ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2392 27 November 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - FWD 0238) 23 November 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | HSIUNG, Suan Chai (熙圥戈) (Chinese) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| AGE: | 29 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | 40th Army, 119 Div, 355 Regt, 3 Bn, 7 Co |
| EDUCATION: | None |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YONG BYON, TOK SON-MYON |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 6 Nov 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | SU CHUAN-SHENG, KWANG, AN-HSIEN LUNG TIER City# ? (咸鏡北道 慶興郡 雄氣面 琵琶洞) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HAMASU (ATIS) |
Information is fairly reliable, however only limited information could be obtained.
Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
Nov 37: Volunteered for the CNA at KWANG AN HSIEN (広安縣) assigned to the 58th Army, 41st Div, 57th Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Co, as a rifleman. Engaged in a number of battles with the Japanese troops.
Nov 49: 58th Army of the CNA was enveloped at LIN SHAN (林山) KWANG HSI-SHENG (廣西縣) by the CCF 40th Army and surrendered en masse. Lived in Prison Camp for one month.
Dec 49: 40th Army (CCF) moved to PEI HAI (北海) with former Nationalist PW's, and they were given training in communism for 2 months.
Feb 50: Former CNA 58th Army men were forced into the CCF 40th Army.
15 Feb 50: PW and the CCF 40th Army moved to the shores of the HAINAN Island (海南島) invaded and conquered the island after a battle which lasted for about 15 days.
Mar 50: 40th CCF Army left HAINAN Island and arrived in ANTUNG by train in the mid part of Apr. Stayed there for about 15 days and fortified the area.
May 50: 119th Div moved to CHI HUNG SHAN (吉紅山) where PW received battle training for two months.
Aug 50: Left CHI HUNG SHAN and came back to ANTUNG in the early part of Sept. Received training on Communist ideologies, and lectures on propaganda.
15 Oct 50: Crossed the YALU River with the 119th Div. Before crossing they were told that the entire 40th Army would follow.
Passed the town of SINUIJU in the dark, and for 6 nights they marched to the battle front. The 119th Div was separated into 3 Regts.
o/a 5 Nov 50: The 355 Regt met ROK troops who retreated. US forces counterattacked and the 355 Regt was routed.
6 Nov 50: PW surrendered.
Unit Organization and Strength:
Original Organization and Strength:
40th Army is composed of 3 Divs. 119th Div, with 355th, 356th, 357th Regts, and three subunits, Mortar Bn, Signal Corps Plat, and medical unit.
355th Regt was made up of the 1st, 2nd, and 3d Rifle bns. 3d Bn consisted of 3 Rifle Cns, one HMG Co and one Mortar Co. 7th Rifle Co had four rifle platoons. Heavy Machine Gun & Mortar Co was composed of 3 HMG Plats and one 82mm Mortar Plat. 2 squads had a HMG, one squad used was to carry the HMG to the location. 119th Div had approx 5,000 men. 355th Regt had approx 1,500 men. 3d Bn had approx 400 men. 7th Co had approx 160 men.
Equipment: (As of 15 Oct 50)
Inf Plats - Two LMGs to a plat. The rest all had confiscated nationalist rifles most, of them US made.
Mortar Bn - Directly attached to 119th Div. 3 mortars, (120 mm)
Inf Bns - one anti tank rifle (US made)
Communication:
From Bn level and above there were telephones and wireless telegraphs to relay messages to other units.
Morale & Propaganda:
Morale of PW’s unit was low chiefly because the men were reluctant from the start to join the CCF. Many of them, attempted to desert the CCF during the early part of the campaign, anti many of these were shot.
4. GENERAL INFORMATION:One North Korean was attached to each Co of the CCF as a guide and interpreter. These Koreans were with the CCF right from the start. They wore enlisted men’s clothing. Crossed the YALU River with CCF and stayed with their respective companies all through the campaign.
The chain of command is believed to be the same now as it was prior to crossing the YALU River.
The unit was and still is fighting a defensive battle.
Individually speaking, PW doesn’t believe that they were voluntary units tn fight in the Korean service, however, the commanders of his unit continually reiterated that the 40th Army was a volunteer unit in the Korean campaign.
Men were not instructed to appear to be volunteers if captured however, they were told time and again by their respective commanders that they were all volunteers.
PW does not believe that part of his unit has integrated into Korean units.
There were Japanese in the CCF, however the majority of them are believed to be doctors and apprentices (SIC).
From recruits to squad leader, the monthly pay was 10,000 Yuan (Manchurian currency) however, it increases from thereon (increase Unk).
For the Commanding Officer:
GERARD
