ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1403 27 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0673) 22 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | O Cha Hong (吳滋弘) (오자홍) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 3615 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 20 |
| DUTY: | Cook |
| UNIT: | 1st Div, Recon Do |
| EDUCATION: | Seoul University (1 yr) |
| OCCUPATION: | Student |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | At MASI DONG (馬시洞) 13km S of KUNWI (軍威) (1150-1480) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 17 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KYONGGI DO, KAESONG, TONGHYON DONG, #101 (京畿道開城試銅峴洞一0一番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | SEOUL, TONGDAE MUNKU, HOEGI DONG #34/54 (서울市東大門区回基洞五四斗三四) |
| INTERROGATOR: | KAJIWARA (FEAF) |
This PW seemed intelligent and well informed. He appeared to answer all questions freely. Although he is a S Korean he frankly stated that he volunteered for the NKPA because he thought communism was a good form of govt. At present he feels different toward communism.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
| 8 Jul 50: | Inducted into the NKPA Volunteer Corps and left SEOUL. |
| 15 Jul 50: | Became a part of the NKPA at MUN'GYONG (聞慶). Marched to MUN’GYONG from SEOUL. Here the PW was assigned to the Recon Co of the 1st Div. |
| 15 Jul 50: | The 1st Div moved on foot to HAMCH'ANG (咸昌). |
| O/a 17 Jul 50: | The Div met heavy resistance on the approach to HAMCH'ANG. The battle lasted about 3 days. He believes over one Co was lost in this battle. The Div was constantly under air attack. No moves were made during the day. |
| O/a 20 Jul 50: | Occupied HAMCH'ANG. |
| O/a 22 Jul 50: | Div moved to a point 14 km NW of KUNWI, where slight ROK resistance was met. |
| O/a 23 Jul 50: | PW's Div occupied KUNWI for 5 days. The main elements of the 1st Div was at the front located about 4-5 km S of KUNWI. KUNWI was under arty fire from ROK units. |
| O/a 28 Jul 50: | Arrived at MASA DONG (馬사洞) located about 6 km S of KUNWI. The Div was in this vicinity for about ten days, then advanced to SUDONG (壽洞) about 9 km S of KUNWI. |
| O/a 10 Aug 50: | 1st Div advanced to MAEGOK TONG (梅谷洞) about 11 km S of KUNWI. Div met heavy resistance all the way and was stopped by ROK forces for about 15 days at MAEGOK TONG. |
| O/a 25 Aug 50: | Arrived at KASAN-DONG (架山洞). One of the fiercest battles was fought at KASAN-DONG. The 1st Div once occupied KASAN-DONG (架山洞) and then lost it. Again reoccupied the town. |
| O/a 30 Aug 50: | KASAN secured by 1st Div. |
| O/a 2 Sep 50: | The 1st Div advanced to a point 5 km S of KASAN and in the face of a counter-attack, the 1st Div retreated. |
| O/a 9 Sep 50: | Retreated to a valley 2.5 km N of MAEGOK TONG. At KASAN DONG the 1st Div fought US and English troops for the first time. |
| O/a 17 Sep 50: | At this point near MAEGOK TONG the PW's Recon Co area was overrun by UN troops, but PW was at that time in a town called MASI Dong (馬시洞) (about 13 km S of KUNWI) when he was captured. PW states that on 17 Sep 50 the fighting strength of the 1st Div was down to about 3,000. The Div received replacements from around 1 Sep 50 at the rate of 60 to 80 troops a week. These replacements were all from N KOREA and had only been trained for about 3 to 5 days near the front before joining the combat units on the line. PW heard that the Div had lost 3 pieces (75mm Field guns) and 2 tanks by 17 Sep 50. |
Unit Organization and Strength:
As of 28 Aug 50 the strength of one of the Div's three Regts was about 500, but at the time of PW's capture on 17 Sep 50 he estimated that the Regt'l strength had increased to 650 through the arrival of replacements.
Equipment:
Strength of Arty Regt as of 17 Sep 50 follows:
5 or 6 × 75mm guns
2 × 105mm Howitzers
4 × 45mm AT guns
3 × 152mm Howitzers
In the Div there were 2 × 155mm Howitzers which were not a part of the Div Arty. Required 2 men to carry the shells. Mechanized Bn (attached to the Div not organic) 9 × T-34/85 tanks, believes about 6 left. 3 × JS-3 tanks, believes 3 left. 7 × self-propelled guns with small calibre cannon (25mm) mounted on chassis similar to T-34.
Other Units:
The 15th Div and the 8th Div were to the first Div′s left flank at the time of PW's capture. The 13th Div was on the right flank.
Intentions:
The objective of the four Divs was to capture TAEGU. However, the 15th and 8th Divs on the right flank were understrength and could not advance according to schedule. The 1st Div reinforced the 15th and 8th Divs with 3 Bns on 13 Sep 50. Meanwhile the 1st Div was to hold its front as a holding Div until the 8th and 15th Div could move abreast of the 1st and 13th Divs. The 1st Div, less 3 Bns, had to retreat in face of UN counter-attacks.
Supply:
The 1st Div supply depots were located near the town of KUNWI (1150-1480) and along the road to SUDONG (1150-1460). Ammo and food was hand carried or taken by ox cart to the front lines form KUNWI by S Korean civilians during broad daylight.
Communications:
Recon patrols made verbal reports after their missions.
Morale and Propaganda:
The intense artillery fire, lack of food and no evidence of NKPA aircraft kept morale low.
PW saw US surrender leaflets. When he first saw the leaflets, the morale of the troops was high because of the successes of the Div. The PW and other troops had no desire to surrender. Even at present in face of UN successes, PW does not think NKPA troops desire to surrender. It was rumored among NKPA troops that the US may use the Atom bomb.
4. GENERAL:1. Although this PW is a S Korean he was indifferent to the NKPA occupation and joined the Volunteer Army. During the early days of the war he was confident that the NKPA would win the war.
2. He heard of the INCH'ON (仁川) landing before he was captured. No noticeable effect on morale.
3. When the Div neared the TAEGU front the cooks were warned of a cholera epidemic and were cautioned on the preparation of food. All water used in the company mess was sterilized with tablets. However, all troops were not issued purification tablets for their personal use. No innoculations were given.
4. Prior to capture, PW heard rumors that the 1st Div was to withdraw from the T'AEGU (大邱) front, but did not know where the Div was to be moved. He heard the Div was to go to the rear.
5. At the time of capture, 17 Sep 50, the Div Hqs was located about 11 km South of KUNWI.
6. PW observed 9 US PsW at KASAN-DONG on 8 Sep 50. These US PsW stopped at the mess for the night. They were enroute to SEOUL PW camp. PW talked to these US PsW. He stated they were all EM and when they were shot down by AA MG fire. PW thought they were ground force troops, but they told him they were Air Corps. They had no insignia, but wore one piece fatigues. They stated their names, but PW has forgotten them. They appeared to have been treated fairly well. No evidence of beatings and they were given the same rations as NKPA troops. They ate very little rice but they ate all the meat that was given to them.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
