Nguyen Van Kiet
| Nguyễn Văn Kiệt | |
|---|---|
Navy Cross
|
|
| Born | Vietnam |
| Allegiance | Republic of Vietnam |
| Service/branch | Republic of Vietnam Navy |
| Rank | Petty Officer Third Class |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
 Navy Cross
|
Nguyễn Văn Kiệt was a Petty Officer Third Class in the Republic of Vietnam Navy, one of only two South Vietnamese and the only South Vietnamese Navy member, to be awarded the Navy Cross for actions during the Vietnam War. (The other recipient was ARVN PFC Trần Văn Bảy.)
In April 1972, United States Navy SEAL Lt. Thomas Norris was one of the few remaining SEALs in Vietnam. When Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton was shot down behind enemy lines, aerial combat search and rescue operations failed, leading to the loss of five additional aircraft and the death of 11 or more airmen, two captured, and three more down and needing rescue. Norris was tasked with mounting a ground operation to recover Lt. Col. Hambleton, 1st Lt. Mark Clark (son of World war II General Mark W. Clark), and 1st Lt. Bruce Walker from behind enemy lines. Kiệt was one of five Vietnamese commandos to accompany Norris, and when the others refused to pursue the mission further, volunteered to assist Norris. They successfully brought out two of the three downed airmen from more than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) behind enemy lines.
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. air men 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. Anderson 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. 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.
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