Civilian Tiger POWs

The civilian group with us in captivity were not turned over to the Chinese like we were, with one exception: Kiyohito Tsutsui, a Japanese National who was KP for an artillery unit. He came to Korea with that unit and was captured with us.  He was called “Mike”.  When we were turned over to the Chinese all the Officers went to the Officers camp as did Mike. Mike was repatriated at the same time we were. 22 Civilians perished in captivity which was 17%. But they are also included in the total of 58% who perished.

All the other Civilians were sent to Ujang-ni and remained under the control of the North Koreans. One more of them died there. He was Illan Kijikoff, a Russian. Those from Europe were released via the China-Trans Siberian Railroad to Moscow, where they were met by their Embassys and sent on home. And so were the Americans. 

However, some were released on March 3, 4, 5, 9 1953, before we were. 18 remained because they were stateless. They were all living in South Korea when arrested.

• Farid Salahudtin

• Alim Salahudtin (the father of that family)

• Hamid Salahudtin

• Faiza Salahudtin (The mother of that family)

• Murat Salahudtin

• Sagid Salahudtin (Author of STATELESS. Changed his name to Salah.)

• Shaucat Salahudtin

• Saida Salahuditn (Hanmore) (The only daughter of that family.)

• Sultan Ahmet (Brother of Fazia)

• Sultan Sophia (Sister of Fiaza)

• Kilin Ivan (father of the Kilin family)

• Kilin Marusya (mother of the Kilin family)

• Kilin Nicolai (Son)

• Kilin Georgi (son)

• Kilin Olga (daughter)

• Vorosoff Dimitri (father of Alexsei)

• Vorosoff, Marsara (Daulasch) (Mother of Alexsei)

• Vorosoff, Alexsei (Son) 

All of the above were Tatars (of Turkic origin), with the exception of Dimitri Vorosoff who was Russian. He and his wife Masara were married in captivity and she had Alexsei while still in captivity.

The Kilin family were Russian. In the past I listed all the Tatars as Russians.  Forgive a humble oversight. We did not have any Turks with us.

The 18 Stateless people were not released until march 1954.  If you are interested in how they came to freedom you should read “Stateless”. 

from Shorty Estabrook, July 2022