Special Operations.Com

White Star

Laos, 1959 - 1962

Overview

WHITE STAR was a clandestine operation, under the auspices of the CIA, but thru the Ambassador to Laos to "assist" Laos in fighting the communists. The teams worked with the Laotian people, mainly the Hmoungs and other ethnic groups.  It was all designed to support Vang Pao's Armee Clandestine which was supported by CIA/Air Americas Projects 404 and 603. 

LTC "Bull" Simons was the Group I commander of the first group inserted in July 1959, then called "Hotfoot", and remained for the next group (II) in Dec 59 to June of 60 when he was replaced by LTC Magnus L. Smith. In November 1960, Group IV took over, commanded by LTC John "Shark" Little, and on 28Jan61 it was augmented with a 12-man Psywar team under LTC Chuck Murray. 

In April of 1961, Group V replaced Group IV and was renamed "White Star". In October of 1961 LTC Bull Simons took command again. 

Summary of Events Leading Up to Operation WHITE STAR

(Events as recounted to Special Operations.Com by Bill Bowles)

Late in 1958 and early 1959 our political and military leaders decided to put a highly trained military force into the Laotian Kingdom (Laos) with the mission to organize, train and develop their military forces so they could control, suppress and eliminate the growing communist forces in country, The PATHET LAO.

Then LTC Arthur Simon (Legendary combat leader BULL SIMONS) was tasked to select, organize and train a staff for the mission. He was further tasked to select, organize and train Special Forces "A" teams from the 77th Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Fort Bragg, NC.

The mission was initially designated Operation Ambidextrous. Later it was changed to Operation Hot Foot. 

The Colonel was additionally tasked to develop the logistical support that would be required for a minimum six months mission. That included developing the medical, communications, postal, personnel, combat supplies, even to the development of a cover story for the deploying personnel.

All personnel (hereinafter called the team) was given intensive training and cross training. New communications equipment was introduced and taught to the team. All personnel took daily language lessons in both French and Laotian. Area studies of the country was introduced and studied. Required reading of selected books became mandatory, such books as the "Ugly American" and Street Without Joy are examples. Week after week this continued.

We were to deploy in civilian clothing, with all military identification left behind. One cover story was, we were members of a Geodetic Survey team. I think (no longer sure) there were about seven, 12 man A teams and the staff to be deployed, 
Somewhere around one hundred-four personnel in all. 

After weeks of training in June 1959 at 0330 hours we departed Fort Bragg. All our equipment and personnel loaded aboard two C124's both decks on each plane loaded to the hilt. All dressed in our civilian clothes.

We landed in California and stayed for a couple of days. Reloaded and was ready to continue the journey. The engine on one of the planes caught fire which delayed the second plane departure for a day or so. The team continued on to Kadena AFB on Okinawa. There a hitch developed as the India representative to the UN questioned our status and our mission. We had to stay on Okinawa for couple of weeks while that was straighten out. Finally the full team was ready to go. We flew from Kadena AFB to Bangkok, Thailand. There we loaded onto C-54's and flew into Vientiane, Laos.

Once there rapport was established with the American Ambassador and the MAAG group in country. All A teams were deployed throughout the country, from Pakse to Plain DE Belovens, from Savanaket to Saravan. In civilian clothes they began to accomplish the mission they had been assigned. A communications net was established and operational, a logistical support system established and became operational. 

June soon became January, the team was extended past the 180 day Max TDY status and continued their operations. Finally the order was given that replacement teams would arrive. The operation was changed to Operation Whitestar. Colonel Simon and selected members of his staff remained to lead the replacement teams. The original A teams redeployed back to Fort Bragg in late February 1960. The 77th SFG(A) had been redesignated the 7th SFG(A).

Whitestar teams continued to deploy and rotate in and out of Laos. IN 1961 the Special Forces initial A team entry and buildup began in South Vietnam. Our SF troops in Laos rotated in and out of the country for the next ten years. I do not know when the end of Operation Whitestar was declared.

Chronological Overview 

July 59 - "Hotfoot" advance party arrived in Vientiane.

17 Dec 60 - Kong Le's coup fell - Mission Militair Francaise d'Instruction withdrawn/

13 Feb 61 - PEO (Project Evaluation Office) requests 9 additional teams (PEO-OPT627) to supplement - authorized strength of 12 - 11 man teams, a 22 man control team. 

19 Apr 61- MAAG is established to replace PEO.

22 Apr 61 - FTT-54 (Cpt Walter Moon team CO) at Ban Pha Home is overrun - Cpt Moon captured and held prisoner until he died - was awarded Silver Star posthumously.

3 May 61 - Truce 

13 May 61 - Team FB-A "Operation Pin Cusion", K-1 Kha Hune (natives) "Kha Maquis" is formed.

16 Aug 61 - 12 additional SF intel specialists authorized.

23Jul62 Declaration of Neutrality signed, White Star peak strength was 433. 

SF losses in LAOS between 1959 and 1962: All were from 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

MIA - BNR (body not recovered) Sgt Gerald M Biber, 4/22/61

MIA - BNR - Sgt John M Bischoff, 4/22/61

MIA - Killed in Captivity - CPT Walter Moon, 7/22/61

KIA - Sgt Theodore Berlett, 1/28/62

MIA - SSG Raymond Parkes, 7/17/62

Supplemental Reading Materials

"Land of a Million Elephants", by Asa Baber, Morrow books, 1970; 

"The War in Laos", Kenneth Conboy, Osprey books, 1989;

"Code-name: Copperhead", Joe Garner, Simon & Shuster, 1994; 

"Operation White Star", Richard Sutton, Daring Books, 1990.

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