Nguyen Van Kiet
Encyclopedia
Nguyen Van Kiet was a Petty Officer Third Class
in the Republic of Vietnam Navy
and is one of only two South Vietnamese, and the only South Vietnamese Navy member, to receive the Navy Cross
for actions during the Vietnam War
. The other recipient was ARVN PFC Tran Van Bay
).
In April 1972, United States Navy SEAL Lt. j.g. Thomas Norris
was one of 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, 1stLt. Mark Clark (the son of World war II General Mark W. Clark), and 1stLt. Bruce Walker from behind enemy lines. Nguyen 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.
Naval Advisory Detachment, Sea Commando team, from Da Nang. 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 (0.621372736649807 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 Nguyen along with four other Vietnamese commandos set up an overwatch position near the Mieu Giang River, which ran near the positions of both downed airmen.
Clark was seriously weakened by five days hiding from the enemy with little to eat. On the night of April 9, Norris, Nguyen 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." Approaching dawn, Norris was going to proceed alone when Nguyen volunteered to stay with him. 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. Forward air controller Harold Icke on Bilk 11 fixed Hambleton's position during the day so Norris and Nguyen could find him that night.
On the night of April 12, Norris and Nguyen found a deserted village and clothing which they used to disguise themselves as fishermen. 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 Lo bridge. They had passed Hambleton’s position more than 30 minutes ago. 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, Hambleton needed to be evacuated immediately. Despite the risk, they hid Hambleton in the bottom of the sampan, covered him with bamboo, and started downriver.
Their sampan was soon spotted by North Vietnamese troops, some of whom fired at them, but Norris and Nguyen 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 rescued
Clark and Hambleton, but Walker was discovered and killed by the NVA before they could return to rescue him.
A book was written about Nguyen's heroism by William Charles Anderson
, the book was later adapted into a 1988 movie
named Bat*21. In 1999, after considerable classified information was released, a second book, The Rescue of Bat 21 was published by Darrel D. Whitcomb.
Nguyen later emigrated to the U.S., and as of 2008, resided in Washington state.
, the highest award the U.S. Navy can give to a foreign national. Nguyen was the only South Vietnamese awarded the Navy Cross during the Vietnam War.
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:
Petty Officer Third Class
U.S. NavyGood conductvariationU.S. NavyPetty officerthird classinsigniaPetty officer third class is the fourth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, just above seaman and below petty officer second class, and is the lowest rank of non-commissioned officer, equivalent to a corporal in...
in the Republic of Vietnam Navy
Republic of Vietnam Navy
The Republic of Vietnam Navy was the naval force of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. The early fleet consisted of boats from France. After 1955 and the transfer of the armed forces to Vietnamese control, the fleet was supplied from the United States...
and is one of only two South Vietnamese, and the only South Vietnamese Navy member, to receive the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for actions during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The other recipient was ARVN PFC Tran Van Bay
Tran Van Bay
Tran Van Bay was a Private First Class of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and is one of only two South Vietnamese, and the only South Vietnamese Army member, to receive the Navy Cross for actions on February 19, 1967 during the Vietnam War .-Navy Cross citation:The President of the United...
).
In April 1972, United States Navy SEAL Lt. j.g. Thomas Norris
Thomas R. Norris
Thomas Rolland Norris is a retired United States Navy SEAL who received the Medal of Honor for his ground rescue with the assistance of Petty Officer Third Class Nguyen Van Kiet of two downed pilots in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam on April 10, 1972 – April 13, 1972...
was one of few remaining SEALs in Vietnam. When Lt.Col. Iceal Hambleton
Iceal Hambleton
Lieutenant Colonel Iceal E. "Gene" Hambleton was an officer of the United States Air Force, famous for being the subject of a long and costly search and rescue mission during the Vietnam War. During the rescue, he used the callsign "Bat 21 Bravo"...
was shot down behind enemy lines, aerial combat search and rescue
Combat search and rescue
Combat search and rescue are search and rescue operations that are carried out during war that are within or near combat zones.A CSAR mission may be carried out by a task force of helicopters, ground-attack aircraft, tankers and an airborne command post...
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, 1stLt. Mark Clark (the son of World war II General Mark W. Clark), and 1stLt. Bruce Walker from behind enemy lines. Nguyen 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.
Rescue operations
Nguyen was a member of the Vietnamese frogmenFrogman
A frogman is someone who is trained to scuba diving or swim underwater in a military capacity which can include combat. Such personnel are also known by the more formal names of combat diver or combatant diver or combat swimmer....
Naval Advisory Detachment, Sea Commando team, from Da Nang. 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 (0.621372736649807 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 Nguyen along with four other Vietnamese commandos set up an overwatch position near the Mieu Giang River, which ran near the positions of both downed airmen.
Clark was seriously weakened by five days hiding from the enemy with little to eat. On the night of April 9, Norris, Nguyen 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." Approaching dawn, Norris was going to proceed alone when Nguyen volunteered to stay with him. They took an abandoned sampan
Sampan
A sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers, and are often used as traditional fishing boats...
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. Forward air controller Harold Icke on Bilk 11 fixed Hambleton's position during the day so Norris and Nguyen could find him that night.
On the night of April 12, Norris and Nguyen found a deserted village and clothing which they used to disguise themselves as fishermen. They took advantage of the abandoned sampan
Sampan
A sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for transportation in coastal areas or rivers, and are often used as traditional fishing boats...
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 Lo bridge. They had passed Hambleton’s position more than 30 minutes ago. 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, Hambleton needed to be evacuated immediately. Despite the risk, they hid Hambleton in the bottom of the sampan, covered him with bamboo, and started downriver.
Their sampan was soon spotted by North Vietnamese troops, some of whom fired at them, but Norris and Nguyen 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 rescued
Rescue of Bat 21 Bravo
The rescue of Bat 21 Bravo, the call sign for Iceal "Gene" Hambleton, from behind enemy lines was the "largest, longest, and most complex search-and-rescue" operation during the entire Vietnam War. On April 2, 1972, the third day of the Easter Offensive, Hambleton was a navigator aboard one of two...
Clark and Hambleton, but Walker was discovered and killed by the NVA before they could return to rescue him.
A book was written about Nguyen's heroism by William Charles Anderson
William Charles Anderson
William Charles Anderson was the author of several novels, historical and true life stories, and author or coauthor of several screenplays for film and television, including the adaptation of his own Bat*21, which was made into a film, starring Gene...
, the book was later adapted into a 1988 movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
named Bat*21. In 1999, after considerable classified information was released, a second book, The Rescue of Bat 21 was published by Darrel D. Whitcomb.
Nguyen later emigrated to the U.S., and as of 2008, resided in Washington state.
Navy Cross citation
Thomas Norris readily supported nomination of Nguyen for the Navy CrossNavy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
, the highest award the U.S. Navy can give to a foreign national. Nguyen was the only South Vietnamese awarded the Navy Cross during the Vietnam War.
The President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
to
NGUYEN VAN KIET, PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS
NAVY OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Citation:
See also
- Nguyen Quy AnNguyen Quy AnNguyễn Qúy An is a former Major in the Republic of Vietnam Air Force who risked his life to rescue four Americans in a downed chopper while he was on a different mission. For his actions he was awarded the United States Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star...
- Major in the Republic of Vietnam Air Force and a recipient of the United States Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
. - Tran Van BayTran Van BayTran Van Bay was a Private First Class of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and is one of only two South Vietnamese, and the only South Vietnamese Army member, to receive the Navy Cross for actions on February 19, 1967 during the Vietnam War .-Navy Cross citation:The President of the United...
, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Private First Class Tran Van Bay, posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism after he sacrificed his life to save a U.S. Marine on February 19, 1967. - Studies and Observations Group
