Nguyễn Văn Kiệt
Nguyễn Văn Kiệt | |
---|---|
Born | Near Petty Officer Third Class | March 23, 1945
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards | Navy Cross (United States) |
Nguyễn Văn Kiệt (born March 23, 1945)
In April 1972,
Rescue operations
Kiệt was a member of the Vietnamese frogmen Naval Advisory Detachment, Sea Commando team, from Đà Nẵng. He was assigned to assist Norris in bringing three downed U.S. airmen from more than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) behind enemy lines. OV-10 pilot Clark was closest to the team's position and would be rescued first. Clark was relayed instructions to get in the water and float downstream where Norris and his team would intercept him. Lt. Col. Andrew E. Anderson (USMC) ordered Norris to take his team no more than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) forward and wait for the survivors to come to them, but Norris defied the order, turned off his radio and avoiding numerous enemy patrols, went twice that distance.[2] Anderson, Norris, and Kiệt, along with four other Vietnamese commandos set up an overwatch position near the Miêu Giang River, which ran near the positions of both downed airmen.[3]: 244
Clark was seriously weakened by five days hiding from the enemy with little to eat. On the night of 9 April, Norris, Kiệt and the commandos retrieved him from the river and got him to friendly territory. The next night they set out to find Hambleton. During their search that night two of the commandos refused to press the mission further, saying they "refused to follow an American just to rescue an American."[4] As dawn approached, Norris was going to proceed alone when Kiệt[2] volunteered to stay with him.[5] They took an abandoned sampan and cautiously searched the river shore for two more hours without success. They reluctantly returned to their forward operating base to rest and hope they would be more successful the next night.[2] Forward air controller Harold Icke on Bilk 11 fixed Hambleton's position during the day so Norris and Kiệt could find him that night.[6]
On the night of 12 April, Norris and Kiệt found a deserted village and clothing which they used to disguise themselves as fishermen.[7] They took advantage of the abandoned sampan to row quietly up the river. Even in the pitch dark and dense fog, they could see large numbers of North Vietnamese soldiers and tanks on the shoreline. Traveling upriver in the sampan, they broke out of the heavy fog and found themselves under the Cam Lộ bridge. They had passed Hambleton's position more than 30 minutes previously. Turning around, they finally found Hambleton sitting in a clump of bushes, alive but partly delirious. Sunrise was coming, and although Norris thought it best to wait until dark to return downriver, he needed to be evacuated immediately. Despite the risk, they hid Hambleton in the bottom of the sampan, covered him with bamboo, and started downriver.[2]
Their sampan was soon spotted by North Vietnamese troops, some of whom fired at them, but Norris and Kiệt could not afford to return fire. They traveled down river and Norris called in air support to eliminate the North Vietnamese shooting at them from the northern bank. They
Post war
Kiệt became a U.S. citizen in 1984 and moved to Seattle, where he worked for the Boeing Corporation for almost 20 years before retiring in 2005.[8]
Thomas Norris readily supported nomination of Kiệt for the Navy Cross, the highest award the United States Navy can give to a foreign national.[9]
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to:
- NGUYEN VAN KIET, PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS, NAVY OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
- Citation
For extraordinary heroism while serving with friendly forces engaged in armed conflict against the
Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam. He courageously volunteered to accompany a United States SEAL Advisor Thomas R. Norris (Medal Of Honor) in an extremely hazardous attempt to reach the aviator, who was physically unable to move toward friendly positions. Using a sampanand traveling throughout the night, they silently made their way deep into enemy territory, past numerous major enemy positions, locating the pilot at dawn. Once, after being spotted by a North Vietnamese patrol, he calmly continued to keep the enemy confused as the small party successfully evaded the patrol. Later, they were suddenly taken under heavy machine gun fire. Thinking first of the pilot, he quickly pulled the sampan to safety behind a bank and camouflaged it while air strikes were called on the enemy position. Due to Petty Officer Kiet's coolness under extremely dangerous conditions and his outstanding courage and professionalism, an American aviator was recovered after an eleven-day ordeal behind enemy lines. His self-discipline, personal courage, and dynamic fighting spirit were an inspiration to all; thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and the Naval Service.
See also
- Nguyễn Qúy An – Major in the Republic of Vietnam Air Force and a recipient of the United States Distinguished Flying Cross.
- Studies and Observations Group
References
- ^ Haseman, John (2018-06-06). "Unsung Hero in the Amazing Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo". HistoryNet. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
Nguyen Van Kiet was born March 23, 1945, near Saigon.
- ^ a b c d Mack, Amy P. (26 July 2010). "The Rescue of BAT-21". Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ISBN 978-1-59228-483-2.
- ISBN 1-55750-946-8.
- ^ Haseman, John B. (December 2008). "The Unsung Hero in the Amazing Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo" (PDF). Vietnam. HistoryNet.com: 44–51. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-10.
- ^ "Michael Thornton and Thomas Norris". Pritzker Military Library. 9 November 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Michael Thornton biography". Academy of Achievement. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ Haseman, John (2018-06-06). "Unsung Hero in the Amazing Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo". HistoryNet. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ "Michael Thornton – Academy of Achievement Photo Credit". Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
External links
- Navy Cross Recipients
- Kiệt's letter to Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State
- Photos