ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4154 23 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (2 DIV - LDI - 0275) 10 March 1951
| PW NAME: | CHON Ke Tu (former ROK) |
| AGE: | 23 |
| RANK: | Pvt |
| DUTY: | 2d Gunner on HMG |
| UNIT: | NKA 12th Div, 3d Regt, 1st Bn, HMG Co |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 081100 Mar 51 DS2547 |
| CAPTURED BY: | 9th Inf Regt |
| INTERROGATOR: | Pfc AKASHI |
Cooperative in answering all questions asked, but being assigned to a line Co, his knowledge was limited to only his Bn. He deserted 3 days ago while retreating. Information seems fairly reliable.
5 Mar 51 while the 1st Bn of the 3d Regt, 12th Div was retreating from hills in vic of DS2547, source deserted with intentions of surrendering and hid in a house at HALHAL (phonetic) vic of DS2547. He stayed here 3 days until apprehended by US troops.
a. Intention:
2 Mar 51 1st Bn of the 3d Regt, NK 12th Div took positions on hills in vic of DS2547 for the purpose of delaying the on-coming UN Forces to give the real units enough time to prepare their 4th Phase Offensive which was scheduled to start soon.
b. Disposition:
At that time the 12th Div Hq was approx 12 km N, the 1st and 2d Regt deployed on hills directly north of DS2547 and the 2d and 3d Bn of the 3d Regt in the area surrounding 1st Bn. Heard from his Plat Ldr that the III Corps was on their east flank.
5 Mar 51 the 1st Rn retreated northward. Learned on the following day, from a farmer, that the 1st Bn dug in and established a defensive position 8 km north of DS2547.
c. Replacements:
While source was with the 1st Bn they received 53 captured ROK as replacements 3 Mar 51. Heard that 150,000 CCF troops were coming to reinforce the NKA in the near future.
d. Duties:
Prior to being assigned to the 1st Bn, source was with the 12th Div, Engr Bn consisting of 230 men. Their duties were to lay land mines and dig air raid shelters for Div Hq personnel.
e. Weapons:
HMG Co 3 HMG (400 rd each), 2 LMG. Troops had US M-1 rifles (50 rd each) or PPSH SMG (400 rd). Each carried two hand grenades.
Mortar Co had 3 x 81mm mortars (30 rd each), 5 x 60mm mortars. Troops had Russian rifles (60 rd each).
f. Food:
Insufficient. Fed only what could be confiscated from villages. Recently, food scarce even in villages.
g. Contagious Disease:
2-3 weeks ago source observed sick among troops (symptoms high fever and weak), but recently number has decreased.
h. Morale:
Very low among troops because of lack of food and sleep.
i. Physical Condition:
Weak, because food is insufficient.
For the AC of S, G-2:
OJI
