ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3911 9 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (163-MISDI-0302) 26 February 1951
(Atchd 1st Mar Div)
| PW NAME: | CHENG Chung Hsi (鄭仲喜) |
| PW NO: | 1st M-P-4664 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | Ammo Carrier |
| UNIT: | Mortar Co, 1st Bn, 2d Regt, 12th Div, V NK Corps |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 250930 Feb 51, DS 1944V2 |
| CAPTURING UNIT: | “G” Co, 3d Bn, 5th Marines |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pfc OKAMURA |
240800 Feb 51, with 21 others sent to procure food 3 Km S of 2d Bn position (approx 4 Km N of DS 1944). Carried food on their backs and started back 241830 Feb 51. Discarded bag and deserted 241930 Feb 51. Last man in column. Cooperative during interrogation.
Not recommended for further interrogation.
a. Mission:
12th Div in reserve at present (24 Feb 51). 12th Div mission to go to ANDONG Area and reenforce 10th Div. Plan revoked.
b. Strength of Unit:
(1) Original Strength
5 Dec 50, 12th Div reorganized at WONGCHANG-NI, SINPUNG-MYON, ■ICHONG-GUN, CHAGANG DO. (Approx 80 Km S of KANGGYE, North KOREA).
12th Div - approx 5000
2d Regt - approx 1500 to 1600
1st Regt and 3d Regt strength similar to 2d Regt.
1st Bn - 563
Mortar Co - 82
HMG Co - 82
1st Co)
2d Co ) - 399 combined
3d Co )
2d Mortar Plat - 27
(2) Present Strength: 24 Feb 51 at approx 4 Km W of DS 1944.
1st Bn approx - 170
Mortar Co - 45
Code Names: 2d Regt - “TANKYOL” (meaning Assembly)
1st Bn - “TOLKYOK” (meaning charge)
2d Bn - “CHUKYOK” (meaning offense)
3d Bn - “MENCHING” (meaning bold dash)
1st Co of 1st Bn - “CHIL IL” (#71)
2nd Co of 1st Bn - “CHIL I” (#72)
3d Co of 1st Bn - “CHIL SAN” (#73)
HMG Co of 1st Bn - “CHIL SA” (#74)
Mortar Co of 1st Bn - “CHIL UO” (#75)
Signal for charge - wave red flag forward and backward overhead, at same time blew whistle.
Signal for cease charge - wave red flag vertically near ground. (Sic) (Whistle signal given at same time).
12th Div also used white flag for signaling purpose but PW did not know how they were used.
c. Chronology:
27 May 48 - Volunteered in ROK Army at WONJU. Assigned to 6th Co, 2d Bn, 8th Regt, 4th ROK Brigade. Later reassigned to Signal Co, 7th Regt, 4th ROK Brigade.
6 Nov 50 - Captured by NKA at TOKCHON, North KOREA. Claimed he was NKA straggle; therefore, put into Mortar Co, 1st Bn, 2d Regt, 12th NK Div.
15 Nov 50 - Unit arrived WONCHANG NI, SINPUNG MYON, HICHONG GUN, CHAGANG DO. (Approx 80 Km S of KANGGYE, North KOREA). Received training until Dec 50.
5 Dec 50 - 12th Div reorganized at KANGGYE.
10 Dec 50 - Div left for South.
2 Jan 51 - Arrived NAN MYON (DT 1904). 12th Div reserve at that time.
27 Jan 51 - Div attacked by one Div of US troops and one Div of ROK. Withdrew E after 3 hours firefight. Observed one Regt of CCF troops dug in 4 Km E of NAN MYON when his unit withdrew East.
14 Feb 51 - 12th Div arrived YONGWOL (DS 5314) via KANG NUNG (DS 9278). 2d Regt contacted ROKA and pushed them back to 4 Km E of CHECHON (DS 3009). 2d Regt followed by 1st and 3d Regt. 12th Div encountered heavy UN resistant 4 Km E of CHECH’ON withdrew N after receiving heavy casualties.
240400 Feb 51 - 12th Div arrived approx 4 Km N of DS 1944. PW unit was in reserve here but dug in in case of attack by UN force. 12th Div dug in approx 4 Km N of DS 1944 Southeast ANHUNG MYON (DS 2643). 1st Regt on W flank of 2d Regt and 3d Regt on E flank of 2d Regt. 1st to 3d Bn of the 2d Regt dug in S to NE, respectively.
241930 Feb 51 - Deserted unit while on detail to procure food from a place 3 Km S of 2d Bn and surrendered to 5th Marines at DS 1944V2.
d. Personalities:
2d Regt CO: CHEA Ah Rim, Lt Col
Co CO: SONG (fnu) Sr Lt
Plat Ldr: CHUNG YONG Chil, Jr Lt
e. Weapons and Equipment: 24 Feb 51.
2d Regt: 6 x 82mm Mortars with 80 rd of ammo.
1st Bn: 1 x 81mm US Mortar (without ammo)
1 HMG
1 LMG
45 - SMG approx
20 - US M1 rifles approx
Russian rifles with 50 rd ammo per rifle.
1 US Field Telephone (M-28)
1 Russian Field Telephone
2 Russian Transmitters
Approx 8 Km of communication wire (single line)
1 - Pack horse.
Every Co Commander, Bn Commander, Regt Commander had one field glass.
f. Status of Supply; Route of Supply:
5 Feb 51, at HONGCH’ON area while enroute to KANGNUNG, 1st Bn received 30 rd ammo to each 82mm Mortar, 200 rd ammo to each PPSH SMG 150 rd ammo to each Russian rifle. One hand grenade to each man. Ammo carried by Ox carts. Heard ammo dump in CHUN CHON (CS 8893). No resupply since 5 Feb 51.
Food - Procured from nearby villages.
Medical - Limited amount of medicine.
Clothing - No resupply from rear.
Shelter - Shelter taken in villages when available.
g. Other Units:
Middle of Dec 50, observed 7th NK Div above 38th Parallel.
15 Feb 51 - Observed 6th NK Div at KANGNUNG area.
Heard from Co Commander NKA fighting on East flank of 12th Div.
h. Foreign Elements:
27 January 51 - Observed one Regt of CCF dug in approx 4 Km E of NAM MYON. Heard 300,000 CCF coming from rear very shortly.
i. Morale:
Majority of 12th Div troops morale high because most received military training in MANCHURIA with 8th Chinese Route Army.
j. UN Weapons most Feared:
Air strafing and arty barrage feared by NKA.
k. Enemy Tactics:
Always try to surround UN Force and take PW and supply from US Force.
l. Replacements:
ROKA Staff Sgt prior to being captured by NKA and conscripted into NKA 23 Feb 51. Heard CO speech saying 12th Div planning to dig in 4 Km N of DS 1944 area for one month and wait for resupply and replacement from rear. Heard 1000 NK planes ready in short time for combat.
For the AC of S, G-2:
UYEDA
