenades. Squad ldrs were originally armed with PPsh submachine guns. These wore cut and were replaced by US rifles M1903. Officers were armed with pistols.

Bn - 8 x US 81mm mortars, 4 x US 60 mm mortars (prior to battle)

Div - 6 x medium artillery pieces, 12 x Jap 45mm guns

Bn - 4 x US .30 cal LMGs, 2 x Jap HMGs

Co - 2 x US 60mm moratrs, 9 x Japanese LMGs

Casualties and losses - 1st Bn, 3rd Regt - 300 men, 4 x 81mm mortars, 2 x 60mm mortars.

Casualties and losses 3rd Regt total unknown, 4 x 2½ ton trucks Replacement of 50 men per Co for 7th Div at YOJU in latter part of Jul 50. Replacement of 9 x PPsh submachine guns plus approx 1,300 rounds for 2nd Co, 1st Bn, 3rd Regt were received at same time. Replacement of 4 men for 7th Div at SUSONG-DONG (16 Aug 50)

3 x Rifle Regts

1 Arty Regt

1 Rear Echelon (Supply) Regt

1 Signal Co

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Rifle Bns.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Rifle Cos

Mortar Company

Automatic Weapons Co

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Platoons (each plt has 3 squads)

Weapons platoon

Observed 8 x medium tanks at WONSAN, Mar 50, attached to 7th Div. Observed 1 x heavy tank with muzzle brake about 6 miles Northeast of SUSONG-DONG (15 Aug 50).

Observed none.

Observed about 100 x 2½ ton trucks at ANDONG (8 Aug 50). Trucks carried ammo and rice.

PW stated that ANDONG (1160-1520) and CHECH’ON (1180-1592) are supply centers.

Objective of 7th Div was P’OHANG-DONG. PW believes that after 17 Aug 50, 7th Div would require about 50% replacements before attempting attack on P’OHANG-DONG. No gas training or gas equipment received.

Observed about 100 guerrillas on 14 Aug 50 about 2 miles southwest of P’OHANG-DONG. Guerrillas were wearing ROK Army uniforms. Driver for 3rd Regt told PW that 4 of the 8 x 2½ ton trucks assigned to 3rd Regt were destroyed by aircraft on 17 Aug 50. Saw Safe Conduct Passes dropped by aircraft over SEOUL 24 Jul 50, but was afraid to pick one up and read it.

When PW rejoined 7th Div on 16 Aug 50 he was informed by his Co Commander and all the men in the 2nd Co, 1st Bn, 3rd Regt that the 7th Div had been redesignated the 12th Div. PW does not know the reason but repeated that there is no 7th Div. It is now the 12th Div. No change has been made in the Div other than that its number has been changed from 7 to 12.

The 7th (12th) Div had originally been the 15th Independent Div of the CCF. It was enlarged in personnel at WONSAN in Mar 50 and named 7th Div because “Peoples Army” already had 1st, 2nd, 3rd 4th, 5th and 6th Divisions. PW has not heard of any regts of the 7th Div being sent to another sector.