Colonel James "Nick" Rowe: Escape from the Forest of Darkness - The True Story of Senior DeMolay

James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (February 8, 1938 – April 21, 1989) served as a United States Army officer and was one of just 34 American prisoners of war who successfully escaped captivity during the Vietnam War. Colonel Rowe is credited with developing the rigorous US Army Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training program, which is taught to high-risk military personnel, including Special Operations Forces and aircrews. He also played a key role in formulating U.S. Army doctrine that institutionalizes these techniques and principles to be followed by captured personnel.

Tragically, in 1989, Colonel Rowe was assassinated by a unit of the New People's Army in the Philippines known as the Alex Boncayao Brigade.

In his personal life, Rowe was born in McAllen, Texas, on February 8, 1938, and grew up there. He graduated from McAllen High School in 1956 before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

During the Vietnam War, Rowe was captured by Viet Cong elements on October 29, 1963, and spent 62 months in captivity, primarily in the U Minh Forest, where he was held in a bamboo cage. As an intelligence officer, Rowe possessed critical information about various military aspects, but he successfully maintained his cover, pretending to be a draftee engineer. However, his cover was eventually blown when the Viet Cong obtained a list of American high-value prisoners of war, which identified him as an intelligence officer. Subsequently, they ordered his execution.

Rowe managed to escape during an opportune moment when his captors were distracted by American helicopters, and he was rescued on December 31, 1968. He had been promoted to major during his captivity. In 1971, Rowe authored the book "Five Years to Freedom," detailing his experiences as a prisoner of war. After his release, he continued his military career in the United States Army Reserve.

Rowe also expressed gratitude for his involvement in the Order of DeMolay during his youth, which he believed instilled patriotism and faith in God, values he found essential during his captivity and beyond.