ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1470 29 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0904) 25 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | LEE, Kun Sop (李軍燮) (이군섭) |
| PW NO: | None |
| RANK: | Lt (中尉) |
| AGE: | 26 |
| DUTY: | Asst CO of AT Gun Co |
| UNIT: | 105th Div, 849th Regt, 3rd Bn, 1st AT Gun Co |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School (6 years) |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YAK MOK (若木) 8 km of WAEGWAN (1130-1450) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 21 Sep 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG NAMDO, HAMHUNG-Shi POKBU CHONG #150 (咸鏡北道 咸興市 福父町 - 30番地) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | NAGAO (FEAF) |
PW surrendered to US Forces with a Safe Conduct Pass. PW spoke freely but his knowledge of military information was limited to his immediate unit. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:a. Chronology:
12 May 50 - PW was conscripted into the army at P’YONGYANG and received 2 weeks basic infantry training. He was then detailed to work on the construction of Military Academy in P’YONGYANG for a period of 2 weeks. PW was assigned to the 849th Regt and received infantry training for a period of 3 weeks.
15 Aug 50 - PW commissioned Lt (中尉) and departed P’YONGYANG as an asst Co of the 1st AT Gun Co, 3rd Bn, 849th Regt.
17 Sep 50 - Arrived KUMCH’ON (金泉) via SEOUL, WONJU (原州), TANYANG (丹陽), YECH’ON (醴泉) and SANGJU (尙州). The 849th Regt was known as a replacement unit with a strength of approximately 400 men. Departed P’YONGYANG on 13 trucks but en route to KUMCH’ON, the truck convoy was attacked by aircraft many times and 5 trucks and 5 men were lost.
Immediately upon arrival in KUMCH’ON, Regt was assigned to the 105th Div and remained in KUMCH’ON for 3 days. During this period, they were again attacked by aircraft and lost 5 more trucks.
20 Sep 50 - The 400 men of the 849th Regt were divided into two groups of 200 men. PW does not know where the other group was assigned. The original 849th Regt, composed of 200 men, departed in the evening.
21 Sep 50 - Arrived YAK MOK (若木) about 0400 hrs. About 0600 hrs, the CO’s of the 849th Regt, 2nd Bn, 3rd Bn, and all company commanders and platoon leaders deserted their troops and proceeded to the rear on a truck.
PW was in command of the 1st AT Gun Co which was composed of 35 men. They were attacked by 3 fighter aircraft and dug in under a wooden bridge. About 1100 hrs, US troops arrived and the 35 men came out with a white flag and surrendered en-massa.
b. Last Known Composition of Unit:
80 men were captured by US troops and PW believes the majority of other troops who refused to surrender were killed.
c. Equipment:
PW heard that the 849th Regt was originally equipped with 10 x 57-mm AT Guns but they were destroyed or captured before the Regt arrived at YAK MOK (若木).
The 1st AT Gun Co was equipped with 9 x 14.5-Siminov PTRS-41 AT Rifles but they were captured by US Forces. They had only 2 boxes of ammunition for these rifles and PW states that nobody in the Con knew how to handle these antitank rifles because they were never trained to fire them.
The 1st AT Gun Co had 20 rifles with 4 rounds each.
d. Unit History:
The 849th Regt was activated in P’YONGYANG 15 Aug 50. Further details unknown.
e. Disposition:
PW heard that the 105th Div CP was retreating toward KUMCH’ON and that the 849th Regt CP accompanied the Div CP 21 Sep 50.
f. Intentions:
The 849th Regt was ordered to advance and prevent US tanks from coming through at YAK MOK (若木).
e. Personalities:
849th Regt CO: Col(大佐) KIM, Kyong Mo (김경모) PW heard that Col KIM was formerly with the 8th Route Army. He became the CO of the 849th Regt when it was activated in P’YONGYANG 15 Aug 50.
3rd Bn CO: Capt (總尉) LEE Tong Hi (리동희). Also from 8th Route Army.
1st AT Gun Co CO: Lt (中尉) KIM, Chung Hang (김중항)
h. Morale and Propaganda:
The morale of the 849th Regt was very low because they were raw conscripts who were ill-trained and inexperienced. PW heard from friends, while stationed in P’YONGYANG, that his home town of HAMHUNG was completely burned and his entire family was killed in an air raid. PW had doubts about winning the war because the NKPA did not possess any aircraft to counter the US Air Force.
All the platoon loaders and company commanders were formerly with the Communist 8th Route Army and were firmly convinced that the war would be won by the NKPA, but they were the first ones to retreat when they encountered the enemy forces.
PW saw US propaganda leaflets many times near KUMCH’ON and he believes that they were very effective in bringing about the surrender of conscripts.
PW heard the officers say that the NKPA treated the PsW of the ROK Forces and US Forces royally but the ROK Forces had a policy of killing all PsW.
4. GENERAL:PW heard that the monetary exchange rate was 1 NK WON for 8 ROK WON.
PW saw US leaflets which stated that the UN troops had made a successful landing at INCH’ON 16 Sep 50. The troops were not allowed to discuss it but PW believes that it was effective in lowering morale.
For the Commanding Officer:
WEELDREYER
Executive
