What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Department of the Army memorandum on Chinese prisoners of war, dated October thirtieth, nineteen fifty, hosted in the public archive of The Black Vault. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault’s online collection. The digitized text is presented as a scanned copy of the original Army memorandum and is identified by the archive entry for “US Intelligence on China CI00539.” The release is part of the broader declassification effort that makes historical intelligence records available to researchers and the public. The memorandum reads as follows: “SECRET DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF, G‑2, INTELLIGENCE WASHINGTON D.C. October fifty. MEMORANDUM FOR: VICE CHIEF OF STAFF. The following is paraphrased information from the 0700 teleconference with Tokyo this date: The Eighth Army reported as of the thirtieth of October the Tenth Republic of Korea Regiment captured two Chinese prisoners of war in the vicinity of Hyanggye on twenty‑ninth October. These prisoners claim to be from the third Battalion, three‑hundred‑sixtieth Regiment, one‑hundred‑twentieth Division, fortieth Chinese Communist Forces Army, and further claimed to have had training in offensive tactics. On the same date, the United States Regimental Combat Team reported the capture of three Chinese prisoners, but to date a report of a name has not been received. The first Republic of Korea Division captured one prisoner in the vicinity of Unsan who stated he was a member of the third Battalion, three‑hundred‑fifty‑fifth Regiment, one‑hundred‑nineteenth Division, fortieth Chinese Communist Forces Army. This prisoner further stated the one‑hundred‑nineteenth Division was composed of the three‑hundred‑fifty‑fifth, three‑hundred‑fifty‑sixth and five‑hundred‑fifty‑seventh Regiments. He reported the division had crossed the Yalu River in the vicinity of Sinulju on or about twentieth October and all movements had been made at night. He stated the division arrived in the Unsan area on twenty‑eighth October and that there were few Korean interpreters in his command as all combat personnel are Chinese. This unit, he stated, was issued winter uniforms at Antung in early October. These uniforms were standard Chinese Communist Forces type and very similar to North Korean People’s Army uniforms. The comment from G‑2 Tokyo on the above report is as follows: “Units mentioned not yet accepted.” The following is comment of G‑2, Department of the Army: Although the G‑2 Tokyo does not accept Communist forces as units within the combat zone in North Korea, it is quite apparent that resistance has stiffened and there is a great effort toward a coordinated defense. It must be again realized that the Chinese Communist Forces Army northwest of the Yalu River has the capability of infiltrating forces either into the North Korean Army or of supporting the North Korean forces by combat units detached from the fortieth Chinese Communist Forces…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-002Declassified

Filed OCT 30 · 2026Runtime 1 min

NSA Department Of The Army Memorandum On Chinese Prisoners Of War, Dated October

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated October 30, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Department of the Army memorandum on Chinese prisoners of war, dated October thirtieth, nineteen fifty, hosted in the public archive of The Black Vault. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault’s online collection.

Date: OCT 30 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was NSA Department Of The Army Memorandum On Chinese Prisoners Of War, Dated October about?: This is a declassified Department of the Army memorandum on Chinese prisoners of war, dated October thirtieth, nineteen fifty, hosted in the public archive of The Black Vault. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault’s online collection.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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