LAOTIAN HIGHWAY PATROL - Operation White Star – Laos – 7^th Special Forces - Recon

US SPECIAL FORCES - MACV SOG

Initially instigated by the SOE in 1959 ‘Operation White Star’ was set-up to train members of the Meo Tribe to resist the growing threat of the Pathet Lao, the Communist's in Laos.

Operation White Star was discontinued in 1962 after the Geneva Accords. It was revived with a defined role and renewed vigour in 1965.

Led by US Special Forces, Major Larry Thorne, Op 35 (Operation White Star and later named Operation Shining Brass) was set-up to fight the Pathet Lao and the North Vietnamese inside Laos. It consisted of three stages;

US Special Forces Recon into Laos (from South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia) to identify trails used and base camps of enemy.

US Special Forces led, Exploitation Commando units including Montagnard Special Forces annihilation of VC / Pathet Lao Base Camps.

US Special Forces Operatives remaining in Laos after Operations to set-up Resistance Cells amongst the locals, these units called the 'White Star Resistance'.

They operated from the US Special Forces camp at Kham Duc on the Laos Border.

Note: It should be noted that Major Larry Thorne was a native Finn and a winner of the highest Military Award of Finland, The Mannerheim Cross, on two occasions for his defence against Soviet Attacks in WWII including an ambush on a Russian Convoy that led to the deaths of over 300 Soviets without him losing one Man.

 

During WWII he commanded Finnish Commandos behind Soviet Lines to harass their advance - At the end of WWII he joined the US Army, under the Lodge Bill, as a Private, volunteered for Special Forces and within months was commissioned a Captain.

The first operation of the renewed Op 35 (White Star) took place in October 1965 - During this operation, before a shot had been fired inside Laos by the newly formed group, the helicopter carrying Larry Thorne, all passengers and crew were lost.

Operation White Star, Officially Operation 35, later to be known as Operation Shining Brass was to continue in varying forms and with varying names through to the end of the war.