15 April 1960, the entire SF establishment was formally brought under the Army’s new Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS). This paper scheme initially provided for a maximum of 24 SF Groups, initially all in the Active Component (AC).
77th SFG(A) was deactivated and the unit was reflagged as the 7th SFG(A) on 20 May 1960.
The 7th SFG(A) was organized under TO&E 33-105D, dated 21 Mar 60. This new TO&E brought the Special Forces units in line with the US Army unit organizations and terminology.
The 7th SFG(A) be responsible for training the Soldiers volunteering for Special Forces.
7th SFG(A) CDR: Col Donald D. Blackburn
A Co CDR:
B Co CDR:
1LT Blackburn was an adviser the headquarters battalion of the 12th Infantry Regiment when the Japanese invaded the Philippines on 8 Dec 1941. LT Blackburn and Major Russel Volckmann evaded to Northern Luzon and spent the next 3 years organizing and leading a Guerrilla force until the liberation of the Phillipines in 1944. COL Blackburn commanded the 7th SFG(A) from April to Aug 1960.
BG Donald Blackburn
7th SFG(A) Gallery-HOTFOOT / WHITE STAR
With the French withdraw from their former IndoChina colony and the growing Communist threat, the US DOD and CIA developed a plan for Laos. Project HOTFOOT under the President Dwight D. Eisenhower administration and later under the John F. Kennedy administration. Project WHITE STAR were part of the DOD plan to improve the capabilites of the Laotian military. Seven U.S. Army Special Forces rotations from July 1959 to October 1962, were the basis of this plan. These SF soldiers came from the 77th SFG(A), 7th SFG(A), and 1st SFG(A). Project HOTFOOT from July 1959 to April 1961, non-uniformed SF teams, worked for Programs Evaluation Office a covert CIA paramilitary mission. Operation WHITE STAR opened April 1961 under the establishment of Military Assistance and Advisory Group Laos. From April 1961, until Oct 1962, uniformed US Special Forces troops trained the Lao military and the Laotian tribes.
5 US troops were killed and a number were wounded in support of Projects HOTFOOT and WHITE STAR.
7th SFG(A) troops in Laos during Operation White Star
Courtesy of Paul Miraldi
7th SFG(A) Soliders during White Star operations in Laos.
Photo: Paul Miraldi
US Special Forces troops test fire M-1919 LMGs and BARs
MAJ Cooper, BN Surgeon with 2 Laotian Soldiers
MAJ Faistenhammer with 2 UKN MAAG-LAOS officers
SGT Faistenhammer served as a tank commander in WW2 with the 80th ID, from Aug 1944 to the end of the war. Lt faistenhammer served as a platoon leader and later Company Commander for the 7th Ranger Company in the Korean war. Major Faistenhammer would serve in Laos, during White Star. LTC Faistenhammer would serve with 5th SFG(A) in Vietnam and Germany.
COL Ludwig Faistenhammer
7th SFG(A) Documents-HOTFOOT / WHITE STAR
7th SFG(A) troops were sent TDY to Laos from Sep 1961 - Mar 1962, in support of Operation White Star. This was the 6th rotation of Special Forces troops to Laos.
The deployment of 63 troops, consisted of 4 B-teams, supporting 9 FA/FTT teams working with the Loatian Army and the Hmong tribes, in the fight against Pathet Lao and their North Vietnamese allies.
The FA teams in the field operated as split teams, teams divided in half, with 5-7 men per team.
The teams working with the Hmongs in the mountains, stayed in the field for the entire deployment. Their only contact, with the outside world was the CIA-Air American H-34 flights, and their team radios.
7th SFG(A) 180 day TDY Orders, from Sep 1961 - Mar 1962
Courtesy of Art Walker
7th SFG(A) Legacy
Lao, Hmong, American Veteran Memorial
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7th SFG(A) Section Notes
1 This is phase 1, of a 5-phase plan, that will cover from activation in 1960 to today.
a. Phase 1: Beginning until 62
b. Phase 2: 1963-1970
c. Phase 3: 1970-1980s
d. 1990s-2000:
e. GWOT-today
2. I am looking for the following from the 7th SFG(A):
a. Photos-preferably with story-dates
b. Stories-that need to be told/remembered
c. Documents
i. Orders, recruiting flyers / posters, unit rosters...etc.
d. FA / ODA Detachment numbers and location
i. Ft Bragg
ii. Panama
iii. Eglin AFB
7th SFG(A) troops in Laos during Operation White Star
Courtesy of Paul Miraldi
MAJ Walter H Moon
SFC John M. Bischoff
Sgt. Gerald M. Biber
SGT Berlett, Theodore J.
SSG Parkes, Raymond F.
CPT Walter Moon was assigned to B Co 7th SFG(A), he commander of FTT 59 in Laos. On April 22, 1961, while under heavy artillery fire his four-man team operating alongside the 6th Bataillon d'Infanterie (Lao) north of Vang Vieng, Laos, was quickly overran by the Pathet Lao. CPT Moon was captured and would later be executed by the Pathet Lao.
SFC John M. Bischoff assigned to B Co 7th SFG(A), he was the medic on FTT 59. On April 22, 1961, while under heavy artillery fire the four-man team operating alongside the 6th Bataillon d'Infanterie (Lao) north of Vang Vieng, Laos, was quickly overran by the Pathet Lao. SFC Bischoff was reported killed during an attempt to break out, by the survivors of the Lao BN.
SGT Gerald M. Biber SFC John M. Bischoff assigned to B Co 7th SFG(A), he was the Radioman on FTT 59 in Laos. On April 22, 1961, while under heavy artillery fire the four-man team operating alongside the 6th Bataillon d'Infanterie (Lao) north of Vang Vieng, Laos, was quickly overran by the Pathet Lao. SGT Biber was reported killed during an attempt to break out, by the survivors of the Lao BN.
SGT Theodore Berlett was killed in a tragic training accident on 28 Jan 1962. SGT Berlett was the Engineer Sergeant on FTT , during the sixth rotation of HOTFOOT/WHITE STAR mission. SGT Berlet was assigned to B Co, 7th SFG(A).
On July 14, 1962, a US Gov't contracted aircraft took off on a flight from Vientiane, Laos, to Saravane, Laos, with a scheduled stop at Paksane, Laos. The aircraft was piloted by Allan Blewett, with SSG Raymond Parkes and a Thai interpreter as passengers. SSG Parks was the Weapons Sergeant on FTT-11, part of the 7th rotation on HOT/WHITE STAR mission. The aircraft failed to arrive at Paksane, and no distress signals were received. A four-day search and rescue effort over the plane's route failed to locate a crash site. All three men were declared missing.