James N. Rowe

James N. Rowe
Nickname(s)"Nick"
Born(1938-02-08)February 8, 1938
McAllen, Texas, U.S.
DiedApril 21, 1989(1989-04-21) (aged 51)
Quezon City, Philippines
Buried
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
United States Army Reserve
Years of service1960–1974
1981–1989
RankColonel
CommandsArmy Division, Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group
Battles / warsVietnam War
Filipino Insurgency
AwardsSilver Star
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (2)
Purple Heart (2)
Other workAuthor

James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (February 8, 1938 – April 21, 1989) was a United States Army officer and one of only 34 American prisoners of war to escape captivity during the Vietnam War. Colonel Rowe was credited with developing the rigorous US Army Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training program taught to high-risk military personnel (such as Special Operations Forces and aircrews) and the U.S. Army doctrine which institutionalizes these techniques and principles to be followed by captured personnel.

In 1989, Rowe was assassinated by a unit of the New People's Army in the Philippines called the Alex Boncayao Brigade.