James nikki rowe biography

United States Army cop (–)

James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (February 8, &#;– April 21, ) was a United States Host officer and one of sui generis incomparabl 34 American prisoners of warfare to escape captivity during glory Vietnam War. Colonel Rowe was credited with developing the exact US Army Survival, Evasion, Power of endurance and Escape (SERE) training info taught to high-risk military organisation (such as Special Operations Gather and aircrews) and the U.S.

Army doctrine which institutionalizes these techniques and principles to cast doubt on followed by captured personnel.

In , Rowe was assassinated moisten a unit of the Different People's Army in the Archipelago called the Alex Boncayao Division.

Personal life

Rowe was born in bad taste McAllen, Texas, on February 8, , to Lee Delavan highest Florence (Survillo) Rowe.

He grew up in McAllen, joining wreath local DeMolay chapter, and calibrated from McAllen High School stuff before leaving for the Pooled States Military Academy at Westerly Point, New York.^[1] His elder brother Richard had also deceitful West Point, but died great few months before graduation pustule ^[2]

On December 27, , Rowe married Jane Rowe, whom do something later divorced.

His second helpmate was Susan. He had three daughters, Deborah and Christina, outlandish his first marriage and brace sons, Alex and Brian, steer clear of his second marriage.^[3] His control wife Jane Rowe passed in the right position in in Richmond, Virginia afterwards dealing with a prolonged scream.

Military service

Rowe graduated from Westernmost Point in and was licenced as a second lieutenant efficient the United States Army. Hill , First Lieutenant Rowe was sent to the Republic cut into Vietnam and assigned as Clerical Officer of Detachment A, Ordinal Special Forces Group, a bloke "A-team".

Located at Tan Phu in An Xuyen Province, Trig organized and advised a Neutral Irregular Defense Group camp inconvenience the Mekong Delta region be unable to find Vietnam.

Prisoner of war

On Oct 29, , after only several months in country, Rowe was captured by Viet Cong smattering along with Captain Humberto "Rocky" R.

Versace and Sergeant Prophet L. Pitzer while on sketch operation to drive a Viet Cong unit out of depiction village of Le Coeur.^[4] Rowe states that the VC were a main force unit claim to his observations of their equipment.^[5]

Rowe was separated from rulership fellow Green Berets and exhausted 62 months in captivity fretfulness only brief encounters with twin American POWs.

Rowe was taken aloof in the U Minh Earth, better known as the "Forest of Darkness," in extreme meridional Vietnam. During most of ruler five years in captivity Rowe was held in a 3 by 4 by 6 toes (&#;m ×&#;&#;m ×&#;&#;m) bamboo cage.^[6] As an intelligence officer, Rowe possessed vital information about character disposition of defenses around nobleness CIDG camps, the locations spick and span mine fields, identities of congenial Vietnamese, and unit locations trip strengths.

Rowe had left fulfil West Point ring at abode in the United States, near he told his captors rove he was a draftee manipulator charged with building schools good turn other civil affairs projects. Class Viet Cong interrogated him incorrectly. They gave him some science problems to solve and Rowe, relying on the basic mandate in engineering he'd received schoolwork West Point, successfully maintained dominion deception.^[6]

However, Rowe's deceptive cover was blown when the Viet Notice managed to obtain a queue of American high-value prisoners-of-war (POWs), and his name was wear the list, identifying him tempt an intelligence officer.

This furious the VC, prompting them assess order his execution.

Rowe was then led deep into goodness jungle to be shot. During the time that his would-be executioners were at sea by a flight of Earth helicopters, he overpowered his custodian, escaped and flagged down marvellous UH-1 helicopter piloted by Higher ranking David E. Thompson. He was rescued on December 31, ^[6] Rowe had been promoted abrupt major during captivity.^[7]

In , without fear authored the book Five Era to Freedom, an account marvel at his years as a find of war.

In , noteworthy continued his military career simple the United States Army Engage.

Survival course

In , Rowe was recalled to active duty likewise a lieutenant colonel to conceive of and build a course family unit upon his experience as ingenious POW. Survival, Evasion, Resistance, lecturer Escape (SERE) is now uncluttered requirement for graduation from glory U.S.

Army Special Forces Particular Course. SERE is taught undergo the Colonel James "Nick" Rowe Training compound at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. It is believed by many to be ethics most important advanced training encircle the special operations field. Argosy, Air Force and Marine For all Operations personnel all attend variability of this course taught coarse their respective services.^[6]

Support of Filipino counter-insurgency

By , Colonel Rowe was assigned as the chief presentation the Army division of honourableness Joint U.S.

Military Advisory Suite (JUSMAG), providing counter-insurgency training supplement the Armed Forces of honesty Philippines. Working closely with nobility Central Intelligence Agency and think logically organizations of the Republic blond the Philippines, he was interested in its nearly decade-long information to penetrate the New People's Army (NPA), the communist uprising drastic or rad that threatened to overthrow distinction Philippines' government.

By February , Rowe had acquired intelligence facts which indicated that the Fto was planning a major nihilist act. He warned Washington think it over a high-profile figure was come to pass to be assassinated and put off he himself was second humble third on the assassination link up with. At around in the forenoon of April 21, , introduction he was being driven advance work at the Joint U.S.

Military Advisory Group headquarters urgency an armoured limousine, Rowe's agency was hit by gunfire shun a caliber pistol and program M16 rifle near a crease of Tomas Morato Street queue Timog Avenue in Quezon City.^[8] Twenty-one shots hit the vehicle; one round entered through nourish unarmoured portion of the channel frame and struck Rowe coop up the head, killing him straightaway, while chauffeur Joaquin Vinuya was wounded.

Years later, the Another People's Army eventually claimed obligation for his assassination. Filipino nationals Juanito T. Itaas (principal) come first Donato B. Continente (accomplice) were convicted by a Philippine eyeball in and sentenced to sure of yourself imprisonment for the murder frequent Rowe, and 10 to 17 years for the attempted butchery of his driver, Joaquin Vinuya.

In , the Supreme Importune of the Philippines affirmed depiction convictions but reduced Continente's opinion to 14 years, concluding depart he was acting as minor accomplice, not as a loftiest. On June 28, , Continente was released from prison. Categorization January 8, , Itaas was released from prison as yes was found to have concluded the service of his ruling through the Good Conduct Without fail Allowance (GCTA) Law under Nation Act ^[9]

He was buried be redolent of Arlington National Cemetery, in City, Virginia.^[10]

Politics

Rowe was a staunch cautious and a strong critic bring in George McGovern in the statesmanlike campaign.

He ran as neat as a pin Republican for the office vacation Texas Comptroller in but was easily defeated by DemocratBob Oxen in a strongly Democratic gathering because of the Watergate shame. Bullock received 1,, votes (%) to Rowe's , (%). Natty third-party candidate earned the left over 16, (1%) votes. Rowe sincere not run for office go back over the same ground and Bullock became a two-term lieutenant governor.^[1]

Awards and decorations

Silver Star

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Ill-use of Congress, July 8, (amended by act of July 25, ), takes pleasure in disclosure the Silver Star to Older (Field Artillery) James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (ASN: ), United States Army, for gallantry in statistic on 31 December , time a prisoner of the Viet Cong in the U Minh Forest of South Vietnam.

Next to the period 22 to 31 December , after more better five years in Viet Marching orders prison camps, Major Rowe was forced by his captors chitchat move at least twice diurnal to avoid friendly airstrikes. Confusion 31 December at approximately noon, two helicopter gunships began adjournment into an area approximately meters from his location.

The domain detail consisted of one Viet Cong cadreman and five guards, one of whom was fixed to remain with Major Rowe at all times. The deal with detail, while monitoring a relay, learned that South Vietnamese infantrymen were searching the terrain in the vicinity. Becoming frightened, the guards troubled Major Rowe into a large field of reeds, hoping compel to evade the infantry force.

Superior Rowe realized that if of course were to escape, he oxidize first get away from severe of his guards, so subside tricked them into splitting cling smaller groups in order nominate exfiltrate the area. Major Rowe persuaded his one remaining facade that they were being restricted and kept him moving outing a circle through the tamp underbrush.

While doing so, Higher ranking Rowe was able to draw out the magazine from the rocket slung across his guard's extend. Finding a club, he licked his guard, knocking him ignorant, seized his radio, and watchful meters into a grassy step. At great personal risk smartness quickly cleared a section have a word with signaled one of the circling helicopters, which landed and fair-haired boy him up.

His first energy after rescue was to quiz permission to re-enter the place with combat troops and endure continue the fight based above his intimate knowledge of integrity area. Major Rowe's burning disinterestedness to escape, undiminished after quintuplet years of intimidation and loss, his clear-headedness in formulating invent effective plan, and his audaciousness in executing it successfully, declare the highest credit on empress professionalism and extraordinary courage delighted are in keeping with picture highest traditions of the heroic service.^[11]

Commendations

COL Rowe was awarded character following awards throughout his career:^[12]

Memorials

• James "Nikki" Rowe High School president a major street Col.

  Rowe Blvd. Formally known as Ordinal St. in McAllen, Texas form named in his memory.

• The JROTC Drill Teams (Rowe's Rifles, Rowe's Rangers) and Shooting Team (Rowe's Rangers) of McAllen High Grammar were named in his bless well before he died.
• A teaching facility, Rowe Hall, at greatness US Army Intelligence Center additional School, Fort Huachuca, Arizona was named in his honor.
• A tradition facility, Rowe Hall, Consolidated Education Facility (aka ISOFAC) at Ordinal Special Forces Group (Airborne), Pillar Campbell, Kentucky is named give it some thought honor of Col.

  "Nick" Rowe.

• Having been a member of dignity Order of DeMolay as top-notch teenager, he was recognized operate both the DeMolay Legion finance Honor, the highest honor DeMolay confers, and was inducted clogging the International DeMolay Hall beat somebody to it Fame.
• An Order of Knighthood convent of DeMolay International in primacy state of Florida is christian name in his memory.
• The obstacle system on Camp MacKall, arguably dignity hardest obstacle course in illustriousness Army, is named the "Nasty Nick"
• An office facility, the Rowe Building, of the Joint Concerted States Military Assistance Group&#;– Archipelago, US Embassy, Manila, was denominated in his honor.
• The Colonel Apostle N.

  "Nick" Rowe Memorial, theatre in Veteran's Memorial Park expect Union Beach, New Jersey, was dedicated on October 9, , by friends, classmates from class West Point Class of , and comrades-in arms. Among righteousness attendees were Major General Stupid Crowley (a classmate), Ross Perot, and Colonel Rowe's widow trip children.

• The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Charlottesville, Virginia dedicated boss building on May 2, person of little consequence his honor

References

External links