ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1537 30 September 1950
FIELD REPORT (521 - MISD - 0079) 27 September 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KANG, Te Hyon (姜泰痃) (강태현) |
| PW NO: | 2665 |
| RANK: | Lt |
| DUTY: | Ass’t Co Commander (2nd Co) |
| UNIT: | Ind RR Regt |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | NAMSAN (南山) SEOUL |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 23 Sep 50 |
| BY: | 32nd RCT |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KANGWON DO, SONG KUN, SO MYON, PEKCHONKYO RI (江原道 高城郡 西面 百川橋里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | KANGDO SONG, YONGKIL SHI, CHANGPEK SAN, MUNHA RO (間島省 延吉市 長白廂 文化聞 (滿洲)) |
| INTERROGATOR BY: | Cpl TANAKA |
PW was cooperative and observant. Information is considered reliable. Recommended for further interrogation on MANCHURIA and CHINA.
3. CHRONOLOGY:Source was drafted into the Japanese Army in Aug 44 and served in MANCHURIA until the end of the war. He then returned to ENGETSU (延吉), MANCHURIA and unable to find employment, volunteered for the HO AN DAN (保安團), a CCF Unit. In Aug 46, this unit was combined with others in fanning a Railroad Unit at KICHIRIN (吉林), MANCHURIA. The unit was successively stationed at BOTANKO (牧丹江), TOMON (圖門), and MUKEDN (幕天). In HOBE (保部), MANCHURIA, in Mar 49, the strength of the unit had grown to 4,500 men.
The unit was transferred to CHINA in Apr 49 and engaged in RR repair between TIENTSIN (天津) and NANKING (南京) and PEIPING (北平) and NANKING.
On or about 20 Jul 50, the RR Regt (all Koreans) was ordered to go to KOREA by the Korean Supreme Commander, Lt Gen KIM Il Son, whose Hq was in PYONGYANG (平壤). Their purpose was to defend NK, which had been invaded by troops from the ROK. Upon receipt of these orders, the regt moved from CHINA thru MANCHURIA to PYONGYANG, arriving on 25 Jul 50. The strength of the unit at this time had been reduced to about 2,500 men due mostly to ill health. Regt left PYONGYANG on 28 Jul 50 and travelling by rail and by foot reached SEOUL on the 6th or 7th Aug 50. Source was appointed a Jr Lt at SEOUL.
The regimental strength was increased to about 3,000 men through the addition of inductees. The 1st Bn was sent to the vicinity of TAEJON (大田), the 2nd Bn to PUKHAN GAN (北漢江), the 3rd Bn remained in SEOUL, while the 4th Bn went to HONGCHOH GAN (洪川江) to do some bridge repair work. On 17 Sep 50, the 4th Bn was ordered to return to SEOUL to participate in the defense of the city. The 3rd Bn was also committed in this action. In this action, source received a direct order to kill anyone attempting to desert. Despite this, many of the troops under the command of this PW deserted.
4. PERSONALTIES:| NAME: | HOU, Il Kwon (許一權) (허일권) |
| AGE: | 29 |
| RANK: | Maj |
| POSITION: | CO (4th Bn) |
| NAME: | CHO, Sun Jo (曺善祖) (조선조) |
| AGE: | 27 |
| RANK: | Capt |
| POSITION: | CO (2nd Co, 4th Bn) |
Source states that there have never been any Russian officers attached to the RR Regt. He also states that the former 7th and 8th Div of the 8th CCF Route Army (all Koreans) are presently engaged at TAEGU (大邱).
6. CODE NUMBERS:IND RR REGT -- 584
7. WEAPONS:In addition to the rifle and 50 rds of ammo carried by each member of the regt, each bn was armed with 2/HMG, 8/LMG 1/AT Rifle. The rifles were of Japanese Type 99 (used).
8. MORALE:The morale of the RR Regt was low because of the many UN bombing and strafing raids.
9. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Hq of the RR Regt was in SEOUL.
Source believes that NKA troops will attempt to defend the 38th parallel, but that neither RUSSIA nor CHINA will give any assistance.
While in CHINA, PW states that he spoke with former Japanese Army personnel who were in the 3rd CCF Army, He estimates there are about 1,000 such personnel, including many officers serving as company and battalion CO’s and about 60 nurses.
In May 49, PW states that he hteard the CCF is divided into four armies of 5,000,000 men and 40 to 50 tanks each.
In May 50, he heard that the 1st and 2nd Armies were near HAINAN (海南) while the 3rd and 4th Armies were stationed from HONG KONG to SHANGHAI.
For the AC of S, G-2:
SHORT
