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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 847　31 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0637)　29 August 1950

Limited information due to short period of military service. Fairly reliable.

Inducted into the Volunteer Corps 10 Jul 50 at SEOUL, SUSONG Primary School. No training

Departed SEOUL - 14 Jul 50 - by rail - arrived CH’UNCH’ON - 16 Jul 50 800 men were in the group.

Departed CH’UNCH’ON - 16 Jul 50 - marched - arrived HONGCH’ON - 17 Jul 50. 400 men were in this group, the other 400 remained at CH’UNCH’ON.

Departed HONGCH’ON - 24 Jul 50 - marched - arrived - WONJU - 27 Jul

Departed WONJU - 27 Jul 50 - marched - arrived - CH’UNGJU (忠州) 2 Aug 50

Departed CH’UNGJU - 8 Aug 50 - marched - arrived MUN’GYONG (聞慶) 11 Aug 50. At MUN’GYONG, 100 NKPA troops referred to as a security unit joined the 400. These 100 were armed with M1891/30 rifles, submachine guns, LMGs, officers carried US carbines.

Departed MUN’GYONG - 13 Aug 50 - marched - arrived at HAMCH'ANG (咸昌) on 17 Aug 50. 100 men from the Guard Unit turned in their arms at a village 5 km S of HAMCH'ANG. He was told by the man taking charge of the weapons that he was from the 1st Div. He did not mention what unit of the 1st Div. There were 20 men piling the weapons in a small warehouse. No other troops or weapons were observed in the vicinity.

Departed 18 Aug 50 - marched - arrived approximately 6 km SW of KUNWI

21 Aug 50. Here, at the foot of the mountain the 500 men were assigned to various units of the 1st Div. PW and 130 men were assigned to 1st Regt, and 20 of the men were assigned with PW to the 1st Bn. PW does not know how many went to the other battalions. These for the 1st Regt were called out first and left first so PW could not determine how the other 370 men were assigned between the 2nd and 3rd Regt of the 1st Div.

When PW joined the Bn he was told he was in the 2nd Sqd, 1st plt, 1st Co. He could not estimate the strength at the time because the troops were scattered over the mountain.

On the night of 21 Aug 50, he received orders from his platoon leader to the effect that the 1st Bn was moving out. The Bh moved out by platoons in the night. strength of the 1st Plt was 26 men, squad was 6 men. The platoon 24 Aug 50, moved 4 km SW to a point approx 8 to 10 km SW of KUNWI.

On night of 21 Aug 50, the 1st Bn was attacked. They tried to hold but due to heavy fire, the battalion retreated by platoons. During the retreat, PW had an attack of malaria so could not move. He slept over night, next morning he proceeded to the SW trying to surrender. He finally arrived at the main road near a village called KUMOKTONG (錦玉洞) and was captured by ROK troops on 27 Aug 50.

1st Plt - 26 men, 2nd Sqd 6 men. Rifleman with M1891/30 rifles, 120 rounds, 1 grenade. Squad leader with PPSH Submachine gun. Officers, with pistols.

PW stated that in squad of 1st Plt, one man did not carry arms due to lack of weapons. 1 LMG in platoon. 1 HMG in company. 2 Mortars (type unknown) in battalion observed 21 Aug 50.

22 Aug 50, after the 1st Bn was attacked PW observed approximately 150 killed and wounded.

Observed 1 gun (type unknown) night of 18 Aug 50 while marching through KUNWI. He observed about 10 men near the piece.

Food supply was low. PW ate one meal a day, if lucky two meals. Food was brought from villages. Usually they ate wheat or potatoes, rice was seldom eaten.

Objective of the 1st Div was TAEGU. No details.