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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2705　13 December 1950

The following information was obtained from recovered American Military personnel, who were interrogated upon their arrival in JAPAN from KOREA by Central Interrogation Center, ATIS. Interrogation was conducted at Tokyo General Hospital by Lt NUNLEY.

Source observed two Russian soldiers in a jeep o/a 21 Nov 50. He was not able to say positively, but believes they were officers. Place of observation was thought to be about 15 miles south of PYOKTONG.

Although source was seriously wounded, he received no medical treatment other than clean bandages. He said one of the reason given by the interpreter for the release of the American prisoners was the acute shortage of medical supplies.

Source was interrogated by two Chinese officers who told him they were 1st Lts. They had a table of organization of US forces and continually checked his answers against this T/O. They also displayed great interest in weapons and equipment. Source was told that he was not captured, but "liberate" and that it was the intention of the Chinese to send the prisoners to the "rear" for Communistic indoctrination. He was told that when the prisoners arrived at a permanent prison camp, they would be permitted to send letters and packages home.

Source was captured by North Koreans near YONGCHAN on 11 Nov 50. Captors told him that they were part of the 10th North Korean Division,

Source was captured by a Chinese unit of approx company size on 26 Nov 50 in the vicinity of KUNURI. He was immediately taken to a Korean house, where he was interrogated by a Chinese officer who told him that he was a Lieutenant. This officer spoke fluent English and seemed to be in command of the company. Questioning seemed to follow no set pattern. He was asked about his unit, weapons, his. opinions of the UN and his opinion of the Chinese. Source had on his person a map showing UN positions. The interrogator gave this map only a casual glance and returned it to him.

Chinese took source's watch but did not mistreat him in any way, except that they gave him no food. When he asked for food, the Lieutenant in charge told him that he was sorry, but as he had not expected to have him he had not made arrangements for food for him.

Source was kept separate from some 25 to 30 other American prisoners, whom the Chinese were holding. Two guards were assigned to him and he was carried along when the unit holding him made a night attack. The unit, consisting of about five platoons moved forward in a column of platoons to the foot of the hill which they were to take. There they deployed into position on a bugle signal. Source reports that the deployment was extremely well carried out with no confusion. There was no talking or noise of any kind until the attack actually began. The attack began, again by bugle signal, some 20 minutes after deployment. Source was left at the base of the hill with one guard. He escaped by dropping off a cliff and crawling away.

Source was captured and held temporarily, when Chinese ambushed his Co ("B" Co, 31st Inf Regt) and other units somewhere south of the Choshin Reservoir area o/a 30 Nov 50. Chinese took their weapons, watches, etc, and then permitted the prisoner along with some seven more walking wounded to return to their lines.

Captured near KOTORI on 29 Nov 50. Immediately after capture source was interrogated at a Bn CP by a Chinese major. Interrogation lasted approx twenty minutes. This major was not in command of the unit, but seemed to be an administrative or political officer. He spoke perfect English, with a decided British accent. Interrogation consisted mainly of questions regarding unit strength, weapons, etc. Source gained the impression that this was merely a preliminary interrogation and that he was slated for further interrogation when he reached the rear.

Source reported that in the attack Chinese used a sort of chemical grenade which gave off a thick, yellowish smoke. This smoke had an effect something like tear gas, causing coughing and sneezing and smarting of the eyes. Effect usually lasted three to four minutes. After hurling these, grenades, Chinese usually followed up with fragmentation and concussion grenades. Source reports that each company seemed to have a squad (5 men) carrying nothing but grenades. Grenades were carried in a knapsack affair on the back of each bearer. Source estimates that each bearer carried some thirty grenades. In addition, individual soldiers carry five or six grenades on their person.

Source reported that the Chinese attacking his unit invariably played "Taps” prior to attack. In addition they used whistle signals. He thinks that two short and one long blast was the signal for attack, while three short blasts was a signal for halting and re-grouping.

Source reported that the North Korean units which captured him had a number of aerial photos which they were using. He believed they were captured UN materials.

For the CO, TIS:

AURELL