ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 975 11 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0726) 8 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHO Se Jin (趙世鎭) (조세진) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 680 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 28 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | Div and Regt unk, 3rd Bn, 2nd Co, 1st Plt, 1st Sqd |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 1149.7-1460.7 |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 5 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KANGWONDO, HEONGSONG GUN, KONGKUN MYON, SANG DONG #178 (江原道 橫城郡 公根面 上洞 一七八番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | KANGWONDO, HEONGSONG GUN, KONGKUN MYON, SANG DONG #178 (江原道 橫城郡 公根面 上洞 一七八番地) |
| INTERROGATOR: | S/Sgt LEE (FEAF) |
Attitude cooperative. Civil occupations: Farming in HOENGSONG since PW was 15 years old. PW with 3 other soldiers didn’t care to fight, so deserted his unit at approx 050800 Sep 50 in area 6 km N of CHILGOK (漆谷). PW traveled approx 5 km toward his rear area and was pinned down by rifle fire. PW claimed that he and his two companions had no arms or ammunition and were very scared. PW also claims that even if he had arms, he wouldn't know how to use them. After hearing American voices and no firing he and his two companions raised their hands and surrendered to US troops. PW is not recommended for further interrogation at higher headquarters
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:PW was taken from his home in HEONGSONG (橫城) against his will on 11 Jul 50 and was marched with 10 others from his home area to HONG CH'ON (洪川), 9 km due N of HEONGSONG. Arrived 11 Jul 50. PW was inducted 11 Jul 50 and spent 11 days at HEONGSONG. doing nothing until a force of approx 300 was recruited. PW with 300 others left HONGCHON on 22 Jul 50 for WONJU (原州). Arrived 23 Jul 50. PW received 1 day of training consisting of close order drill and physical training. After his one day or training, PW claimed that because of US bombers and fighter aircraft strafing the WONJU Area, the recruits spent most of the day in the hills and returned to their base in WONJU at approx 1700 hrs. PW claimed that the bombing of WONJU was very effective. Many civilians living in WONJU were killed and wounded. None of the newly recruited soldiers were killed or wounded because they took to the hills during the day and returned at night. PW claimed that there were approx 1,000 new recruits at WONJU. PW claims that regardless of the number of people killed in the WONJU Area from our effective bombing the sentiment of the people was pro-UN. They also felt that eventually the UN forces will win this war.
PW left WONJU 3 Aug 50 with approx 1,000 new men - walked - arrived CHECH’ON (堤川) 5 Aug 50. Left CHECH'ON 6 Aug 50 walked, arrived TANYANG (丹陽) 9 Aug. Left TANYANG 10 Aug 50 - walked - arrived YONJU (榮州) 13 Aug 50. Left YONJU 14 Aug 50 - walked - arrived ANDONG (安東) 17 Aug 50. Left ANDONG 18 Aug 50 - walked - arrived UISONG (義城) 22 Aug 50. The 1,000 replacements that came with PW to UISONG were sent out to different units. 240 replacements with PW were sent from UISONG to CH’ILGOK (漆谷) N of TAEGU front. PW left UISONG on the 23 Aug 50 and walked - arrived CH’ILGOK Area 3 Sep 50.
Unit organization & strength - unknown.
Original organization and strength unknown.
Actual battle organization and strength:
3rd Bn strength at time of PW’s capture approx 2,000 men.
2nd Co strength at time of PW’s capture approx 70 men.
1st Plt strength approx 20 men.
1st Sqd strength approx 7 men.
Equipment:
M1891/30 rifle, sqd leaders carried PPsh M1941 SMG, officers carried TT M1933 TOKAREV pistol. 3rd Bn consisted of 3 MAXIM HMG Mi910 (oh Sokolov mount), 2 ea RG-42 offensive handgrenade or F-1 Defensive hand grenade. 3rd Bn had 1 x 82mm M1943 mortar. 3rd Bn also had 1 x 107mm M1938 mt mortar. PW also saw 2 GAZ-51 trucks in rear area of 3rd Bn. Food situation critical. Food gathered from farmers in exchange for money at times, but mostly taken from formers by force.
Disposition - unknown.
Communications:
Trails and roads from WONJU to UISONG were in fair condition. PW observed that bridges were bombed all along the line from WONJU area to UISONG. However new bridges were built with logs just below the water level making air observation very difficult.
Intentions:
To take TAEGU.
Morale:
Morale of PW's sqd very low, at time of capture. PW claims all wanted to surrender but were afraid that they would be shot by the UN forces. Also that punishment would be handed out to the deserter's family and their farm land would be taken away from them by the People's Committee.
REMARKS:
PW does not know the names of commanders from the battalion through squad. PW knew that they were being used as cannon fodder so that was one of his reasons for deserting his unit. PW claims that he heard that our propaganda leaflets dropped by planes were very effective with troops recruited below the 38° parallel. No airfields seen or under construction. No NK supporting fighter aircraft seen.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
