Originator: ARMY
From: USA
Document date: 1953-11-06 00:00:00
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

# DOCID-32324510

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JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

6/8/2015

AGENCY: FBI

RECORD NUMBER :

124-90029-10002

RECORD SERIES: HQ

AGENCY FILE NUMBER: CR 100-408384-1

Document Information

ORIGINATOR: ARMY

FROM:

USA

TO:

TITLE:

Released under the John F. Kennedy

Assassination Records Collection Act of

1992 |44 USC 2107 Notel. Case#:NW

66000 Date: 11-03-2021

DATE:

PAGES:

SUBJECTS :

11/06/1953

7

THOMAS R. PEASNER

[Restricted]

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified

• RESTRICTIONS: 3

CURRENT STATUS :

Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 09/15/1998

OPENING CRITERIA: APPROVAL OF USA

COMMENTS: SUMMARY;

v9.1

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DECLASSIFIED BY ARMY

14-21-48

marina

SECURITY

FORMATION

HEADQUARTERS

rumentire

SIXTH ARMY

PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2

8-5-98

GENERAL MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

RECAP-K PHASE III INTERROGATION

6 November 1953

SUBJECT:

HIBBERD, winthrop b.

Corporal, RA 193609997

CRF No C-8053239

ALL FBI IRFORMATION CONTAINED

HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED

DATE 5 - 7-95.84. 51648 5LD KSR

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

(JEK)

HIBBERD, Hinthrop B., RA 19360997, Corporal,

-Caucasian, twenty-one (21)

years of age, eleven (11)

years formal education, home address - c/our.

Bernard BRENER, 1228 So. Lane St., Burbank, California.

Subject surrendered to the CCF at NUNG-GOL, Korea on 18 May 1951.

Subject stated that His group which was down to three (3) men, was surrounded

and they were trying to fight their way out when they surrendered.

When He surrendered Subject had a Heavy Weapons MOS, He acted as a

platoon runner, assistant radio operator and ammo bearer in Company D, Ist

Battalion, 38th Regiment, 2nd Division.

Subject was returned to UN control at "PANMUNJON" on 19 Aug 53. He

was returned to CONUS on the USNS Marine Adder on 5 Sep 53.

In the Psychiatric Survey it was stated that Subject was marched to

the north for nine (9) days after his surrender, but then managed to escape

for four (4) days before His recapture. No other details given.

Subject was interned at the following locations:

CAMP OR PLACE

LOCATION

DATES

"Mining Camp"

Camp #1

(none given)

CHANGSONG

July - 18 Sep

51

6 Det 51 - 13 Aug 53

1. War Crimes and Atrocities.

HIBBERD was present at the "Mining Camp" from Jun 51 to Sep 51

when approximately 250 PaW, mostly American, died of malnutrition, dysentery,

and exposure.

HIBBERD can

testify that many

Pal were without shoes and

possessed only the minimum of clothing.

2. Escape and Evagion

100-4083845

ENCLOSURE

SOMET

DENTIAL

SECURITY L

FORMATION

Copy_

_Copies

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CONSID

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ATION

HIBBERD, Winthrop Bee RA 19360997e Gpl

Subject claims to have knowledge of escape attempts, but further ques-

tioning discloses that He had reference to several apur of the moment and

abortive efforts on the part of individual prisoners.

3. UN Propaganda Broadcasts and Leaflets

HIBBERD saw one leaflet drop approximately 50 miles north of the

38th parallel in Central Korea. Later He had occasion to observe one of the

leaflets closely, and He remembers that it pictured an oriental begring for

food. He saw some of the leaflets

piled up in'a Korean house and others

being used as wall paper.

4. Foreign Heapons and Equipment

HIBBERD could not recall seeing weapons or equipment of unusual

design.

5. Health and Medical Service

HIBBERD had but meager knowledge of this subjeot. He made no

mention of the prevalence of any disease, and the only medical facility He

observed was the hospital at Camp #1. He describes this as a small 1nst1-

tution capable of handling 30 patients at one time. The attendants were

very poorly trained; and, while drugs and equipment were in evidence, they

were used

sparingly. HIBRERD recalled that there was a marked difference

in the food and living standards of the CCF and the native Koreans.

was not because the CCF had plenty, but

because the North Korean civilians

had so little.

6. Communist Political Indoctrination

HIBBERD received the full range of indoctrination consisting of

lectures, study periods, conferences, and Communist reading matter.

He nas

told to ask His friends and relatives at home to fight for peace and to

have them petition their senators.

7. Chinese, North Korean, and Soviet Army, Navy, and Air Force

a. Military Installation

(1) HIBBERD stated that He saw about twelve (12) jet bombers

and flfteen (15) MIG fighter planes land approximately 10 miles south of

PYONGYANG on or about 15 Aug 53.

(2) Early in His captivity HIBRERD saw a repair plant at the

Mining Camp. The plant contained a machine shop equiped with lathes, milling

machines, drill presses, and electric welding equipment.

(3) HIBRERD remembered that He saw a radio station at CHANGSONG,

Camp #1, while He was Interned there.

A Psi, who claimed to be familiar with

2

CONFID

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NTIAL

MATION 1

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CONFIDEN

SECURITY INEERMATION

HIBBERD, Winthrop Bee RA 19360997, Ep]

radio equipment, told Him that the station had a range of 10 megacycles, and

was the center-fed antenna type.

ba MIlftary Movement

HIBBERD recalled that approximately 1500 southbound enemy troops

moved through Camp #1 in Jun 53.

c. Military Construction

Subject's only observation of military construction was at

PYONGYANG while enroute to PANMUNION for repatriation. He said that the

Chinese were laying new railroad tracks.

d. Special Defensive Measures

(1) At Camp #1, HIBBERD reported, that the CCF used bunker-

type shelters covered with logs and dirt.

Tree branches and limbs were used

as camouflage on positions and trucks.. In the winter time the trucks were

splashed with white wash.

(2) Camp #1, was completely ercompassed by a trench and fox

holes.

(3) Large amounts of food were delivered to Camp #1 in the

fall of 1952.

internment.

•(4) Air raids vere fairly regular at Camp #1 during HIBBERD'S

The air raid signal was communicated by a siren. Blackouts -

were frequently enforcod.

(5) Nearer the front lines, HIBBERD noticed that the air raid

alert was signalid by rifle fire.

e. Military Training

HIBBERD recalls seeing military training during his captivity

but he does not say, where, whenior whom He saw tralning..

He remembered that

the training consisted of hand grenade practice and emall unit maneuvers.

f. Personalities

HIBBERD had no knowledge of any important enemy personalities

at the camps of His internment.

5. Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBR)

Subject saw no evidence of CBR equipment in North Korea.

h. Enemy Intentiong

3

CONFID

UNTIAL

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CONFIDE

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LALI

•DON

HIBBERD, Winthrop Bee RA 19360997, Col

HIBBERD recalled that, "they talked like they were going to

keep the peaœ."

8. Treatment and Internment

a. Ireatment of UN PaW

HIBBERD described His first search as being very light. He

kept His hand grenades after being searched. He recalled that medical care

vas inadequate at first but improved later. He was photographed in early

1952 at Camp #1 but was not fingerprinted. Recreational equipment, consisting

of volleyballs, basketballs, soccerballs, softballs, ping pong balle, tables,

and nets, cards, chess sets, checkers, and Chinese pool, was available.

Punishment consisted of self-criticism, wood chopping, confinement, hard labor,

and cages. The Chinese Issued safe-conduct passes at the front lines, prom-

Ising good treatment and medical care for the wounded. Routine work at camp

consisted of wood gathering, ration handling, and general company detalls.

b. Enemy Interrogation

Immediately after capture, HIBBERD was questioned about the

organisation of His unit, about the meaning of the different colored flares,

and why UN troops. had a search light on all of the time. Later He was asked

personal questions, Including His past milltary training and history.

c. Prison Camps and Staging Areas

(1) Mining Camps - located in a medium sized valley with a

small river running through 1t.

The camp contained an ore processing plant

and had cable buckets coming to it from the mountain.

The stream was always

milky from the ore processing.

While HIBBERD was there the Psi population

was approximately 400. He couldnot estimate the number of PsW of the

varlous UN nationalities.

(2) Camp#l is described by HIBBERD as being located in the

village of CHANGSONG. The village and camp were in a small valley with a

river running through 1t. At the time of HIBBERD'S Internment the PsW

population was about 1400 British and Americans.

(3) From the place of ills capture near NUNG-GOL, Korea, HIBBERD

was marched

, always at night, along mountain paths, roads, and rallroads to

the "Mining Camp". From the

"Mining Camp". He was again marched under identical

conditions to Camp #1.

d. Camp Administration

HIBBERD listed the following as being in Camp #1:

(1) Headquarters of all camps.

CONAIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION

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CONFIDEN

SECURTY iNFORMANON

RIBBERD, Winthrop Bee RA 193609975 (pI

(2)

Three Regimental Commanders

(3)

Three Regimental Instructors

(4)

Company Commanders

(

5)

Assistant Company Commanders

6)

Company Instructors

(7)

Platoon Leaders

(8)

Platoon Instructors

8.

Mail and Censorship

HIBBERD received approximately 40 letters, intermittently,

during His confinement. All of the letters were open when received, and He

was limited to three (3) outgoing letters a month. HIBBERD mentioned that

the Chinese tried to influence the Pal by explaining what they were to write

in their letters.

f. US Broadcaste, Periodicals, and News Releases

HIBHERD stated that US broadcasts were not heard in camp, and

the only Ilterature He saw was the Readers Digest, cartoons, and sports news.

go Enemy News

HIBBERD recalled that Radio MOSCOW was heard a fer times a

week and Radio PEIPING every night. Newspapers, magazines, and other pub-

lications emanating from the following listed countries werè available:..

(1)

China:

(a)

China Monthly Review

(b)

Peoples China

(c)

Shanghai News

(d) China Pictorial

(2) U.S.S.R.

(a)

Soviet Literature

• (b)

Novels by Marx, Lenin, Stalin, and Engels

(3)

Bulgaria

(a)

Bulgaria Today

(4) Czechoslovakia

(a) Czeckoslovakia Life

(5)

Britain

(a)

London Dally Worker

(b) I Appeal

(6)

U.S.

(a)

(b)

New York Daily Worker

National Guardian

CONAIDATIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION

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CONFICE

TAL

SECURITY INS

MATION

HIBBERD, Winthrop Ber RA 19360997, Cpl

h. Enemy Psylar Agencies

HIBBERD had no knowledge of PsyWar Agencies.

9 Activities in Enemy Rear Areas

a. Enemy Attitudes

HIBBERD stated that front line troops were more understanding

of isw and would share things with them. The rear area troops, on the other

hand, were just the opposite.

He could recall no incidents of a friendly

nature on the part of the enemy. He claimed that He made no friends, thinks

bribery would be impossible, and belleves Chinese and North Koreans dislike

each other.

b. Sabotage, Guerrilla Warfare, and Underground Activity

Forced (Slave) Labor

d.

Psychological Vulnerabilities

-

Subject gave no information partinent to the following:

b, c, and d.

10. Enemy Intelligence Activities

a. Enemy Intelligence

HIBBERD stated that the guards at camp reported to Regimental

Headquarters. He also recalled that the enemy seaned completely supplied

with US Army TO&Es.

b. Communication Security

On this subject HIBBERD mentioned that He was asked If He knew

any codes. He neither heard nor saw any Instances of the enemy monitoring

UN communications.

11. Others

HIBBERD had no Information on any of the coastal areas in enemy

torritory.

He remembered that the terrain was mountainous, that traffic was

usually heavy on roads, but that rain would flood roads and snow would cause

land slides. He observed that everything seemed to have been bombed out, but

that the railroads were still operating.

12. Towns, Industry, and Mining

Subject had no Information pertinent to this toplo.

6

SECURITY

P. TOMA

2....

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CONST

SECURiTY IMFORMATION

HIBBERD, Winthrop Bes RA 19360997, Cpl

13 •

Recommendationg

The members of the JIPB Indicated no further Interest in HIBBERD.

he apparently answered all questions to the best of His ability. Since He

as in no particular position to observe incidents or objects of good military

intelligence value it is doubted that further Interrogation would be productive.

DISTRIBUTION:

10 - G2 DEPTAR

19 - G2 AFFE

1 - G2 CONUS ARMY (5)

1 • G2 MDW

1 - G2 USARPAC

1 - G2 USARCARIB

2 = File

7

(CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INF

ARMATION

DS

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