ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2739 23 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD #1 – 0277) 18 December 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | CHO, Yang Son (曺良善) (조양선) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | HMG Ammo Bearer |
| UNIT: | 10th Div, 25th Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 8 yrs |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | CHUN-CHON |
| DATE CAPTURED: | 9 Dec 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | CHOLLA NAMDO, MUAN GUN, HYONGKYONG MYON, SONGJONG LI #252 (全羅南道 務安郡 玄慶面 松亭里 252) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl HAMASU (ATIS) |
Information obtained considered reliable. Informant of good intellect, cooperative. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. TACTICAL INFORMATION:Chronology:
23 Sep 50: PW, a south Korean was forced into the NKA, at KWANGJU while working at the city hall. There were approx 20,000 south Korean inducted at the same time.
25 Sep 50: PW was assigned to the 33rd Brigade, 4th Bn, Recon Plat. On the very same day, the 33rd Brig retreated en masse to the mountain at TANYANG.
28 Oct 50: Retreated further from TANYANG and arrived at CHUNCHON. (OTAE SAN).
3 Nov 50: PW deserted his unit, and fled toward SEOUL, however was captured by NK soldier of the 10th NKA Div two days later and put into the 10th Div, 25th Regt, 1st Bn, 1st Co, HMG Plat,
8 Nov 50: The 10th Div moved to the mountain at YANGGU GUN, CHONBAN LI where the 10th Div regrouped with men from other units and reorganized the 10th Div to a full strength.
13 Nov 50: The 25th Regt (rifle) of the 10th Div, moved to YANGGU, where they knew before hand of ROK’s location. Fought the ROK’s and won, thus advancing South of 38th parallel.
18 Nov 50: The 25th Regt was joined by the 27th and 29th Rifle Regt at NAPYON NI.
19 Nov 50 : The 25th Regt with 27th and 29th on the right flank advanced south - objective - CHUN CHON.
23 Nov 50: CHUNCHON was occupied by the 3rd Bn of 25th Regt which spearheaded the advance.
27 Nov 50: Advanced south, objective – HONCHON, about 8 km south of CHUNCHON, the 25th Regt was attacked by the ROK Troops. ROK retreated, and the 27th Regt was to defend that area. The 25th Regt and 29th Reet withdrew to CHUNCHON, and found the town afire. Moved to NAPYON NI instead.
3 Dec 50: The ROK troops invaded NAPYON Ni with the aid of artillery. 25th Regt was routed. PW hid for 5 days.
9 Dec 50: PW was captured by the ROKs. Prior to being captured, PW heard from 3rd Bn CO that the 29th Regt was stationed in HWACHON (華川). And NAPYON NI must be defended at any cost, that the Chinese Red Forces will invade SEOUL on the 31st of Dec 50 and til then, it is our duty to withhold and defend our position.
Unit Organization and strength:
Original Organization and Strength:
10th Div was comprised of 3 Regts - 25th, 27th and the 29th Rifle Regt. Each Regt was made up of about 500 men. 25th Rifle Regt was composed of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Bn, with approx 120 men in a Bn.
1st Bn was consisted of 3 Cos, with about 40 men in each.
1st Co had 3 platoons (rifle) and 1 HMG platoon.
Equipment (25th Regt as of 3 Dec 50):
45mm AT Gun - 2; 82mm mortar - 2 (15 shells); 1st Bn - 3 HMGs (1000 rds per gun); antitank gun - 4 (17 rds in all); 10 LMGs (150 rds per gun); 30 hand grenades; and 10 SMGs (60 rds per gun).
Disposition of 25th Hq:
Prior to being captured PW saw the 25th Regt Hq located near the central portion of NAPYON NI (나평리) a tile roof single story building.
Intentions:
PW believes the routed 25th Regt, as well as the 27th and 29th Regt are hiding in the mountain area near YANGGU, awaiting the Chinese Reds.
Personalities:
1st Co CO – KIM, Yong Ung, Sr Lt, age - 27 (?), former graduate of PYONGYANG OTS.
Morale and Propaganda:
Morale of unit was low, because food was scarce, weapons few, and lacked well trained fighting men. Although demoralized, the men in the NKA had no means of deserting, due to watchful guarding of Plat ldrs, squad leaders, etc. If given a chance, PW believes about 80% of the whole unit will desert. PW had no knowledge whatsoever of propaganda leaflets.
For the Commanding Officer:
BATEMAN
