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 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 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.