Jayhawk Chapter MOAA, Lawrence, Kansas

02/12/2026

https://youtu.be/mWXO1x23JS4?si=7V4bbCWJ6L2jamoa

The final scene from Brian DePalma's "Casualties of War" (1989) starring Michael J. Fox.

06/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EHu8RawmE/

In the depths of the Vietnam jungle, far from home, surrounded by enemies and stripped of freedom, a young American soldier refused to break.

This is the story of Colonel James N. “Nick” Rowe — a Green Beret, a survivor, and a patriot whose strength reshaped the U.S. military forever.

Rowe graduated from West Point in 1960 and soon found himself in the thick of the Vietnam War as a Special Forces advisor. In 1963, during a Viet Cong ambush, then-1st Lt. Rowe was captured. What followed were five years of unimaginable hardship — five years locked in a wooden cage, tortured, starved, and isolated. His daily ration: two cans of rice. His companions: snakes, rats, and the will to survive.

Rowe managed to convince his captors he was just an engineer. But when anti-war activists back home exposed his true identity as a Green Beret, the North Vietnamese were furious. They sentenced him to death.

But fate had other plans.

As he was being marched into the jungle for ex*****on, Rowe heard the distant thump of helicopter blades. With nothing to lose, he knocked down a guard and ran toward a clearing, waving his arms. A U.S. helicopter pilot nearly opened fire — until he saw Rowe’s thick beard, something no Vietnamese soldier could grow. That beard saved his life. After five years in a cage, Rowe was finally free.

Back in the U.S., Rowe didn’t rest. He turned his pain into purpose. At Fort Bragg, he co-authored the Army’s SERE school — Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape — ensuring future Special Forces soldiers would be better prepared if ever captured. His suffering became their shield.

In 1989, while serving in the Philippines as part of a counterinsurgency mission, Rowe’s life was cut short in an ambush by communist insurgents. He died as he lived — in service to freedom.

His legacy lives on through his book “Five Years to Freedom” and through every Special Forces soldier who trains in the course he helped build.

Col. James N. Rowe didn’t just survive — he came back stronger, and built a legacy that will never fade.

03/23/2025

At our March meeting, Dr Mike Wuthrich, Associate Professor of Political Science and the Associate Director for Global & International Studies at Kansas University, spoke about current events in the Middle East, in particular Turkey and Iran. Mike Kelly, our chapter legislative liaison and the new Kansas Council of Chapters president, gave us an update on legislative issues at the state and national level.

04/14/2024

Great news for Veterans in NE Kansas and for the University. Lawton Nuss is a '75 graduate of KU Navy ROTC.

The KU clinic would provide free legal aid for veterans experiencing issues related to disability claims, discharge upgrades or criminal charges tied to service-connected incidents.

03/29/2024

At our March 19th dinner meeting, Dr Oleksandra Wallo, the Director of Graduate Studies for KU's Department of Slavic Studies and Literatures, gave a riveting update on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It was illuminating to hear some perspectives on the war's impact from the point of view of Ukrainian civilians.

12/07/2023

December 7, 1941. No warning...2,403 dead. "A date which will live in infamy".
Never forget.

05/30/2022

Our Memorial Day flag team after setting US flags by Veterans' graves at Maple Grove Cemetery, North of Lawrence. Our team also put flags at Pioneer Cemetery on the KU campus.
L-R: Mike Miller, George Pogge, Mike Chapman, Bernie Kish, Mike Kelly, Troy Phillips, Gary Bjorge.

05/01/2022

05/01/2022

04/26/2022

SPRING AWARDS CEREMONY

Join us on Facebook Live tomorrow, April 27th at 1600 (4:00pm), to watch our livestream of the Spring 2022 Awards Ceremony! This ceremony recognizes and celebrates the hard work and dedication of our midshipmen from this past year. See you tomorrow at 4:00!