Ollie E. Chapman│John F. Allen│John Newton Jr.│George W. Kephart│George D. Calender│James R. King│Jimmie A. Montoya│William H. Jones
ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1749 9 October 1950
The following American PsW interrogated upon their arrival in Japan form Korea by Central Interrogation Center ATIS. Interrogations were conducted at the 128th Station Hospital by Lts Nunley and Garrett.
Information possessed by these men is as follows:
1. Ollie E. Chapman SFC RA 19255721, Co L, 19th Inf.Soldier was captured 12 Sep 50 near Pohang. He was interrogated that same day in the afternoon by a Russian Capt. This Capt was evidently attached to the Hqs of the Div which made the capture. Russian told prisoner that they knew everything about him. This was the only time PW was questioned by a Russian. He believes he saw a Russian at NK 2nd Corps Hq at Kumchon. This person was about 6'4", had Caucasian features and a heavy Russian accent when speaking. The Russian Capt at Div Hqs was about 6 ft, very pale, had close-cut black hair and high cheek bones. He was very military and volunteered no information.
PW was told by a NK interrogator, Maj Kim Mi Suh, that Maj Gen Dean had been captured, had escaped and had been apprehended by NK police, dressed as a civilian in a column of refugees trying to get to Taegu. Maj Kim said that Gen Dean was then carried to Pyongyang.
Prisoner stated that the NKVD organization had an office in every town.
2. John F. Allen Pfc RA 11191221, Co M, 29th InfNorth Korean officers (Majs and Capts) told this PW how the NKPA normally conducted an attack. These officers said that the first wave of assault troops carried the sub-machine guns; the second wave was usually armed with rifles, hand-grenades, and sub-machine guns. When attacking, the rifleman stayed near a sub-machine gunner so that if this man was wounded the rifleman could take over. Field observers of NK FA did not stay with the supported infantry but preferred to direct fire from the flank of the enemy.
PW stated that the NK's usually defended a town with four defense lines.
He saw NK troops with tripods attached to their backs. when these men hit the grund the machine guns were mounted and fired with man acting as a tripod brace.
North Koreans actually believed that they would be assisted by Chinese Communists and Russians in the event they had to withdraw.
Source states that the rear echelon of the NKPA was always in state of confusion. Most of the work was done by civilians (supply, etc).
3. John Newton Jr. SFC Co D, 23rd Inf.Subject stated that all PsW were asked if they could speak Japanese or Russian. Their guard was Japanese and other Japanese worked for the North Koreans.
The NKs stated that no Russian help was being received but the CCF was on the border of Manchuria and should American forces continue into N Korea the CCF would render aid.
Communication to the rear and to adjacent aras was very bad. Captured American communication equipment was being used extensively. The Arty and Mortar forward observers were field grade officers.
All PsW were asked if they were pilots. NKs stated they had many planes but few pilots.
A NK civilian doctor believed there were PW camps in the Pyongyang area.
When the Sgt was captured, he was completely exhausted but after smoking a cigarette given him by a NK soldier, he felt rested. Sgt thinks the cigarettes might contain a narcotic.
4. George W. Kephart Pvt Co K, 29th InfSoldier spent his time of internment as a jeep driver. NKs were badly in need of drivers and mechanics as well as vehicles. Most drivers were officers of company grade.
He was told by a NK soldier that for each five men in a squad there was one lone rifle, one short rifle, and three sub-machine guns.
5. George D. Calender Sgt Med Co, 3rd Bn, 29th InfA NK officer told the Sgt that he had been trained in Russia and expected to return to a camouflage school. Stated that Korea was only a part of the world revolt.
Observed women, supposedly nurses, wearing green uniforms and carrying rifles. They were doing patrol duty in Hadong. No medical equipment was observed.
6. James R. King SFC Hq & Hq Co, 38th InfSoldier stated he was interrogated near the Naktong River by a Russian Capt and then by A NK General. Believes about 35% of the NK unit he observed were SKs.
Usually a lone building, apart from the town, was chosen as the headquarters building.
7. Jimmie A. Montoya Cpl Co B, 23rd InfSoldier reports that while being treated by a NK doctor, the doctor mentioned having treated Gen Dean in a PW camp near Seoul. Stated the Gen was in command of PsW in that area.
8. William H. Jones Sgt Co D, 23rd InfNorth Koreans said that a Chinese Communist Army was massed along the Manchurian border ready to assist the NK.
Subject believes that the NK Army was extremely short of lubricant Gasoline was of extremely low quality.
North Koreans paid no attention to uniform regulation - many wore civilian clothes beneath their uniforms.
North Koreans did not conserve their ammunition - they usually fired at dogs and birds or any other target in a haphazard manner.
Believed that North Koreans killed all the male population in a village near the PW camp at Namwon. Saw one SK about 14 years old with both arms and both legs cut off and both eyes gouged out.
NOTE: Seventy six (76) other Americans who had been captured by the North Koreans were interrogated at the hospital but possessed no information. Their names and organizations are on file at Central Interrogation Center if needed.
For CO, TIS:
AURELL
