James N. Rowe
| James Nicholas Rowe | |
|---|---|
then-Major James N. Rowe on the cover of his book,
Five Years to Freedom |
|
| Nickname(s) | "Nick" |
| Born |
February 8, 1938 McAllen, Texas |
| Died | April 21, 1989 (aged 51) Quezon City, Philippines |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army
|
| Years of service | 1960–74 1981–89 |
| Rank |
 Colonel
|
| Commands held |
5th Special Forces Group – Battalion Commander Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group – Chief, Army Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Silver Star Legion of Merit Bronze Star – 2 Purple Heart – 2 Meritorious Service Medal National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal Army Service Ribbon Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
| Other work | Author |
James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (February 8, 1938 – April 21, 1989) was a United States Army officer and one of only 34 American prisoners of war to escape captivity during the Vietnam War. Colonel Rowe was credited with developing the rigorous US Army Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training program taught to high-risk military personnel (such as Special Forces and aircrews) and the U.S. Army doctrine which institutionalizes these techniques and principles to be followed by captured personnel.
In 1989, Rowe was killed by a unit of the New People's Army in the Philippines called the Alex Boncayao Brigade.
Rowe was born in McAllen, Texas on February 8, 1938 to Lee Delavan and Florence (Survillo) Rowe. He grew up in McAllen, joining his local DeMolay chapter, and graduated from McAllen High School in 1956 before leaving for the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. His older brother Richard had also attended West Point, but died a few months before graduation in 1944.
Rowe married Jane Rowe on December 27, 1969, whom he later divorced. His widow is Mary. He has two daughters, Deborah and Christina, from his first marriage and two sons, Stephen and Brian, from his second marriage.
Rowe graduated from West Point in 1960 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1963, First Lieutenant Rowe was sent to the Republic of Vietnam and assigned as Executive Officer of Detachment A-23, 5th Special Forces Group, a 12-man "A-team". Located at Tan Phu in An Xuyen Province, A-23 organized and advised a Civilian Irregular Defense Group camp in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.
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