H/t BlackFive and Uncle Jimbo
The Associated Press is reporting that Dutch Police have arrested a Filipino Expat, Jose Maria Sison, accused of ordering the murder of two of his former allies in the Philippines. He had commanded the “New Peoples Army” which brutalized his homeland as head of their armed faction of the Communist Army.
But the reason I rejoice tonight is he was the killer of a personal hero of mine, US Army Special Forces giant James “Nick” Rowe, who is one of the founders of modern Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape programs for the US military. He was captured by the Viet Cong and spent 63 months in captivity. Eventually promoted to Colonel, Nick Rowe was one of the few POW’s to escape captivity and be rescued. He was captured with his friend Captain Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace but they were separated and Versace later died in captivity. On July 8, 2002, in a ceremony in the White House East Room, Versace was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush for his heroism, the first time an Army POW had been awarded the nation's highest honor for actions in captivity.
This is the book cover from Nick Rowes book as depicted on the Wikipedia site. Nick Rowe was gunned down by an assassin on a motorbike in the PI in April 1989 while he was working against the "New Peoples Army" in support of the government. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery. He is a true American patriot and a man that knew what it meant to defend his nation. He wrote the book “Five Years to Freedom” an incredible account of his time in captivity and I salute the arrest of his killer and only hope he is dealt with in an appropriate fashion by the authorities.
- Yet again, thank you for your service Colonel Rowe and Captain Versace, your sacrifice can not be rewarded, only remembered.
- De Oppresso Liber ("To free the opressed"),