ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 797 28 August 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0600) 25 August 1950
| Name: | KIM CHAE HWANG (金在璜) (김재황) |
| Rank: | Jr Lt |
| Age: | 24 |
| Orgn: | 1st Div, 1st Regt, 3rd Plt, 3rd Co, 3rd Plt |
| Duties with Unit: | Rifle Platoon Ldr |
| Education: | Primary School (6 yrs) |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Address: | HAMGYONG NAMDO, HONGWON GUN, SAMHO MYON, HAECH’ONG-NI, #91 (咸鏡南道 洪原郡 三湖面 海靑里 九一番地) |
| Date & Place Captured: | 25 Aug 50, vicinityh of KASAN-MYON (1150-1450) |
| Interrogator: | M/Sgt AVISON |
Cooperative, information appears reliable insofar as PW could remember dates, movements, and activities. PW uncertain about some details.
Military History:Inducted 8 Oct 48, CHINAMP’O (鎭南浦) into 4th Independent Mixed Brigade. Trained as rifleman for 2 months.
Tactical Movements:Departed CHINAMP’O 1 Dec 48 - railroad - arrived P’YONGYANG Dec 48. Attended 1st Officers Training School - 10 months. Studied in antry tactics. Graduated 2 Oct 49. Appointed Jr Lt, NKPA.
Departed P’YONGYANG Oct 49 - railroad - arrived SINUIJU 4 Oct 49. Assigned to 6th Div, 14th Regt, 1st Bn, 3rd Co, 3rd Plt as Plt Ldr.
Departed SINUIJU Jan 50 with entire 14th Regt, 6th Div - railroad - arrived NAMCH’ONJON (南川) 15 Jun 50. Upon arrival, 14th Regt, 6th Div transferred to 1st Div and called 1st Regt, 1st Div.
Departed NAMCH’ONJON 23 Jun 50 with entire 1st Div - marched - attacked ROK 25 Jun 50 - proceeded fighting until arrived SEOUL 29 Jun 50
Departed SEOUL 30 Jun 50 - marched - arrived MUNG’YONG (聞慶) (1100-1540) o/a 29 Jul 50
Departed MUNG’YONG o/a 29 Jul 50 - marched - (& fought) - arrived HAMCH’ANG (咸昌) o/a 3 Aug 50
Departed HAMCH’ANG o/a 18 Aug 50 - marched - arrived KUNWI (軍威) (1150-1480) 20 Aug 50
Departed KUNWI 21 Aug 50 - marched - arrived KASAN 22 Aug 50
1st Regt, 1st Div attacked ROK unit 23 0500 Aug 50 in vicinity of KASAN-MYON. Fight continued on 25 Aug 50. PW became convinced that NKPA would eventually lose, so he took 5 Pvts from his plt (3rd Plt, 3rd Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt) and attempted to surrender with them. However ROK soldiers continued firing, wounding PW so the 5 Pvts ran away at 25 0100 Aug 50. PW managed to surrender to ROK soldiers 25 1000 Aug 50.
Personalities:1st Regt, 1st Div C.O. - HWANG SOK (黃石) (황석), Col, age about 40, formerly with CCF
3rd Bn, 1st Regt C.O. - AN MYONG SIK (安明植) (안명식), Maj age 29, formerly with CCF
3rd Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt C.O. - LEE PONG KYUN (李鳳均) (리봉균) Sr Lt, age 32
1st Plt, 3rd Co, 3rd Bn, Plt ldr - KIM HAK KYONG (金㶅境) (김학경) Jr Lt, age 27, formerly with CCF
2nd Plt, 3rd Co, 3rd Bn, Plt ldr - LEE UI HO (李義鎬) (리의호), Jr Lt, age 27
3rd Plt ldr, PW
MG Plt, 3rd Co, 3rd Bn, Plt ldr - KIM SHI HWANG (김시황), Jr Lt, age 28
3rd Co, 3rd Bn, Political Officer - HAN YONG UNG (韓龍雄) (한용웅), Jr Lt, age 29
1st Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt CO - CH’OE SUNG KUK (崔勝國) (최승국) Sr Lt, age unknown
2nd Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt CO - CHON CH’O PONG (全草鳳) (전초봉) Sr Lt, age unknown, formerly with CCF
Foreign Elements:None observed.
Weapons and Personnel:1st Div - 9,000 men (25 Aug 50). Riflemen had average of 50 rds left per man in 3rd Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt (25 Aug 50). Mortar Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Regt had 6 x 82mm mortars left (25 Aug 50). 1st Div had 4 x medium tanks and 9 x light tanks left at KUNWUI (21 Aug 50). 1st Regt had 4 x 122mm and 3 x 76 mm artillery pieces left (21 Aug 50). 1st Div had 8 x 2 1/2 ton trucks (21 Aug 50).
Losses - 1st Regt, 2,400 men (80% of original strength), 50% of the rifles, 3 x 82mm mortars, 50% of HMGs, 12 x 2 1/2 ton trucks, 12 horses and carts.
Replacements: 80% of 1st Regt (strength 3,000 men 25 Aug 50) were replacements. 1st Regt received 400 replacements from NORTH KOREA at HAMCH’ANG o/a 18 Aug 50, 600 replacements from NORTH KOREA, KASAN 24 Aug 50. Approximately 1,400 (conscripted) South Koreans were sent piecemeal as replacements from rear echelon as 1st Div proceeded southward.
Supplies:Last received food and rifle ammunition - KUNWI 20 Aug 50. 1st Regt completely out of rice and other food (24 Aug 50).
Enemy Intentions:Objective of 1st Div was TAEGU, attacking from the North. 15th Div, to the east of 1st Div, was to attack south, then move west, joining 1st Div in the attack on TAEGU. 13th Div, to the west of 1st Div, was to attack TAEGU from the west.
No gas equipment observed. No gas training received NAMCH’ONJOM Jun 50. PW informed by Co CO that gas equipment available from Rear Echelon of 1st Div.
Additional Information:SINUIJU Airfield being used as rifle range and basic training center (Jun 50). Observed band of 15 guerrillas MUN’GYONG o/a 29 Jul 50. Morale of men very low because they lacked training, food, weapons and ammunition.
Signed TARKENTON/WALKER
