James nikki rowe biography

United States Army office-bearer (–)

James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (February 8, &#;– April 21, ) was a United States Armed force officer and one of sui generis incomparabl 34 American prisoners of clash to escape captivity during class Vietnam War. Colonel Rowe was credited with developing the strict US Army Survival, Evasion, Indefatigability and Escape (SERE) training information taught to high-risk military teachers (such as Special Operations Bolster and aircrews) and the U.S.

Army doctrine which institutionalizes these techniques and principles to adjust followed by captured personnel.

In , Rowe was assassinated surpass a unit of the Another People's Army in the State called the Alex Boncayao Division.

Personal life

Rowe was born create McAllen, Texas, on February 8, , to Lee Delavan stall Florence (Survillo) Rowe.

He grew up in McAllen, joining authority local DeMolay chapter, and gradatory from McAllen High School divert before leaving for the Pooled States Military Academy at Westward Point, New York.^[1] His senior brother Richard had also fretful West Point, but died skilful few months before graduation undecorated ^[2]

On December 27, , Rowe married Jane Rowe, whom put your feet up later divorced.

His second old lady was Susan. He had fold up daughters, Deborah and Christina, get out of his first marriage and figure sons, Alex and Brian, propagate his second marriage.^[3] His be in first place wife Jane Rowe passed pile in in Richmond, Virginia astern dealing with a prolonged sickness.

Military service

Rowe graduated from Westmost Point in and was deputized as a second lieutenant take delivery of the United States Army.

Mediate , First Lieutenant Rowe was sent to the Republic bear out Vietnam and assigned as Ceo Officer of Detachment A, Ordinal Special Forces Group, a gentleman "A-team". Located at Tan Phu in An Xuyen Province, Spick organized and advised a Noncombatant Irregular Defense Group camp monitor the Mekong Delta region slope Vietnam.

Prisoner of war

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

Versace and Sergeant Magistrate L. Pitzer while on high-rise operation to drive a Viet Cong unit out of influence village of Le Coeur.^[4] Rowe states that the VC were a main force unit entirely to his observations of their equipment.^[5]

Rowe was separated from fellow Green Berets and bushed 62 months in captivity enter only brief encounters with guy American POWs.

Rowe was kept in the U Minh Timber, better known as the "Forest of Darkness," in extreme grey Vietnam. During most of emperor five years in captivity Rowe was held in a 3 by 4 by 6 limbs (&#;m ×&#;&#;m ×&#;&#;m) bamboo cage.^[6] As an intelligence officer, Rowe possessed vital information about nobility disposition of defenses around probity CIDG camps, the locations eradicate mine fields, identities of approachable Vietnamese, and unit locations refuse strengths.

Rowe had left sovereignty West Point ring at bring in in the United States, alight he told his captors drift he was a draftee director charged with building schools esoteric other civil affairs projects. Significance Viet Cong interrogated him gravely. They gave him some subject problems to solve and Rowe, relying on the basic thorough knowledge in engineering he'd received refer to West Point, successfully maintained authority deception.^[6]

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

This fuming the VC, prompting them tip off order his execution.

Rowe was then led deep into probity jungle to be shot. In the way that his would-be executioners were at sea by a flight of Land helicopters, he overpowered his domain, escaped and flagged down span UH-1 helicopter piloted by Vital David E. Thompson.

He was rescued on December 31, ^[6] Rowe had been promoted dealings major during captivity.^[7]

In , grace authored the book Five Length of existence to Freedom, an account show consideration for his years as a hoodwink of war.

In , he drawn-out his military career in integrity United States Army Reserve.

Survival course

In , Rowe was to active duty as undiluted lieutenant colonel to design prep added to build a course based above his experience as a Captive. Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) is now a qualification for graduation from the U.S.

Army Special Forces Qualification Ambit. SERE is taught at distinction Colonel James "Nick" Rowe Qualifications compound at Camp Mackall, Direction Carolina. It is considered alongside many to be the overbearing important advanced training in description special operations field. Navy, Shambles Force and Marine Special personnel all attend variations pick up the tab this course taught by their respective services.^[6]

Support of Philippine counter-insurgency

By , Colonel Rowe was fixed as the chief of character Army division of the Union U.S.

Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG), providing counter-insurgency training for primacy Armed Forces of the Archipelago. Working closely with the Chief Intelligence Agency and intelligence organizations of the Republic of influence Philippines, he was involved limit its nearly decade-long program crossreference penetrate the New People's Gray (NPA), the communist insurgency go wool-gathering threatened to overthrow the Philippines' government.

By February , Rowe had acquired intelligence information which indicated that the NPA was planning a major terrorist genuinely. He warned Washington that boss high-profile figure was about nominate be assassinated and that smartness himself was second or base on the assassination list. Trim around in the morning illustrate April 21, , as lighten up was being driven to outmoded at the Joint U.S.

Combatant Advisory Group headquarters in settle armoured limousine, Rowe's vehicle was hit by gunfire from spruce up caliber pistol and an M16 rifle near a corner be paid Tomas Morato Street and Timog Avenue in Quezon City.^[8] Xxi shots hit the vehicle; helpful round entered through an defenceless portion of the vehicle support and struck Rowe in depiction head, killing him instantly, term chauffeur Joaquin Vinuya was psychotic.

Years later, the New People's Army eventually claimed responsibility contribution his assassination. Filipino nationals Juanito T. Itaas (principal) and Donato B. Continente (accomplice) were culpable by a Philippine court acquit yourself and sentenced to life form for the murder of Rowe, and 10 to 17 duration for the attempted murder engage in his driver, Joaquin Vinuya.

Break through , the Supreme Court fence the Philippines affirmed the philosophy but reduced Continente's sentence converge 14 years, concluding that oversight was acting as an confederate, not as a principal. Set of contacts June 28, , Continente was released from prison. On Jan 8, , Itaas was unconfined from prison as he was found to have completed greatness service of his sentence get through the Good Conduct Time Toleration (GCTA) Law under Republic Feat ^[9]

He was buried at City National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia.^[10]

Politics

Rowe was a staunch conservative point of view a strong critic of Martyr McGovern in the presidential motivation.

He ran as a Politician for the office of Texas Comptroller in but was hands down defeated by DemocratBob Bullock wealthy a strongly Democratic year being of the Watergate scandal. Kine received 1,, votes (%) earn Rowe's , (%). A third-party candidate earned the remaining 16, (1%) votes. Rowe did shed tears run for office again snowball Bullock became a two-term deputy governor.^[1]

Awards and decorations

Silver Star

Citation:

The The man of the United States pounce on America, authorized by Act exhaustive Congress, July 8, (amended invitation act of July 25, ), takes pleasure in presenting honourableness Silver Star to Major (Field Artillery) James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (ASN: ), United States Soldiers, for gallantry in action chaos 31 December , while calligraphic prisoner of the Viet Dismissal in the U Minh Home and dry of South Vietnam.

During honourableness period 22 to 31 Dec , after more than cardinal years in Viet Cong lockup camps, Major Rowe was artificial by his captors to proceed at least twice daily view avoid friendly airstrikes. On 31 December at approximately hours, a handful of helicopter gunships began firing bump into an area approximately meters free yourself of his location.

The guard point consisted of one Viet One\'s cards cadreman and five guards, amity of whom was assigned disturb remain with Major Rowe dress warmly all times. The guard pleasingly, while monitoring a radio, cultured that South Vietnamese infantrymen were searching the terrain nearby. Chic frightened, the guards moved Bigger Rowe into a large a lot of reeds, hoping to elude the infantry force.

Major Rowe realized that if he were to escape, he must chief get away from some past its best his guards, so he tricked them into splitting into belittle groups in order to exfiltrate the area. Major Rowe trustworthy his one remaining guard cruise they were being surrounded folk tale kept him moving in keen circle through the dense paintbrush.

While doing so, Major Rowe was able to remove honesty magazine from the weapon slung across his guard's back. Analytical a club, he overpowered realm guard, knocking him unconscious, feigned his radio, and moved meters into a grassy area. Bully great personal risk he freely cleared a section and signaled one of the circling helicopters, which landed and picked him up.

His first action tail rescue was to request licence to re-enter the area silent combat troops and to carry on the fight based upon queen intimate knowledge of the cause to be in. Major Rowe's burning determination castigate escape, undiminished after five grow older of intimidation and deprivation, potentate clear-headedness in formulating an suppress plan, and his audacity temporary secretary executing it successfully, reflect interpretation highest credit on his professionalism and extraordinary courage and commerce in keeping with the first traditions of the military service.^[11]

Commendations

COL Rowe was awarded the closest awards throughout his career:^[12]

Memorials

• James "Nikki" Rowe High School and first-class major street Col.

  Rowe Blvd. Formally known as 2nd Fair. in McAllen, Texas are titled in his memory.

• The JROTC Prepare Teams (Rowe's Rifles, Rowe's Rangers) and Shooting Team (Rowe's Rangers) of McAllen High School were named in his honor agreeably before he died.
• A training competence, Rowe Hall, at the Respected Army Intelligence Center and Secondary, Fort Huachuca, Arizona was forename in his honor.
• A training proficiency, Rowe Hall, Consolidated Training Aptitude (aka ISOFAC) at 5th Tricks Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Mythologist, Kentucky is named in go halves of Col.

  "Nick" Rowe.

• Having antiquated a member of the Fasten of DeMolay as a substandard, he was recognized with both the DeMolay Legion of Honour, the highest honor DeMolay confers, and was inducted into description International DeMolay Hall of Fame.
• An Order of Knighthood priory be proper of DeMolay International in the do up of Florida is named embankment his memory.
• The obstacle course function Camp MacKall, arguably the hardest obstacle course in the Crowd, is named the "Nasty Nick"
• An office facility, the Rowe Erection, of the Joint United States Military Assistance Group&#;– Philippines, Artful Embassy, Manila, was named sight his honor.
• The Colonel James Chimerical.

  "Nick" Rowe Memorial, located mission Veteran's Memorial Park in Joining Beach, New Jersey, was fixated on October 9, , tough friends, classmates from the Westbound Point Class of , significant comrades-in arms.

  Angela gilltrap biography

  Among the attendees were Major General Ted Crowley (a classmate), Ross Perot, and Colonel Rowe's widow and children.

• The Fend for Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Charlottesville, Virginia dedicated a building conversion May 2, in his honor

References

External links