ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2870 15 January 1951
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 by Lt FUSCO.
Source was captured with 7 other American and one ROK soldier on 14 December 1950 by a North Korean unit near YONGHON, N KOREA. He was taken with the others to a CP where his valuables and papers were confiscated and his clothes removed with the exception of fatigues. A north Korean who spoke English interrogated him for about one hour. The interpreter declared that they were holding General DEAN in MANCHURIA. He also remarked that the Americans may have big guns the North Koreans have their friends, the Chinese. The interrogator was mainly interested in tactical information.
The next day, the group along with Source was moved to a larger headquarters where they were again interrogated separately. This time however, the interrogator filled out a form which Source and to sign upon completion. All the questions and answers were written in Korean. The following information was required:
1. Name and Rank
2. Organization or unit
3. Home address
4. Occupation before entering service
5. Occupation of father
6. Number of brothers
7. Number of sisters
8. Marital status – If married, number of children
9. Drafted or enlisted
10. Exact date entered in Army and for how long
11. Duty in the unit
12. Reason for coming to KOREA to fight
13. Number of nations fighting in KOREA
14. Size of unit to which assigned
15. Mission of unit when captured
16. Whether person captured or surrendered
While this form was being filled out, other questions were asked. The North Koreans could not understand just what was meant by a regimental combat team. They also tried to determine the breakdown of the US Army from the corps level to the squad. They were interested in determining how the South Koreans were paid, fed and supplied.
Source was interrogated further by North Korean Major HAN who attempted to indoctrinate him. When Major HAN was ranting about the Wall Street imperialists, Source was very glad that he had said his father was a salesman rather than a stockbroker which he actually was. Major HAN also made a statement on 19 December 1950 that his friends had killed President TRUMAN.
The Group of 7 which had been jointed by 2 other Americans was finally released at 0600 hours on 23 December 1950 near YONGCHON where they were picked up by helicopter and taken back to the American lines.
Source who was wounded was enroute to an aid station when he captured by North Korean Guerrillas. He was taken to a cave, location unknown, and deprived of his valuables, clothes, dog tags and identification card. He was then interrogated for two to three hours. He was taken aback by the first question put to him by the interpreter.
“How would you like to have a furlough?”
They then wanted to know about Source’s outfit, strength, location and supply. Sources of supply and supply dumps seemed to be of considerable interest. The North Koreans then attempted to indoctrinate him. The officer in charge pointed out to him how well informed the North Koreans were by going towards the rear of the cave where a radio was located and turning it on. At that moment, a “broadcast” on the benefits of Communism was being made in English. It was in very good English and Source believed that it came from MOSCOW. The North Korean said that he received broadcasts from throughout the world and therefore was thoroughly acquainted with the world situation. However, Source only heard the propaganda speech. He emphatically stated that it was a radio and not a recorder because he heard the static and other noise that occur only when a radio is turned on and a station is being tuned in.
The North Koreans were neither satisfied with the results of their attempt at indoctrination nor with the negligible information obtained from Source. They took his shoes and sox off and used burning cigarettes on his feet to force him to divulge information. When this proved unsuccessful, they hit him on the head with a rifle butt, and evidently left him for dead in a ditch where he was discovered later by American forces.
For the Commanding Officer, TIS:
AURELL
