James N. Rowe
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| James Nicholas Rowe | |
|---|---|
| February 8, 1938 – April 21, 1989 (aged 51) | |
 then-Major James N. Rowe on the cover of his book, Five Years to Freedom |
|
| Nickname | "Nick" |
| Place of birth | McAllen, Texas |
| Place of death | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1963 - 1974 1981 - 1989 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands held | 5th Special Forces Group - Battalion Commander Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group - Chief, Army Division |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| 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), United States military officer, was one of only thirty-four American prisoners of war to escape captivity during the Vietnam War.[1]
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[edit] Vietnam service
Rowe was assigned as Executive Officer of Detachment A-23, 5th Special Forces Group, a 12-man "A-team" in Vietnam in 1963. 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. On October 29, 1963, after only three short months in the Republic of Vietnam, then-Lieutenant Rowe was captured by Viet Cong elements along with Captain Humberto "Rocky" R. Versace and Sgt. Daniel L. Pitzer. Separated from his comrades, Lt. Rowe spent 62 months in captivity with only brief encounters with fellow American POWs. He escaped from his Vietnamese captors on December 31, 1968. Rowe had been promoted to Major (United States) during his captivity.[2] He authored the book, Five Years to Freedom, an account of his years as a prisoner of war.
[edit] Retirement and recall to active duty
Colonel Rowe retired from the United States Army in 1974. In 1981, he was recalled to active duty to design and build a course based upon his experience as a POW. Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) is now a requirement for graduation from the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course. SERE is taught at the Colonel James "Nick" Rowe Training compound at Camp Mackall, North Carolina. It is considered by many to be the most important advanced training in the special operations field. Navy, Air Force and Marine Special Operations personnel all attend variations of this course taught by their respective services.
[edit] Assassination
In 1987, Colonel Rowe was assigned as the chief of the Army division of the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG), providing counter-insurgency training for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Working closely with the CIA, he was involved in its nearly decade-long program to penetrate the communist New People's Army (NPA) in conjunction with Philippines' own intelligence organizations.
By February 1989, Colonel Rowe had acquired intelligence information which indicated that the communists were planning a major terrorist act. He warned Washington that a high-profile figure was about to be hit and that he himself was second or third on the assassination list. At around 7:00 in the morning of April 21, 1989, as he was being driven to work at the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group headquarters in an unarmored limousine, Colonel Rowe's vehicle was hit by gunfire from a .45 caliber pistol and an M16 rifle near the corner of Tomas Morato Street and Timog Avenue in Quezon City.[3] Twenty-one shots hit the vehicle; one round entered through a slightly open window and struck Colonel Rowe in the head, killing him instantly. Rowe's driver, Joaquin Vinuya, was wounded. The New People's Army claimed responsibility for his assassination. Two Filipinos were convicted for Rowe's assassination—Juanito T. Itaas as principal and Donato B. Continente as an accomplice. They were however, released under a government amnesty program in 1995.[4]
There are suspicions that Colonel Rowe was specifically targeted for retaliation by the communist insurgents because of his escaped Vietnam POW status. However, definitive proof has yet to be established.
He was buried May 2, 1989 in Section 48 of Arlington National Cemetery.
[edit] Memorials
- A high school and street in the South Texas city of McAllen are named in his memory.
- A training facility, Rowe Hall, at the US Army Intelligence Center and School, Fort Huachuca, Arizona was named in his honor.
- An Order of Knighthood priory of DeMolay International in the state of Florida was named in his memory.
[edit] External links
- A tribute page on James N. Rowe
- Random House author page on James N. Rowe
- An account of James N. Rowe's rescue by a US Army helicopter crew
- Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Assassination of Lieutenant Colonel James N. Rowe in the Philippines
- Col. James 'Nick' Rowe Priory homepage
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Patterson, Michael Robert. James Nicholas Rowe. Retrieved on 2007-08-01.
- ^ Case Synopsis: Rowe, James Nicholas "Nick". Retrieved on 2007-08-01.
- ^ Magay-dris, Tomasita B.. People vs. Continente, et al.. Retrieved on 2007-08-01.
- ^ Sampley, Ted. U.S. Gives Philippines Lukewarm Reminder to Keep Col. Rowe's Killers in Jail. Retrieved on 2007-08-01.
