FReeper Canteen ~ Col James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe ~ 24 April 09

Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Col James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe ~

Colonel "Nick" Rowe graduated from West Point in 1960 and made the Army his career. When his country became engaged in Vietnam, he served there as a Special Forces Officer (Green Beret) and was captured by enemy forces on October 29, 1963. He struggled against the depravity of the prison camps, never giving up hope, until finally on December 31, 1968 he escaped his captors and made his way back to allied lines.

He had once written, "So look up ahead at times to come, despair is not for us. We have a world and more to see, while this remains behind." This is enscribed on his gravestone and is a fitting memorial for yet another American Hero who left us entirely too soon.

More from the Arlington National Cemetery Website

Canteen Mission Statement

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

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. He authored the book, Five Years to Freedom, an account of his years as a prisoner of war.

A must read....Five Years To Freedom!

Colonel O-6, U.S. Army

U.S. Military Academy 1956-1960
U.S. Army 1960-1974, 1981-1989
Cold War 1960-1974, 1981-1989 (KIA)
Vietnam War 1963-1968 (POW, Escapee)

Nick Rowe was born on February 8, 1938, in McAllen, Texas. He entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June 1956 and graduated with a commission as a 2LT of Artillery on June 8, 1960. Rowe was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from August 1960 to May 1961, and during this time he completed Airborne School, Ranger School, and the Artillery Officer Basic Course.

Lt Rowe next served with the 7th Special Forces Group and then the 5th Special Forces Group (SFG) of 1st Special Forces at Fort Bragg from May 1961 to July 1963. During this time he completed Language School at the Presidio of Monterey, California.

Rowe went on TDY with the 5th SFG to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1963, and was captured and taken as a Prisoner of War by the Viet Cong on October 29, 1963. After spending 1,891 days in captivity, Maj Rowe escaped on December 31, 1968, and made his way to friendly forces. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and then served as an instructor with the Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, from June 1969 to September 1970.

Col Rowe returned to active duty on March 12, 1981, and served as Chief of the Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE) School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, until May 1985, when he was made Commander of the First Special Warfare Training Battalion at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, also at Fort Bragg.

In May 1988 Col Rowe was assigned as the Chief of the Army Division of the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group in the Philippines. He was assassinated by Communist guerrilas in Quezon City, a suburb of Manila, on April 21, 1989. Nick Rowe was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on May 2, 1989.

More about Nick Rowe and his Silver Star citation

Colonel Rowe is buried in Section 48 lot 2165-A of
Arlington National Cemetery.

Amazing Grace

Please remember that The Canteen is here to support
and entertain our troops and veterans and their families,
and is family friendly.

Thanks, mohresearcher, for reminding us of this hero.

[PERKY2004]

Good evening from sunny and not-so-sizzling central California!

[mylife]

With out a doubt!

The the trading post prolly work better but we will get by L0L

[PERKY2004]

I will most certainly pray. My wonderful husband deployed yesterday for his sixth time ... to Iraq. I hope you have a wonderful time with your grand-daughter! ((( hug )))

[mylife]

With out a doubt!

The the ones at the trading post prolly work better but we will get by L0L

Yeesh..

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, GRANGER. Thank you for sharing your experience. He touched a lot of lives. And thanks to you too for your service to our country.

[mylife]

Pollo Loco!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

RIP Col James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe.
Thank you for your service to your country.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
I knew what ya meant My..
I am the QUEEN of typos, and therefore, never point out anyone elses!
LOL

[mylife]

My brain skips a beat sometimes

[Kathy in Alaska]

Prayers on the way, donnab, for your son and daughter-in-law. Prayers for their safety and success of mission. Thanks to all of you for your service to our country.

Have a wonderful time with your granddaughter.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy.

[mylife]

I got to thinkin about a real iron, not teflon coated aluminum Lol!

You know, one of them cast iron thangs.

Any who... those things are great fun at a campfire

[Kathy in Alaska]

ARGHHHH......photobucket is blocked at work. I’m on my way home as soon as I can get everything shutdown here. It is just now starting to rain. We need a long downpour to settle the dust of spring and the stirred up ash.

[mylife]

[PERKY2004]

No worries ... just a photo of a hen sitting on a puppy. I hope the rain does just what you want it to .... dust and pollen are no fun! Drive home safely!

[donnab]

Will keep you both in my prayers. Big hugs to you and thank you.

[luvie]

REST IN PEACE
COL JAMES NICHOLAS "NICK" ROWE
VIETNAM VET AND POW
YOU ARE OUR HERO
*************
AMAZING GRACE
[CLICK]

[luvie]

We were going to try those “hobo pies” last time we were there and didn’t have the thingy that made them. Hope we
get to this time....they sounded intriguing!

I’m ready for it ALL!!

[donnab]

Thank you

[luvie]

Yeah....that hobo pie thingy! :D