Military

How a Legendary POW Escaped From Captivity with the Help of His Beard

April 11, 2019Neil Fotre
Coffee or Die Photo

Stories about prisoners of war (POWs) are normally dark, arduous tales of torture and seemingly endless hardship. However, one legendary Green Beret reshaped a predominantly somber narrative with the help of his cunning, brute force — and his beard.


Colonel James “Nick” Rowe was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Special Forces officer who served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1974. He was also recalled to active duty in 1981 and went on to advise the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the Philippine counter-insurgency. While his daring exploits span multiple theatres of operation, Rowe’s legend was created in the jungles of Vietnam.


In October 1963, then-1st Lieutenant Rowe was three months into an advisory mission in South Vietnam. While conducting an operation to expel a Viet Cong unit from Le Coeur village, Rowe was captured during a firefight, along with future Medal of Honor Recipient Captain Humberto “Rocky” Versace.



Rowe went on to spend 62 months in captivity in an area of South Vietnam known as the “Forest of Darkness.” During his time as a POW, Rowe was tortured and subjected to multiple forms of inhuman treatment. The ever-diligent survivalist, Rowe attempted to deceive the guards into thinking he was not a threat by convincing them he was an engineer who had been drafted into the military. This allowed Rowe to make several escape attempts in an effort to gain his freedom and return to his unit.   


After more than five years of trying to keep watch over Rowe, his captors grew exhausted with him. The North Vietnamese sentenced him to death, and he was led into the jungle to be executed by a Viet Cong patrol. Rowe had a different plan.


During the execution attempt, Rowe’s captors were distracted by the sound of nearby American helicopters. Rowe quickly overpowered his guards and made his way to a clearing where he could wave down the friendly birds.


According to accounts by the helicopter pilots, despite that Rowe was dressed in Viet Cong-style black pajamas, his thick beard that had grown during his years in captivity helped to identify him as an American. Rowe was ultimately rescued in 1968, and he returned stateside at the rank of major.


…despite that Rowe was dressed in Viet Cong-style black pajamas, his thick beard that had grown during his years in captivity helped to identify him as an American.


After exiting the military to run for Congress and author the book “Five Years to Freedom,” Rowe decided to continue his military career in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was called back to active duty in 1981.


Then-Lieutenant Colonel Rowe personally designed and built a course that replicated his experience as a POW in Vietnam to be utilized as a training aid.


In 1987, he was assigned to command an advisory group in the Philippines. He worked closely with the CIA and intelligence organizations in the Philippines to prevent a communist revolution.


LTC Rowe.

Rowe was killed in 1989 when his vehicle was ambushed by assassins from the communist New People’s Army of the Philippines while he was conducting counter-insurgency training for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.


Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) is still taught at the Colonel James “Nick” Rowe Training compound at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, to special operations forces students. It is currently a graduation requirement for the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course and widely considered to be the toughest — yet exceedingly vital — training curriculum in the special forces community.


Special Forces candidates are also allowed to grow beards during SERE, an exception likely inspired by the school’s namesake.


 


Neil Fotre
Neil Fotre

Neil Fotre is a contributing writer for Coffee or Die, and former U.S. Army Armor Officer. He has served operational deployments in South Korea and Afghanistan. Neil earned a master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He covers military and veteran community topics. His writing has been featured in the Military Times, Forbes, the Daily Beast, Task and Purpose and Business Insider. In between pounding his fingers on a keyboard, he is constantly glugging away on seltzer water and sipping on dark roast… pinky out.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
Coffee Or Die Photo
From the Team Room to Team Room Design: An Operator’s Creative Journey

BRCC partners with Team Room Design for an exclusive T-shirt release!

Coffee Or Die Photo
Get Your Viking On: The Exclusive 30 Sec Out BRCC Shirt Club Design

Thirty Seconds Out has partnered with BRCC for an exclusive shirt design invoking the God of Winter.

Grizzly Forge BRCC shirt
Limited Edition: Grizzly Forge Blades on an Awesome BRCC Shirt

Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.

BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2024 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved