Evening star., 1950-11-23
GIs Think Communists
Freed Them Only for
Propaganda Purpose
Continued From First Page.)

NAAAASoS S0NS AACN4Cd1
wounded with what limited ia.
cilities they had.
These reports of good treatment
were in sharp contrast to the
brutality suffered by American.
at the hands of the North Ko.
Iean Reds.
None of the GIs knew why he
was chosen to be freed rather than
other Americans held in villages
near the Manchuria border.
Twenty-three of the prisoners
were captured near Unsan early
in November, when the Chinese
Reds ambushed the 9th Cavalry
Regiment. The other four were
from the 10Th Regiment Of the
United States oath Division.
Sergeant Tells Story.
The hospital commandant re-
fused to permit the use of Army
prisoners names. This was the
story of freed sergeant:
''The Chinese Reds attacked us
at 1890 am. October 80. They
opened up from the north. I was
in ditch watching the fight when
somebody yelled: My God, here
they are
Il looked around and the first
thing I saw was a long bayonet
on the end of rifle. I fired once
and missed. I fell to the ground
and the Red soldier shot me in
the right side.
Soon kid fell on top of me
and the Chinese soldiers shot him
twice. The kid saved my life.
don't know who he was. Then he
died while lying on top of me.
And I played dead. Then it
seemed the whole Communist line
ran over me-"
! The Americans counterattacked
and the Reds withdrew.
The Americans set I'D a peri
meter defense. The wounded
crawled into a dugout as the fight
ragged around them.
There were Is or 20 of us in
there" the sergeant said. "The
Chinese came up so close they
were throwing grenades into the,
dugout. But they were beaten
OFF"
White Flag Waved.
The next day the Reds attacked
again. And again they tossed
grenades into the dugout. The
sergeant added:
The Catholic priest was with
us. Some men began calling to
him to surrender. He did not want
to surrender, but he said it was
his duty. About 1880 $3.50 pm. }
he waved white flag in sur
lrender and the Reds came into
the dugout."
The Reds took 10 men from
the dugout, but suddenly with
drew when fired upon. They re-
newed the attack the next morn
ing.
The American defense held all
day. But after sundown, the
americans began withdrawal
Faking all the wounded who could
walk.
The sergeant continued:
1.-The Commies came in about
l20o0 g p.ni9 with flashlights and
lone of our men said, We give up,'
"Al of us who could stand were
lined up against an embankment
and a Red captain told us not
to be afraid.
He said they would not hurt
us and would take care of u.s."
Pockets Not Searched.
The sergeant said the Chinese
did not look in the pockets of
the Americans and left them their
cigarettes, watches and other per-
sonal belongings.
The men were marched north
ward to village near the Man
fchurian border. They were given
daily lectures on Red ideals and
the ills of capitalism.
A corporal said the questions
asked by the Reds were more
political than military.
They wanted to know" he said,
l"what we were fighting for, if
I'VE were afraid to die, and why we
were in the Army"
Three days ago Sunday the
Reds selected n men, separated
them from the other prisoners and
ftook them to house where they
were fed rice, barley, meat and
vegetables. Then they were load
ed into trucks for an all-night
drive.
The men were hidden in VIII
lage the next day to escape U.N
planes. They were loaded into
trucks for a second all-night
drive.
The next day they hid in a
dugout until nightfall.
Again they were loaded into
trucks and driven south. They
! dismounted and the Chinese Red
guards told them they were re-
turning to their own lines.
Thought 1t Was Trap.
One CT said, 81 honestly didn't
believe them. I thought it was q
trap"
Another soldier said, I'VE prayed
to that man up above every night
And when we came out, we prayed
for the boys left behind"
The Chinese guards-five of then
shook hands with the men anc
told them to march down the road
The Reds then left the Americans
Two sergeants and a corpora
decided they would go in front Of
the group as a sort of advanced
guard.
1--WE figured we might be am.
bushed," the corporal said. "Wt
did not know what might happen
THE three of us decided W.
would take our chances ahead
We felt if we lost our lives it woult
not be in vain as the others woult
have a chance to get away"
So the little column marched
riovyy, the rnoI cix,o1o EIo i, ~.