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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3948　12 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI - 1657)　6 March 1951

Alert and cooperative.

In good physical health and excellent spirits.

The information appears reliable.

1 Sep 50, entered the #1 Military Academy P’YONGYANG and trained for 27 days.

28 Sep 50 commissioned and assigned to 98th Independent Regt which was then at SARIWON (YC 4164).

29 Sep 50, arrived SARIWON and assigned as 3d plat ldr, 2d Co, 9th Bn. The mission of 98th Independent Regt was training recruits, and at that time, 98th Regt had approx 10,000 recruits.

3 Oct 50, 98th Regt began to retreat. PW marched northward with 9th Bn. Bn arrived TOKCHON (BV 6903) with 7th and 8th Bn 19 Oct 50. The 9th Bn was absorbed into 2d Regt, 15th Div and redesignated as 3d Bn. PW was assigned as 3d plat ldr, 2d Co. Had no knowledge of 7th and 8th Bn reorganization. 20 Oct 50, 15th Div began to further retreat.

27 Oct 50, Div arrived KUHYON (BV 7577) on foot, via CHANGPYONG DONG (BV 8043) along the mountain. Troops of 15th Div were trained here for approx 40 days. After receiving various weapons and clothing supplies, Div began to march southward.

10 Jan 51, Div arrived INJE (DT 2813), without any engagement, and continued on foot via CHANGTONG (BV 8454), TOKCH’ON (BT 9795), SINSONCH’ON (신선천), CHANGLIM NI (BU 7353), KOKSAN (BT 9795), ICH’ON (CT 1563), PYONGKANG (CT 5253), KUMHWA (CT 6438), HWACH’ON (CT 8717), to YANGKU (DT 1117). Div rested five days and was issued approx 150 rounds ammo per man, boots, winter clothing and cigarettes, (transported from TOKCH’ON).

20 Jan 51, moved to CHIBU NI (DS 5748) along the mountain and trained here for approx one week. Two mortar shells per M1938 Regt Mortar were issued in 3d Bn, 2d Regt. 2d Regt was redesignated as 48th Regt; 1st Regt, 46th; and 3d Regt, 50th 26 Jan 51 at CHINBU NI (DS 5748). Next day, 48th Regt departed for KANGNUNG (DS 9178) and other Regt remained CHINBU NI.

29 Jan 51, 48th Regt arrived KANGNUNG and spent five days in rest area. 69th Brigade (NK Navy) was to enter KANGNUNG in a few days, and, therefore, the 48th Regt returned to CHINBU NI, where 15th Div was still located. Div remained here approx 10 days, to prepare an offensive against UN units. 17 Feb 51, it began to march southward.

20 Feb 51, Div arrived a mountain approx 12 Km N of YONGWOL (DS 5315), via PYONGCHANG (DS 4735) and engaged an unk UN unit 22 Feb 51. After this engagement began to retreat northward. 25 Feb 51, arrived SAMAM NI (phonetic).

26 Feb 51, it engaged an UN unit and 15th Div except 3d Bn 48th Regt retreated northward. 3d Bn was ordered to delay UN forces as long as possible and to concentrate at KAESU DONG (DS 4850) by night of 26 Feb 51.

During combat, Bn was scattered, and PW took his eleven men into mountains where they surrendered to a UN unit 28 Feb 51.

26 Feb 51, 15th Div Hq was at KAESU DONG (DS 4850).

48th Regt was retreating to KAESU DONG.

At this time, III Corps Headquarters was at HONGCH’ON, and PW heard 1st Div of III Corps was then at PYONGCHANG (DS 4735).

III Corps: 1st, 15th & 31st Rifle Div

15th Rifle Div: (CODE: 775) 46th, 48th & 50th Rifle Regt

1 Arty Regt, Sig Bn, Engr Bn, Med Unit and MP Bn.

48th Rifle Regt: (CODE: 779) 1st, 2d, 3d Rifle Bn, 1 Field Gun Bn, Sig Co, Med Unit, Recon Plat, & SMG Co.

3d Rifle Bn: 3 Rifle Co, 1 HMG Co, 1 120mm Mortar Co, 1 Sig Plat, 1 AT Plat, 1 Sanitary Plat, and Supply Plat.

2d Co: 3 Rifle Plat, 1 HMG Plat.

3d Plat: 3 Rifle Sqd.

LEE, Tu Chan (李東張) (리두찬), Lt Col (中尉), CO, 48th Regt, 15th Div.

LEE, Chong Dok (李鍾德) (리종덕), Maj (少尉), C/S, 48th Regt, 15th Div.

Usually, each man carried 7 days rations and approx 300 rounds ammo per rifle.

Food was confiscated from villages.

20 Oct 50, 3d Bn 48th Regt was issued following supplies at TOKCH’ON (BV 6903):

Winter clothing (40 suits)

Rifles (Russian) (only 2)

29 Oct 50, 3d Bn 48th Regt was issued following supplies at KUHYON (BV 7577):

1 Mortar (M1938) (no ammo)

5 HMG (MAXIM) (5,000 rd ea)

5 LMG (DEGTYREV) (700 rd ea)

Rifle Ammo (100 rd ea)

Winter clothing (60 suits)

Boots (100 pairs)

10 Jan 51, 3d Bn was issued the following at INJE (DT 2813):

Mortar shells M1938 (two per mortar)

Rifle Ammo (approx 150 rd per man)

Winter clothing (100 suits)

Boots (30 pairs)

Morale was low because of high casualties caused by shelling.

Approx 10% of troops of 3d Bn 48th Regt suffered from abdominal typhus. These typhus patients were transported to the rear. Few frostbite cases occurred in 3d Bn.

PW surrendered voluntarily.

Did not see UN leaflets, and did not hear other soldiers discuss leaflets.

For the AC of S, G-2: