ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4021 15 March 1951
The following information was obtained from recovered American military personnel, who were interrogated upon arrival in JAPAN from KOREA by Central Interrogation Center, TIS. The interrogation was conducted at Tokyo Army Hospital by Capt SHAPPELL.
Subject was being evacuated as a casualty when his convoy encountered a Chinese road block approximately 4 miles N of HOENGSONG. During the fire fight he crawled unarmed into the mountains, and there encountered a group of Chinese who shook his hand and helped him into a draw. Here, his dog tags were taken and he spent the night in the open without incident.
The following morning he was marched back to the site of the road block and down the road to a small village, being joined by many other prisoners and guards until the group numbered about 300 persons.
A Chinese officer addressed the group and told them not to be afraid and to think of themselves as having been liberated. He said the group would be taken to CHINA and some day all would get home safely. Friendly planes appeared, began rocketing and napalming, and all scattered. Source; the Chinese officer and a Pvt Jack ALTEN, A Co, 38th Inf, occupied the same fox hole. The Chinese told them he was a warrant officer.
After the plane attack, the prisoners were reassembled and told that those who were able would have to march 30 miles North. All would have to keep up or be shot. Three or four long files of men moved out, and subject estimates about 150 Americans and 100 ROK were taken North. 40 or 50 wounded men were left with the promise that aid men would be sent to them in a few days.
The following day a watch was given to one of the guards and in return, he told them to try to make their own lines. The group walked South approximately 10 miles, passing through HOENGSONG, before being fired upon by a second group of Chinese. No one was injured, since only a few shots were fired before they were again captured. They were quartered in one room of a school building which already housed an unknown number of American and ROK prisoners. Here they were fed for the first time, and bandages given to those who needed them.
On 14 Feb 51, the Chinese called for four jeep drivers to repair American vehicles. The rumor among the prisoners was that the men who volunteered did so in order to further wreck the vehicles by removing sensitive parts rather than to repair them. Later that day, all prisoners were called out and formed in four ranks. Source estimated the number of men to be more than one hundred. The men were addressed by a Chinese thought to be an officer and told practically the same thing they had heard from the warrant officer when the first group was marched North. In addition, they were told that there was much food in CHINA and work would be found for them. One of the Americans (name unknown) asked that the group be allowed to return to the UN lines since it was policy to send all recovered personnel back to the states; therefore the Chinese need not fear that the men in this group would ever fight in KOREA again. The speaker replied that he couldn't do that since there was no food or work in the States, and life in CHINA was much better. The wounded then protested that they were unable to walk and were told that they could remain where they were, but food could be given them only once a day. Approximately fifty Americans were moved out leaving thirty six in the school building.
A period of inactivity followed with no guards posted over the group but with Chinese troops in the nearby mountains. Safe conduct passes were given to the group sometime during this period. On 18 Feb 51, it began to snow and it was decided to escape in small groups. Five men left, six more left shortly thereafter, and some hours later, subject and Pvt ALTEN left and walked several hours, without incident until they reached the lines of the 3rd Bn, 187th Airborne.
Source was never interrogated, had no personnel possessions taken from him and had his dog tags returned to him.
A copy of source's safe conduct pass is reproduced below. Since the front side of the pass, which gives instructions in Chinese and Korean, is exactly the same as those previously reported, only the reverse side is reproduced here.
WHY AND WHOM ARE YOU HERE TO FIGHT FOR?
When you are trembling with terrible cold in the ghost trench, Truman, MacArthur and Wall Street moneybags are enjoying in the warm and comfortable rooms of skyscrapers. They just make enormous profit out of the damned war. WHY AND WHOM ARE YOU HERE TO FIGHT FOR? We know that you do not want to come to Korea, 5,000 miles from your sweet homes and to fight such an injustice and hopeless war. You were duped and ordered here for the cannon fodder of Truman and MacArthur. It is the time to save yourself now. PUT DOWN YOUR ARMS AND COME OVER TO OUR SIDE. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN KEEP YOUR LIFE AND GO BACK HOME.
Source was captured, released, and recaptured in the same group which included Pvt NECE. His experiences were the same and his estimate of Americans taken North corresponds closely with that of Pvt NECE. All roll calls and selecting of persons to be taken North were done at night so that only approximations of numbers could be given.
Source was unable to escape with Pvt NECE on 18 Feb 51 and remained in the school building until he was picked up by the 1st Marines on 24 Feb 51.
Source was wounded and captured on 12 Feb 51, and taken immediately to the same assembly area where Pvt NECE and McCLOSKEY were held. Both men agree that approximately 300 men were held here, but source believes that 60 wounded Americans were left when the group was marched North.
When the wounded were told to try to reach their lines, their rate of march was governed by their ability to walk; consequently their column covered several miles with the stragglers falling steadily behind. ANDERSON being far in the rear was captured with 27 others by a different group of Chinese and lost contact with NECE. The men were taken into the hills to an assembly area and held in several buildings until 22 Feb 51. More American prisoners were brought in daily until the group grew to 170-180 persons.
At this camp also, jeep and truck drivers were asked for. About 15 Americans volunteered and source believes they were immediately taken from the camp.
On 22 Feb 51, all except the 28 wounded were marched North. A Chinese (thought to be a civilian) who said he was an Army representative then took the names of the wounded and inquired concerning the nature of their wounds. When quizzed concerning their fate, he replied that a Colonel would make the decision. Two days later he came back and asked, "How would you men like to go back to America?" He then explained that since Chinese safe conduct passes promised good care and, lacking food and medicine, they were unable to keep their promise, the group was to be released. They were given safe conduct passes and started moving South. After resting overnight in a Korean house they awoke to find their guards gone.
The group, with the exception of source and two others who were too badly wounded to move, continued South. Source and his two companions were rescued by the 1st Marines on 24 Feb 51.
Source was never interrogated but did have all his personal possessions taken.
A copy of source's safe conduct pass is reproduced below. Since the front side of the pass, which gives instructions in Chinese and Korean, is exactly the same as those previously reported, only the reverse side is reproduced here.
LET YOUR MEN WHO ALREADY CAME TO OUR SIDE TELL YOU THE TRUTH
First Lieutenant Donald S. Sirman, a jet fighter from Philadelphia said flatly:
I BELIEVE THE KOREAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WIN.
I AM REALIZING NOW THAT TRUMAN IS BUGLING THINGS UP AND THAT WALL STREET CAN NEVER DEFEAT THE KOREAN PEOPLE.
Captain Ambrose H. Nugent, of the 52nd Regiment, 24th Division told the reporters:
I CAN SEE NO REASON FOR ANY U.S. SOLDIER BEING HERE.
NONE OF THESE MEN WANT TO BE HERE OR EVER WANTED TO COME.
U.S. TROOPS OUGHT TO PULL OUT OF KOREA AT ONCE.
Sergeant Merlin J. Hamilton, who already received our good treatment, after he came over to our side, said:
IF MACARTHUR SAYS WE ARE DEAD, HE'S GOT SOME LOUSY REASON FOR IT.
For the CO, TIS:
WEELDREYER
