ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2301 18 November 1950
FIELD REPORT (521 - MISD - 0244) 14 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | KO, Won Moon (高元文) (고원문) |
| PW NO: | #294 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 71st Regt (568th Unit?), 2nd Bn, 6th Co |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YONGHUNG NI (永興里) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 7 Nov 50 by 17th RCT |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | PYONG AN NAMDO, RYONG ANG GUN, RYONG ANG MYON, CHANG ANG RI. (平安南道 龍岡郡 龍岡面 長岩里) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt SASAKI |
PW was cooperative.
Reliability: Fair
Education: Primary School (6 yrs)
Length of Service: 4 mos and 1 week
Physical Condition: Good
3. MILITARY HISTORY:2 Jul 50- - PW departed PYONGYANG together with 245 recruits for the 568th Unit.
4 Jul 50 - This group (245 men) arrived at NANAM (羅南) and were assigned to the different units of the 568th Unit.
O/a Jul 50 - PW was engaged in combat training, which was conducted by platoons. This training lasted for about 2 weeks.
Early Aug 50 - The 2nd Bn started issuing rifles to the men. About 15 rds of ammo were issued with each rifle. The men started firing practice and combat training by squads.
O/a 22 Aug 50 - Due to bombing raids the 2nd Bn moved to a farming village located mid-way between NANAM and CHONGJIN (淸津). The Bn was not engaged in any work. They slept in the village during the night and returned to bomb shelters during the day.
O/a 5 Oct 50 - The 2nd Bn with the exception of the 5th Co which departed on 4 Oct 50, departed NANAM by train and arrived at KILCHU (吉州) about 5 days later. From there they marched to KAPSAN (甲山).
O/a 30 Oct 50 - The Bn minus the 5th Co arrived at KAPSAN. It marched on to YONGHUNG NI (永興里) arriving there on 31 Oct 50. That night the Bn was preparing to move out of YONGHUNG NI to go into action in that area, and PW and another deserted.
7 Nov 50 - Hearing that UN troops had entered YONGHUNG NI. PW and his friend returned after spending about 7 days 1n the near by mountains and surrendered.
4. PERSONALITIES:| NAME | RANK | AGE | POSITION |
| SO, Tae Bong (徐泰鳳) | Sr Lt | 35 | 2nd Bn CO during the period PW was in the unit. |
| LEE, Yong GOL (李永傑) | Capt | 36 | 2nd Bn cultural Officer during the period PW was in the unit. |
| CHAE, Hak Son (崔學善) | Jr Lt | 32 | Co of 6th Co |
| LEE, Song Dok (李成德) | Lt | 25 | Cultural officer of 6th Co |
During the period mid Jul to mid Sep PW observed 2 Russian advisors and about 5 Russian soldiers billeted in NANAM.
6. WEAPONS AND PERSONNEL:The 568th Unit consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Inf Bns. The 2nd Bn consisted of the 4th, 5th, 6th, HMG, and 120mm gun Cos. In addition there was a communication Plat, a medical Plat, a food supply Plat, and a Bn guard Plat,
The strength of the Bn was approx 500 officers and men as of 30 Oct 50. There was a lack of officers and some NCOs were used as Plat leaders.
The Bn with the exception of the 5th Co was last observed preparing to move from YONGHUNG NI on 31 Oct 50,
PW observed 2/120mm guns, 1 horse cart and 6 HMGs in the 2nd Bn. In each squad there was one LMG and each man was armed with a rifle. The members of the Bn guard Plat were armed with sub-machine guns. The Co commanders and the Bn commanders carried pistols, Each man had approx 45 rds of rifle ammunition and 2 hand grenades, but PW did not know the amount of ammo for the heavier weapons.
There was very little medicine and few bandages in the Med Plat.
The arms and ammunition were issued at NANAM in Sep 50.
7. ARMOUR:O/a 25 Sep 50 PW observed 2 Russian medium tanks being covered with camouflage at NANAM. He saw these tanks from a distance of about 500m and could not give detailed information.
8. MORALE:Many of the troops in the 2nd Bn, believed that the UN forces would soon be victorious and were glad that the UN forces had come to the aid of South Korea. PW observed surrender leaflets being dropped at NANAM but has not read any.
9. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:The medics in the 2nd Bn were no arm bands and carried carbines.
PW observed only iodine being carried by the medics and used bandages were reused.
For the A C of S,G-2:
SHORT
