ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3337 13 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (IX CORPS MID - 0222) 23 January 1951
| NAME: | LAN Chuin |
| AGE: | 22 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| UNIT: | 42nd Army, 126th Div, 277th Regt, 3rd Bn, 9th Co, 2nd Plat, 5th Sqd. |
| DUTY: | LMG Ammo Bearer |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | Captured on 211420 Jan 51 at CHONYANG (CS705388) |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School 1 yr |
PW was cooperative during interrogation. Information is considered fairly reliable, but is limited due to PW low rank and lack of education. Further interrogation not recommended.
a. Chronology:
201900 Jan 51, PW and 5 others were dispatched from 3rd Bn CP, located 4 km northwest of YANGPYONG (CS6749), by Bn Supply Officer, to contact 125th Div CP at IPO-RI (CS705388) and obtain info on the status of food supplies available there. They arrived at IPO-RI 210200 Jan 51, but failed to locate the 125th Div Hq or any other unit in the vicinity. They therefore, went to sleep in a civilian house in a village. While still asleep (211400 Jan 51) he and one other CCF soldier were captured by a patrol of the US 5th RCT. It was believed that the other 4 had left the house while the two captured were asleep.
b. Organization and Strength:
124th, 125th, and 126th Div compsoed the 42nd CCF Army. 126th Div are 376th (code no. 107), 377th (code no. 108), and 378th (code no 109) Regt. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bn of the 377th Regt were given the code numbers 561, 562, and 563 Bn respectively. The 3rd Bn, strength 500 men, has 3 rifle co and Heavy Wpn Co, strength 140 to 150 men. Strength of the rifle co from 100 to 110 men each.
An ind arty bn and an ind security bn were attached to ea Regt and Army.
c. Unit Location:
As of 201900 Jan 51, 3rd Bn CP was located approx 4 km northwest of YANGPYONG in a mountainous area. Approx 400 meters to the south 9th Co CP was located in a village at the foot of a small knoll. PW believes the 7th and 8th Co were situated in immediate vic of 9th Co, but their exact loc was u/k.
377th Regt CP was loc approx 48 km northwest of YANGPYONG in a mountainous area vic (CS5579). Regt arr in area approx 12 days ago, after minor engagement with enemy near the 38th Parallel o/a 1 Jan 51. PW had not been to SEOUL and it took his Regt 3 days by road to arr at Regt area from the 38th Parallel.
3rd Bn left Regt area 7 to 8 days ago, at which time Regt CP was still loc vic (CS5579). 1st and 2nd Bn were also stationed in the Regt CP area.
3rd Bn arrived area 4 Km northwest of YANGPYONG about 5 to 6 days prior to date of capture. 500 men were seen in Bn CP area.
PW heard from a fellow soldier, who was informed by the Bn CO, that 42nd Army was to rest in last known Regt area for 2 months.
d. Other Units:
202000 Jan 51, while enroute to CHONYANG with 5 other men, PW observed 30 to 40 CCF troops armed with carbines, SMG, Jap 38 and Russian rifles marching toward YANGPYONG, at a point approx 1.5 km southeast of YANGPYONG. These men said they were from the 38th Army
e. Weapons:
PW Co had 5 to 6 LMG (200 rd ea), Jap model 38 rifles, M-1 rifles, carbines (approx 70 rd ea), and 2 or 3 handgrenades per man.
Hvy Wpn co carried 3 82mm mortars and 6 HMG.
PW observed 2 US Bazookas at Regt CP 8 to 9 days ago.
PW Regt had had only one light engagement with the UN units near the 38th Parallel. Since entering KOREA no new supply of ammo had been received. New supplies of clothing were also not received, although no clothing shortage existed.
f. Unit Intentions:
3rd Bn was sent to YANGPYONG area to obtain food supplies (Kaoliang, rice, corn, etc), leaving the Regt area about a week ago, and arriving in the YANGPYONG area approx 5 days ago. It was ordered to return to the Regt area in 2 weeks with approx 400 tons of food. PW heard from an officer that this food would be sufficient to feed 126th Div for 2 months. This was the first time his Bn was ordered to obtain such a large supply of rice at one time. The food which was obtained was stored in 3 warehouses in the eastern outskirts of the same village in which 9th Co CP was located. Groups numbering 5, 20, 50 were dispatched from Bn to scout for food in area. Food coupons were given to civilians in area in exchange for the food (use of coupons was unk). After food was obtained, troops from 1st and 2nd Bn were to bring horses and carts (obtained from Div Hq) and aid 3rd Bn in transporting the food back to Regt area.
PW was told that the mission of the CCF was to capture PUSAN.
g. Personalities:
126th CCF Div CO: HU (fnu)
377th Regt CO: JU (fnu)
9th Co CO: SUNG (fnu)
h. Medical:
There were no great health problems in his co, except that about 15 men had been sent to rear areas with cases of trench food since 1 Dec 50. There were no cases of malnutrition or pnuemonia in PW Co.
PW heard that field hospitals were established at Army level, and that medical supplies were insufficient.
i. Morale:
About 60% of the men in his co were unwilling to fight, due to severe military hardships, lack of weapons and constant air attacks.
For the AC of S, G-2:
IIDA
