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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO 3612　27 February 1951

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS Special Report 022)　15 February 1951

Unintelligent, cooperative. Reliability - Good.

a. PW believes there were no security measure taken against attack. Was instructed to disperse in event of air attack.

b. PW battalion marched at night from twilight to dawn.

c. First 2 days in KOREA, they travelled along highways; afterwards they travelled by trails and paths.

d. Marched along highways with a file down each side of the road. Communications dependent upon runners. Each battalion had a communication squad, consisted of 13 to 14 runners; each company had four runners.

e. Half hour halt was given to approx every 5 miles of marching. No one was allowed to move or to stand during air attack. They were ordered to be quiet at all times.

a. Sentries posted approx 200 to 300 meters away from their platoons. Each platoon sent out one to two sentries, each sentry on duty one hour. Squad leaders and assistant squad leaders patrolled between the sentries.

b. Men were ordered to sleep after they had their breakfast. Two meals to each marching day; three meals on other days. Meals were prepared by the company cooks. Civilian homes and buildings were used as temporary mass halls.

c. During the night, troops were allowed to sleep and to eat in the civilian homes. During the day, all civilian homes were forbidden to use, because of the fear of air raid.

d. Weapons and foxholes were covered by straw and grass; some times with snow.

a. Company usually used bugle calls to sound the assault. Platoon leader also had a small bugle (which sounds louder than a whistle). A long note indicated assault (during training only).

b. After having reached an objective, serious casualties within a squad will be replaced from other squads within that platoon.

c. If attack failed, most of them will surrender, because all who withdraw without orders, are executed.

d. They dig in when stopped, unless enemy’s defensive positions were satisfactory for use.

One reconnaissance platoon was attached to every regiment; it consisted of approx 35 men. Reconnaissance unit reports directly to regimental headquarters after completion of their mission. PW believes no pre-planned supporting fire preceded or accompanied these missions. These men wore civilian clothes while on their mission. They would attack with units which they believed they could overcome.

a. PW company had 3 platoons; each platoon had two rifle squads and one light machine gun squad. Each rifle squad consisted of twelve men, all equipped with US 30 caliber rifles. Light machine gun squad consisted three US-made 30 caliber light machine guns. Rifles used 7.9m ammo and light machine guns used 30 caliber ammo. Light machine guns usually located between the two rifle squads when in line of defense.

b. The normal depth of a defensive position for a platoon was approx 15 meters.

c. Company reserves usually located 2/3 mile behind the defensive line.

d. Troops at certain times were ordered not to fire, because to replenish ammo was difficult.

a. PW company had three bangalore torpedoes, one to each platoon and three anti-tank grenades, similar to the “MOLOTOV cocktail,” also one to each platoon. PW believes this anti-tank grenade is filled with liquid, has a 6” wooden handle on one end, a carrying ring on the opposite end, and a safety pin on the handle. The weapon weighs approx four pounds.

Anti-tank weapon similar to “MOLOTOV cocktail”

a. All personnel in PW company carried 8 pounds of rice, sufficient for 3 days, 8 pounds of salted fried wheat flour, and 3 pounds of crackers. Crackers used as emergency ration.

b. Ammo was limited 100 rounds to every rifleman, and 200 rounds to every man in the light machine gun squad.

c. PW received following clothing before he came to KOREA:

(1) One quilt, weight approx 4 pounds

(2) One padded coat

(3) One pair of padded trousers

(4) One pile-lined cap

(5) One pair of pile-lined boot

(6) One pair of gloves

(7) Two pieces of summer undershirts

(8) Two pairs of long trousers

(9) Three pairs of cloth shoes

(10) Two pairs of socks

During the march, clothing was adequate. No replacement was given whatsoever, if either torn or worn out.

d. PW claimed, only reconnaissance units were permitted to use civilian clothing.

There was one communication squad to every battalion consists of approx 12 runners - there were four more runners to each company. These runners carried written messages mostly; the distance was uncertain.

a. PW received one month training at TACHUANYUAN (大泉源), 100 miles east of SHENYANG (溶暘) in LIAONING-SHENG (遼寧省).

b. Live ammo was used for target, practice only because of the short-age of ammo, each rifleman expended five rounds; light machine gunner expended ten rounds.

a. Approx 10% had malaria attacks and 10% were not acclimatized in PW company.

b. Each man was vaccinated for small pox, and inoculated eight times before they left for KOREA.

c. Approx 10% suffered frostbite in PW company; only one serious case was sent back to Northern KOREA. The 1ess serious cases were taken care of by the two company first-aid men.

a. Discipline was good in PW company.

b. Due to language barrier, no desertions occurred.

c. Attitude of North Korean civilians toward the Chinese wasn’t too good, because the Chinese troops always confiscated their goods.

d. There was one Korean Army interpreter in every company within PW battalion.

For the Commanding Officer: