Re: Questions on NKPA

[<GRBroman@aol.com>]

To expand slightly on Ed's excellent response: The NKPA also collected battlefield intelligence by lower level collection efforts such as reconnaissance units and patrolling.  Those are still very effective means of collecting tactical intelligence, and even strategic intelligence (i.e. why am I up to my ears in Chinese prisoners from the 3rd Route Army? But I digress.)  Electronic and radio intelligence collection efforts can also help paint the battlefield picture, although I'm not sure exactly how well equipped the NKPA was with these types of units in 1950, they did use them later in the war.  As to the 24 INF Reg "Eleanors Rifles", Eleanor Roosevelt was the namesake, she was a champion of civil rights and equal rights.  IIRC, she also lent her support to the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII.  Hope this helps.  
Glen

> >>     1. How did the NKPA obtain battlefield intelligence in the face of
>American air superiority? More specifically, was there a significant number
>of communist sympathizers among the ROK army that leaked information to the
>NKPA?

 From a practical point, the majority of battlefield intelligence gathered 
by the NKPA was from talking to local citizens and captured South 
Korean/American soldiers.  Very little came from communist sympathizers in 
the ROK Army although there were a number of "moles."  These moles were 
generally ineffective because they lacked a means of transmitting 
information without exposing themselves.

> >>      2. Were there political officers attached to NKPA combat units to
>enforce moral and aid in the conscription of South Koreans?<<

Yes.

> >>       4. In the book, Terry refers to the 24th regiment as "Eleanor's
>Rifles," Is this by chance referring to Eleanor Roosevelt? If so, why? <<

Not sure but likely referred to Eleanor Roosevelt.  The 24th Inf. Rgt. was
an "all black" unit.