Operation White Star
Appearance
Operation WHITE STAR was the code name of U.S. Military Assistance to Laos. The first 107 United States Army Special Forces troopers of the 77th Special Forces Group arrived in Laos in July 1959 under the code name Operation Hot Foot and were led by Lieutenant Colonel Arthur D. "Bull" Simons. The Special Forces men trained the Royal Laotian Army in counterinsurgency operations against the Pathet Lao. Due to the neutrality of Laos the "Green Berets" did not wear their United States Army uniforms. The programme was renamed "Operation White Star" in 1961 with the Special Forces men openly wearing their uniforms. Operation White Star formally ended with in July 1962. U.S. Army Special Forces History of Laos