ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2768 3 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1287) 15 December 1950
| PW NAME: | LEE, Son Kuk (李善極) (이순국) (Korean) |
| RANK: | 2nd Lt (少尉) |
| ORGN: | 4th Div Hq (code: 485th Unit) |
| DUTIES: | Rear Comm Off |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 6 yrs |
| AGE: | 26 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, MYONGCHON GUN, HAKA MYON, CHEMONG DONG #1112 (咸鏡北道 明川郡 하가면 재명동 一一一二番) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 080900 Dec 50 in the Vic 6 km North of TOSAN RI (CT1240) by ROK Forces |
| INTERROGATOR: | T.M.O. |
Information is very limited and seems to be fairly reliable.
Conscripted 27 Feb 50, HAMHUNG (CV 8410), and assigned to 247th Arty Regt, 2nd Div. From Feb 50, to 12 Jun 50, PW trained as a fire control NCO.
12 Jun 50, PW’s Regt, together with elements of 2nd Div, moved to HWACHON (CT 8829) in preparation for war. From HWACHON, PW’s unit advanced through CHUNCHON (CS 8894), CHONJU, KUMCHON and HYOPCHON.
When the NKA started to retreat, Sep 50, PW, together with 8 others, fled to TAEJON. From TAEJON PW travelled through the TAEBEK Mountain Range until reaching the SOBAEK Mountain Range. Upon the SOBAEK Mountain, the PW walked by night to NORTH KOREA. At PUPYONG, the PW came into contact with elements of the 9th North Korean Division. He was ordered to join the 9th Div, but he deserted to go home. Enroute home, PW was taken prisoner by elements of the 32nd North Korean Brigade and ordered to serve with the brigade (VIC PUPYONG).
On the same day that he was ordered to serve with the 32nd Brigade, PW once again escaped, determined to return home.
O/a 5 Nov 50, he came into contact with elements of the 4th Division at PUPYONG DONG where the 4th Div was reorganizing for conducting guerrilla warfare. As soon as PW was assigned to 4th Div Supply Section, he was promoted to 2nd Lt.
6 Nov 50, the newly organized 4th Division moved Hq to KALI RI, which UN Forces had abandoned.
6 Dec 50, PW was ordered to go to the 18th Regt to investigate the reason for the awarding of a medal to a Pvt (Medal was awarded by the 18th Regt).
8 Dec 50, when the PW made contact with the 18th Regt at TOSAN, the units’ movement was discovered by ROK Forces and it was attached.
PW was taken prisoner on the same date, 6 km North of TOSAN.
4th Division is composed of 5th Rifle Regt, 16th Rifle Regt, 18th Rifle Regt, Arty Regt, Sig Bn, Eng Bn, Med Bn, and Rcn Co.
The combined forces of the 4th Division was estimated to be 5,000 troops.
The 4th Div Arty Regt had no field guns. Very few troops in the Arty Regt had no field guns. Very few troops in the Arty Regt were seen bearing small arms. The troops were engaged in arty tng.
The Engr Bn was also unarmed and the troops were utilized as repl for the 5th, 16th, and 18th Rifle Regt’s.
The troops of the Med Bn were attached to the Rifle Regt’s in three separate Co’s.
(Remarks: 5th, 16th and 18th Regt’s were equipped with a total of 54 Jap type 60mm mort (400 rds ea), 36 HMG (am unk) and 51 LMG (am unk). About 80% of the troops were armed either with M1891/30 rifles (20 rds ea), US M-1 Carbine (am unk), US M-1 Rifles (am unk) or Jap 99 rifles. Each rifleman was issued 1 hand grenade.
The 4th Div Hqs on 8 Dec 50, was at KALI MYON (CT 5234). The Div Hqs and troop quarters were located within the central part of the village (exact location unknown).
The 5th and 16th Rifle Regt were dispersed in the mountains surrounding SANGYONG (CT 2331).
The 18th Regt was last observed in the mountains 6 km North of TOSAN (CT 2331).
The mission of the 5th, 16th, and 18th Rifle Regiments is to infiltrate within the UN Forces and construct road blocks on the highway extending South from CHORWON (CT 4413), YONCHON (CT 3111) to KAESONG.
The above units will attempt to make their road blocks in areas where there are steep mountains on both sides of the highway.
PAK, Kum Chol (박군철), Sr Col, Propaganda Off, 4th Division
SON, Dong Man (손동만), Col, Regt CO, 18th Regt, 4th Div
The 4th Div relied on periodical raids of nearby villages for food.
The 4th Div did not have a source of supply other than that taken when making periodic raids on villages. The unit at CHORWON discovered a fairly large cache of am abandoned by North Korean Forces during their northward retreat.
Each Regt of the 4th Div was equipped with one wireless sending and receiving set.
The unit relied on refugees for information as to the movement of UN Forces. The troops learned about the CCF intervention through refugees fleeing south.
Upon hearing of the CCF’s intervention and recent success, morale among the troops was excellent.
Prior to capture, there was a rumor in the PW’s unit (origin unk) that they will fight up to the 38th parallel and will attempt to establish peace.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
