ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 2809 6 January 1951
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 1251) 3 January 1951
| PW NAME: | LEE, Son Guk (李善■) (이선국) |
| PW NUMBER: | 63 NK 113462 |
| RANK: | Jr Lt (小尉) |
| AGE: | 25 |
| DUTY: | Liaison Officer |
| UNIT: | NKA 4th Div, Rear Echelon |
| EDUCATION: | 6 yrs Primary School |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | YONCH’ON (連川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 8 Dec 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, HAMGYONG PUKTO, MYONGCH’ONG-GUN, HAGA-MYON, CHAEYONG-DONG #1112 (咸鏡北道 明川郡 下加面 方■洞 一一一二番地) |
| HOME ADDRSS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt SASAKI (ATIS) |
PW was cooperative and talked freely. Reliability - Fair.
a. Chronology:
27 Feb 50 - Inducted into 2nd Div, Arty Regt at HAMHUNG (咸興) as a telephone operator. Received basic training for 3 months and assigned to the 1st Bn.
o/a 15 Jun 50 - 2nd Div departed HAMHUNG by train and arrived at KUMHWA (金化) about 4 days later. Then the division continued marching and arrived at HWACH’ON (樺川) about 4 days later.
25 Jun 50 - 2nd Div departed HWACH’ON on foot and arrived at CH’UNCH’ON (春川) about 3 days later. The regiments were separated and PW traveled with the Arty Regt. He was employed in hauling food supplies.
Early Aug 50 - The Arty Regt arrived at CH’ONGJU (淸州) without engaging any UN troops. After about 5 days in CH’ONGJU the Arty Regt marched to KUMCH’ON (金泉). Here at KUMCH’ON the Arty Regt rested for about a week. The other regiments of the 2nd Div were resting outside KUMCH’ON city. Then the Arty Regt continued marching and arrived at CH’OGYE (草溪) in late August. PW believed that the other regiments of the 2nd Div were in the CH’OGYE vicinity at this time. After about 10 days of rest at CH’OGYE the Arty Regt continued marching westward. Accompanying the 1st Bn, PW arrived at CH’ANGNYONG (昌寧) after crossing the NAKTONG River.
Early Sep 50 - The 2nd Div started retreating north and with 7 other men PW became separated from the Arty Regt and they walked to TAEJON (大田) area. Here PW and the 7 men changed to civilian clothes and with the intention of returning to their homes, continued marching north. They walked over lonely mountain paths and tried to avoid other NKA stragglers. PW’s group was not attacked by UN aircraft or organized groups of NKA stragglers.
1 Nov 50 - PW and the 7 men arrived at TAEP’YONG-NI (■■里) and they were captured by a group (estimated 1,000 men) who called themselves the 9th Div. After spending the night at T’AEP’YONG-NI PW escaped from the 9th Div and arrived at a small village located about 8 miles west of T’AEP’YONG-NI. The 32nd Brig was located in this small village and PW was again captured. At night, PW again escaped from this unit and marched to KISAN-NI (箕山里), arriving there on 3 Nov 50. At KISAN-NI he was caught by the 4th Div. Here PW was interrogated and on 5 Nov 50 was appointed Jr Lt and he served as a rear echelon liaison officer.
30 Nov 50 - The 4th Div Hq moved to KAHYON-NI (加現里).
6 Dec 50 - Departed KAHYON-NI for the 18th Regt, 4th Div for the purpose of returning a rejected newspaper article to a soldier in the 18th Regt. This regiment was located at SANGNYONG (朔寧).
7 Dec 50 - 2 divisions of ROK troops were reported heading toward YONCH’ON (連川) area. Soon the 18th Regt at SANGNYONG was surrounded and engaged by ROK troops. PW started escaping westward and on the morning of the 8th, he was captured alone on the road going toward YONCH’ON by ROK troops.
b. Unit Organization and Strength:
Present strength (as of early Dec 50):
4th Div - estimated 5,000.
16th Regt - Unknown.
18th Regt - Approx 1200.
5th Regt - Unknown.
Arty Regt - Rumored to be of Bn strength.
Sig Bn - Unknown
Med Bn - Unknown
Engr Bn - Unknown.
The T/O of the 4th Div was unknown. PW believes that the 4th Div has suffered heavy casualties since early December. In addition to the above units, there were the following units in the Div Hq Unit:
Recon Co - Strength unknown.
Rear Area Section - Approx 50 men. The rear area section consisted of the administration section and liaison platoon.
Cultural Section - Approx 100 men. The cultural section consisted of the propaganda, intelligence, administration, organization sections and a section which would find quarters and employ civilians in digging trenches, etc.
The 4th Div was fairly well equipped. Approx 70 per cent of the men had carbines, M-1 rifles, PPSH SMGs, or Japanese and Russian made rifles. However supply of ammunition was insufficient. PW estimated that there were 2 light mortars in each battalion, 1 HMG and 1 LMG in each company. PW heard that there were approximately 400 rounds of mortar ammo to each light mortar.
c. Unit History:
PW heard that the 4th Div has been in action along the NAKTONG river in South KOREA. The 4th Div has suffered heavy casualties and during the period PW was in the 4th Div, he observed that most of the troops were replacements between 30 - 40 years of age, who were farmers and forced into the NKA.
d. Personalities:
PAK, Kum Ch’ol (朴今哲) (박금철), Sr Col (總大佐), about 45, Division Cultural & rear Area CO. Rumored to be a hero in the Korean war.
SON, Tong Man (孫冬滿) (손동만), Col (大佐), about 36. 18th Regt, 4th Div CO. Rumored to be an expert in guerilla warfare.
CH’OE, Hyon (崔現) (최현), Maj Gen (小星), about 45, 2nd Div CG since early July.
e. Code Numbers:
| Code No | |
| 2nd Div Arty Regt | 247 |
| 4th Div Hqs | 485 |
Since mid Nov 50, the regiments in the 4th Div changed code numbers every 2 or 3 days. Prior to Nov 50, the same code number was used. Pass words usually were names of animals, trees and flowers and they changed every night.
f. Communications:
Company and below: Runners.
Battalion: Field phones (1 ea in Bn CP)
Regiment: Field phones and 2-way radio (1 ea in Regt CP)
4th Division: 2 field phones and 2 two-way radios in Div Hq.
The two-way radios were Russian made. Field phones were used when the Div and Regt CPs were close together. Radio sets were used when the Div and Regt CPs were far apart.
g. Disposition:
When last observed (7 Dec 50), the 18th Regt, 4th Div was at SANGNYONG (朔寧). The locations of the 5th and 16th Regts of the 4th Div was not known.
h. Intentions:
When the 4th Div was deployed in the SANGNYONG vicinity in early Dec 50, it’s mission was to cut-off escape routes for retreating UN troops in North KOREA.
i. Morale:
Many of the troops in the 4th Div were formerly farmers who had been tricked into the NKA. PW heard many instances where the farmers in a village were told to assemble for a meeting and taken into the NKA. Most of the men were always thinking of deserting and returning to their homes. Medical supplies were non-existent and men wounded in action and unable to move were simply left behind. Food was inadequate and the men were usually fed 2 bowls of rice a day. Many did not have sufficient winter clothing and suffered from the bitter cold.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
