James N. Rowe

Author of the story, Rowe is in Vietnam during the height of the conflict between Vietnamese and Vietcong forces. Rowe is stationed at Tan Phu and is known to his fellow soldiers as Nick. From the moment of his capture, Rowe is pressed to make written statements admitting his guilt of "bloody crimes" against the Vietnamese people and of the superiority of the Vietcong over the Americans. There are times when Rowe considers giving in to the demands but remains steady in the face of the pressure. When Rowe is surrounded by fellow Prisoners of War, he assumed a role of leadership, feeling a responsibility and a need to protect them in as much as he is able. When everyone except Rowe is allowed to go home, he makes a determined effort to remain stoic and to make himself strong so that he will be able...