ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4052 17 March 1951
FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1673) 8 March 1951
| NAME: | CHANG, Pyong Chin (張炳晉) (장병진) (NKA) |
| RANK: | Pvt (战士) |
| ORGN: | III Corps, 1st Div, 3d Regt, 2d Bn, 5th Co, 2d Plat |
| DUTIES: | Rifleman |
| EDUCATION: | Middle school, 3 yr |
| AGE: | 32 |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| ADDRESS: | KANGWON DO, ANBYON GUN, ANBYON MYON, KYUUN RI (江原道 安辺郡 安辺面 奎運里) |
| DATE & PLACE OF CAPTURE: | 051000 I Mar 51 at TAEHWA MYON (DS5644) by a UN Unit. |
| INTERROGATOR: | CHY |
Cooperative, however, in view of his short period of military service, information was limited. Information appears fairly reliable.
a. Chronology:
Conscripted into NKA at WONSAN (CU6536) 3 Oct 50, and assigned to the 42d Div, 2d Regt, 2d Bn, Supply Plat. After one month’s stay at WONSAN, 42d Div began to retreat and reached KANGGYE (BA0837) on foot 15 Dec 50. 42d Div deactivated 18 Dec 50 and its personnel integrated into the 1st Div on the same date. Assigned to 3d Regt, 2d Bn, 5th Co, 2d Plat 18 Dec 50.
1st Div reached ORIMYON (YE4915) 28 Dec 50 and remained for a month, undergoing combat training.
1st Div moved southward 2 Feb 51 and arrived YONGWOL (DS5315) 20 Feb 51, via WONSAN, CHUNCH’ON (CS8993) and HOENGSONG (DS1049).
1st Div retreated from YONGWOL 21 Feb 51, and engaged an unknown ROKA unit 4 km N of PANGRIM NI (DS5043) 23 and 24 Feb 51.
28 Feb 51 1st Div reached TAEHWAMYON (DS5754) and 2d Bn dispatched to TAEHWARI (DS5350). Deserted with two soldiers from Bn 2 Mar 51 and surrendered to a UN unit at TAEHWAMYON 5 Mar 51.
b. Location and Activities of Units:
When observed 2 Mar 51, 2d Bn, CP and 3d Regt CP were at TAEHWARI (DS5350); 1st Bn situated 4 or 5 heights 2 km SE of TAEHWARI; 3d Bn on heights 3 km N of TAEHWARI.
Observed elements of 15th Div 2 or 3 km S of TAEHWARI (DS5350) between 3 and 4 Mar 51, while deserting.
c. T/O & E and Strength of Unit:
III Corps: 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Div.
1st Div: 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Regt, Sig Plat, SMG Plat.
3d Regt: 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Bn, HMG Plat, Sig Plat.
2d Bn: 4th, 5th (CODE: TUMANGANG (무앙강)), and 6th Rifle Co, Supply Plat, AT Rifle Plat, Sig Plat, Sanitary Plat.
5th Co: 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Plat, HMG Plat.
2d Plat: 1st, 2d and 3d Rifle Sqd.
| 2d Platoon | Original (18 Dec 50) | Present (2 Mar 51) |
| EM | 33 | 11 (3 KIA, 2 WIA 17 Deserters) |
| Off | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| M1891/30 Rifles | 24 (150 rd ea) | 6 (230 rd ea) |
| SMG (SHPAGIN) | 8 (40-50 rd ea) | 1 (20 rd ea) |
| LMG (DECTYREV) | 1 (800 rd) | 0 |
| TT Pistol | 1 | 0 |
| Grenades | 2 per man | 2 per man |
| 5th Co: | ||
| EM | 98 | 50 |
| Off | 11 | 5 |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| M1891/30 Rifles | 63 (150 rd ea) | 30 (230 rd ea) |
| SMG (SHPAGIN) | 28 (40-50 rd ea) | 20 (20 rd ea) |
| LMG (DEGTYREV) | 3 (800 rd ea) | 2 (200 rd ea) |
| HMG (7.62mm MAXIM) | 1 (250 rd) | 1 (500 rd) |
| TT Pistol | 5 (50 rd ea) | 3 (40 rd ea) |
| 2d Bn: | ||
| EM | 500 | 300 |
| Off | 45 | 30 |
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| 82mm Mortar | 0 | 1 (60 rd) |
| AT Rifles | 6 (30 rd ea) | 6 (20 rd ea) |
| 3rd Regt: | ||
| Equipment & Ammo: | ||
| HMG (MAXIM) | 8 (2,500 rd ea) | 7 (300 rd ea) |
d. Personalities:
HOM, Han Su (험한수), Capt (總尉), CO, 5th Co, 2d Bn, 3d Regt, 1st Div.
e. Replacements:
No replacements received by 1st Div since its reorganization in Dec 50.
f. Food, Ammo and Other Supplies:
In NORTH KOREA, food stuffs supplied by the rear section of each regiment from each district government. In SOUTH KOREA, each platoon usually ate at a private house for one day:
Each man carried 3 days rice, 3 days wheat powder, 2 grenades, and 230 rd of ammo.
Saw a small supply dump in a village 8 km NW of TAEHWA RI (DS5350) (300 m N of the highway of the village) 28 Feb 51.
Ammo for small arms, grenades, and wheat flour were included.
Told it had been supplied by the CCF.
g. Signal:
Company and below: Runners
Battalion: Field phone (1 ea in Bn CP)
Regiment: Field phone (1 ea in Regt CP)
Division: Radio (hearsay)
h. Morale and Battle Effectiveness:
Morale of privates low because they realize superiority of UN weapons in recent battles and realized that they cannot win, despite the exhortations of the officers.
Those who had not joined Political parties entertained constant objections against NKA policy.
i. UN PW:
Saw 15 ROK PW being taken by two soldiers of 15th Div to CHECH’ON (DS3010) 8 Feb 51.
j. Medical:
Physical condition of each combatant good. No immunizations had been given.
k. Psychological Warfare:
Surrendered because he disliked NKA policy which is so unlike the propaganda and aims they claim to represent.
Saw a UN leaflet, contents of which were: “The CCF are letting you fight in front of them while they are extorting food-stuffs from your houses in the rear.”
Thought it might be true.
Never heard troops discuss leaflets because such discussions were strictly prohibited. Realized by appearance that some men in platoon entertained doubts of the NKA purposes as elucidated in leaflets.
For the AG of S, G-2:
HONG
