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.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
Be prepared to stand in line awhile!
They don’t take reservations!
;0)

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL! Doesn’t happen often....you guys were right there.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
It was a “first” for me!
(No pun intended!)

[TweetEBird007]

Had the guy that sung that ballard in my unit during Swift Strike in 64 or 65. He had just finished medic training in Houston. 5th Mech were the aggressors. they bumped into us one morning, we moved at night and hid during the day. He took off and rand into the swamp.
Took a couple of hours to locate him. He left a trail, as everything in his ruck sack fell out.
5th Mech stole the dip sticks out of 151 jeeps, dropped by the 82th Div, as supposedly there were none in supply channel.

[PERKY2004]

Today I filled bird feeders and re-arranged my pantry. Woo hoo. Quite the exciting life here, huh?

[mylife]

It was such a long trip. I feel a little guilty that we took that time on my account.

Next stop....Rockland Maine

[Kathy in Alaska]

Follow a link or 2....I think I’m wanting to get the book.

[mylife]

No Ma’am

[MS.BEHAVIN]

I hate to leave, but I hafta!
Gotta be up at 7:30
*groan*
Good night and hugs alla ‘round!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Yes!
The North Atlantic Blues Festival awaits!

[luvie]

I have to be up early too. Darn work anyway!

Sweet dreams of our getting together again!

(((hugs)))

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*tapping tiny foot*
Wouldja quit feelin’ guilty?
Seriuosly, we all had fun, and it was a beautiful ride!

[mylife]

From what I gathered, this man was a true leader.

Kipling was just an observer. This guy observed planned and acted.

[mylife]

One day, we will go to eustess ridge. It aint so touristy

[mylife]

What’s the name of that new bridge? I would have liked to gazed from that observation tower.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening. brushcop....I was hoping one of you Texans would know him. Indeed a huge loss. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and rest well, ms b...*HUGS*
Thanks for all you do for our troops.

[luvie]

That was a cool-looking bridge.

I am sure that she has new stuff to take us to this time.

I sure do look forward to it! :D

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, Fix It....thanks for sharing your experience. His loss was for sure tragic.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sand...thanks for the good news pictures, and thank you for your service to our country.