Kong Le
As 1959 ended, the ANL undertook a wider offensive against the Pathet Lao, and most active in the counter-insurgency operations was the crack 2e BP led by Capt. Kong Le. When the situation worsened for the airborne forces after several weary months of combat, Kong Le decided to take matters into his own hands. On 9 August 1960, while most Royal Lao Government dignitaries were in Luang Prabang attending King Sisavang Vong's funeral, the 2e BP under the command of Capt. Kong Le seized control of Vientiane in a nearly bloodless coup d'état in order "to restore neutrality to Laos". After dissolving the right-wing cabinet of Prince Samsanith, Kong Le invited Prince Souvanna Phouma to form a neutralist coalition government and then announced that the new cabinet would be open to both the Royalists and the Marxist Pathet Lao. The latter took immediate advantage of Kong Le's offer, and began sending their forces into the capital. The Soviet Union assisted the Pathet Lao by airlifting in supplies and an NVA artillery battery equipped with captured M101A1 105mm Howitzers.