ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3376 15 February 1951
FIELD REPORT (164-MISDI-1500) 11 February 1951
| PW NAME: | WONG, Cheng Hsien (汪正軒)(CCF) |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| ORGN: | 4th Field Army, 50th Army, 148th Div, 42nd Regt, 2nd Bn, 6th Co |
| DUTIES: | Messenger |
| EDUCATION: | Primary School, 5 yr |
| AGE: | 20 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | SSUCHUAN SHENG LIANG SHAM HSIEN, LUNG MEH HSIANG, 13 PU (四川省 梁山縣 龍門鄕 13■) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 062000 I Feb 51 at a point 1½ Km N of SUWON (CS 2526) (Extracted from PW Tag) |
| INTERROGATOR: | CHS |
| INTERROGATED AT: | TAEJON |
PW was cooperative; however, dates and places travelled were confused. Although the information is limited, it seems reliable.
4th Field Army: 38th, 39th, 50th Armies
50th Army: 148th, 149th, 150th Div
148th Div: 42nd, 43rd, 44th Inf Regt, Guard Bn, Propaganda Co, Recon Co
42nd Regt: 3 Rifle Bn, Guard Plat, Propaganda Plat, Recon Plat, and Hv Wpn Co
2nd Bn: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Rifle Co
6th Rifle Co: 3 Rifle Plat, 60mm Mort Sqd
Rifle Plat: 3 Rifle Sqd
| Rifle Plat | Original (Nov 50) | Present (5 Feb 51) |
| Personnel: | ||
| EM | 30 | 20 |
| Officers | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 32 | 22 |
| Ten (10) soldiers were killed in combat and UN strafing | ||
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| LMG (Canadian) | 3 (1,300 rd ea) | 2 (600 rd ea) |
| Rifles (Chinese) | 8 (60 rd ea) | 5 (30 rd ea) |
| SMG | 1 (120 rd ea) | 1 (68 rd) |
| BANGALORE Torpedoes | 2 | 0 |
| Grenades | 3 per man | 1 per man |
| 60mm Mortar Squad: | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| EM | 12 | 8 |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| 60mm Mortars | 2 (3rd ea) | 2 (w rd ea) |
| 6th Co Headquarters: | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Runners | 3 | 2 |
| Medic | 1 | 1 |
| Barbers | 2 | 2 |
| NK Interpreter (Civilian) | 1 | 1 |
| Co CO | 1 | 1 |
| Co Exec Off | 1 | ? |
| Political Off | 1 | ? |
| Exec Political Off | 1 | ? |
| Total | 11 | ? |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| Pistols (Canadian) | 4 | Unk |
| 6th Co: | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| EM | 110 | 54 |
| Officers | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 120 | 64 |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| Bugle | 1 | 0 |
| 2nd Bn: | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Officer & EM | 480 | Unk |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| Field Telephone | 1 | 1 |
| Hvy Wpn Co: | ||
| Personnel: | ||
| Officers & EM | 160 | Unk |
| Equipment and Ammo: | ||
| 82mm Mortars | 2 | 2 |
| HMG | 2 | 2 |
PW last saw his Co retreating north from the place of capture under heavy ROK fire 5 Feb 51.
PW realized that if he followed his Co, he would have to fight or be strafed by planes, and that he would eventually die; therefore, he voluntarily surrendered.
Mission before crossing the YALU River was to drive out and defeat the South Korean Army. The present mission, however, according to the Co CO, was that the 148th Div would withdraw eventually to CHINA. The 42nd Regt was to withdraw to SEOUL; rest, and retreat.
O/a 25 Jan 51, PW overheard a discussion on among the Co CO, Executive Officer, Political Officer, and the Executive Political Officer. They agreed that it was better for the CCF to return to CHINA because the UN forces are getting stronger; many of the CCF troops already have been sacrificed, and it is a foregone conclusion that the CCF will lose.
Conscripted into CNA HUPEI SHENG Provincial Guard Unit 25 Sep 49.
20 Feb 50, five soldiers were captured by CCF 50th Army at HUPEI-SHENG and were immediately placed in the 6th Co, 2nd Bn, 42nd Regt, 148th Div, 50th Army.
PW received 1½ months of Inf basic training at HUPEI-SHENG; he also farmed during this seven months period.
In Sep 50 the 42nd Regt left HUPEI SHENG by train and arrived at CHILIN-SHENG, PANSHIH-HSIEN (吉林省 盤石縣) in Sep 50.
The 42nd Regt rested at CHILIN SHENG.
In Oct 50 the 42nd Regt left CHILIN SHENG by train and arrived at ANTUNG (安東) Nov 50.
During Nov 50 the 42nd Regt left ANTUNG by foot and arrived at SINUIJU Nov 50. At SINUIJU the 6th Co was issued a 60mm Mortar, 16 grenades, 6 Bangalore Torpedoes, and rifles (four rifles to each sqd). Troops were also issued winter clothing and shoes.
In Dec 50 the 42nd Regt left SINUIJU by foot (travelling only at night) and arrived at CHOLSAN (XE 4303) Dec 50.
From CHOLSAN to the point of capture, the following route was taken:
| PLACE DEPARTED | DATE | MODE OF TRAVEL | PLACE ARRIVED | DATE |
| CHOLSAN | Dec 50 | Marched | P'YONGYANG | Unk |
| P'YONGYANG | Unk | Marched | KUMCH'ON | Unk |
| KUMCH'ON | Unk | Marched | SEOUL | Jan 51 |
| SEOUL | Jan 51 | Marched | SUWON | 25 Jan 51 |
| SUWON | 26 Jan 51 | Marched | SUCHI-RI | 27 Jan 51 |
| SUCHI-Rl | 28 Jan 51 | Marched | 1½ Km North of SUWON on 5 Feb 51 | |
PW was captured by ROK troops 6 Feb 51.
MA, Kuei Chou (馬貴固), 6th Co CO, 6th Co.
PI, Wei Chuan (卑維川), Plat Ldr, 3rd Plat, 6th Co.
42nd Regt troops were last issued ammo at SINUIJU Dec 50, 60 rd.
Food was received from villagers after giving them promissory notes.
Bn-Regt-Div: Telephone
Co-Bn: Runners
No bugles or flares were used in the Korean War.
Morale in the PW Co was low because the fire power of the UN forces was superior. "For every shot fired, the CCF would get a hundred in return."
There was no epidemic disease suffered in the PW Co except for the common illnesses, ie, colds, etc.
PW had not received any immunization since coming to KOREA.
PW believes that there were about 3 or 4 severe cases of frost bite in ea sqd of his Co. He had heard that these men were taken to Regt Hq for treatment.
a. Did you surrender voluntarily? If so, why?
a. PW voluntarily surrendered to the ROK troops because he realized that it was useless to fight.
b. Did you see any UN leaflets or hear UN loudspeaker broadcasts?
a. PW said that many UN leaflets were seen on the way from SEOUL to the point of capture.
c. Can you describe what they said?
a. These leaflets stated: "It is useless to fight. Don't you like to live? Why don't you give up to the UN forces and return to CHINA? If you surrender to the UN forces, we will give you warm food and clothing."
d. What was your reaction to them?
a. PW believed what the leaflets stated.
e. Did you hear other soldiers discuss leaflets or broadcasts? What did they say or do?
a. PW was of the opinion that many of the other soldiers believed in the leaflets and if they have the opportunity, will surrender.
For the AC of S, G-2:
HONG
