UNLIKE
MANY 'COMMENTS' PAGES FOUND IN WEBSITES, THESE ARE ALL THE
GENUINE THING
I first heard about
"The Mucky Ducks" known as 'The Sea Eagles' back in the
very early 70's while monitoring activity in SE Asia. As
they were no threat to us it remained just "interesting
reading" and nothing more. Little did I know that 30 years
later I would quite by accident meet the man that was running
that outfit on the Internet in a cruise ship website! I
have since come to know Harry quite well and consider him
a close and dear friend. We are pretty much alike in many
ways with the exception that I cannot write well or barely
enough to get by whereas Harry is so very eloquent and disriptive
you feel that you are there. I have no doubt that if Harry,
and I, were physically able to, we would be sailing around
that part of the world somewhere chasing pirates and seeing
that justice comes calling on these vicious people.
Jim Bragg. Ex USN
I have made previous comment in the
Mucky Ducks website and can only reiterate some of what
has been said.
As a Master Mariner I believe I once saw the Ducks in action
in the China Sea. The incident is in the book but I won't
name it as I understand Capt Drake has an aversion to those
particular years.
For over two decades rumours of the Mucky Ducks (that name
was never known at the time) were rife in Asian waters.
Alone, the prospect of them being there did much to give
seamen a sense of having some protection even if private.
Sadly governments do little to keep certain oceans of the
world safe for mariners.
I believe I also met Harry Drake in Hong Kong, although
he wasn't using that name at the time. The photograph on
the back cover of the book is definitely of the man I met.
The book means much to me, the writing style may be a bit
strange but it's the way Harry Drake talked - I know because
we shared a few drinks together.
Capt Martin Blackstall MM (Ret)
I was a crewmwmber
in a freighter on the run between Indonesia and Japan. We
had only just cleared the Malacca Straits when two small
vessels approached at high speed. It was obvious that they
were modern pirates as we could see they were all armed.
The next thing we know this craft, like a patrol boat, roared
out of the sunset and send a hail of bullets into the two
boats. Then it circled a couple of times and took off back
into the dusk. The two pirate craft were dead in the water
and we steamed off as fast as we could. I can't say for
sure that it was The Mucky Ducks that turned up to save
us but I did get a look at the man on the fair weather bridge
and it looked exactly like the man on the back cover of
the book.
Thank you Harry
Alan Rice
I found another link
and am suprised it wasn't spotted earlier. 'Tiger' in the
book somebody told Sylvia that he once saw Red watching
over a sleeping Harry much as a female tiger watches over
an 'almost' adult cub
Julie Broadfoot
Manchester
I have also left
a message on The Mucky Ducks website. I know of the girl
they called Anna Minet 'Red' in the book, her family lived
close to mine in Denmark. Many stories were told of the
wild redhead but none knew what happened to her until she
returned home to die. Such a sad, sad story and reading
the book was painful to me. Now I know about the missing
years, good they were for one such as Anna Sonja, this was
her real name but I will keep her last name to myself.
Hjordis
Denmark & Australia - I married an Aussie
I have only read
a few books in my lifetime. I only read biographies and
books of truth. I will say, without a doubt, this is the
best of them all. It is so well written. I felt like I was
a part of the action in some parts. I would have loved to
have been, had I known about this band of men. I again,
missed my calling. Harry? I have read just about everything
you have written and if I missed anything, I will find it
sooner or later. I hope you are feeling better and hope
you make a complete recovery so that you can still enjoy
your antics and wrightings. Though we have never met, I
feel as though I know you and all the ducks. You can tell
a lot about a man by looking in his eyes and listening to
his music,
Take care of yourself and God Bless.
J Derrick (BJ)..Arkansas.
For you Harry - one last time in
memory of our time in Hong Kong 1989. Next year it will
have been 10 years
Cassandra
Beth
I love this book. I have read everything
I can possibly find that Harry has written...I am so hungry
for so much more of his journey through life. Man what a
life. The Mucky Ducks have become my hero's. People like
this should never die. I would love to meet Harry Drake
in person and have a drink with a real man. This book should
be at the top of the list of all time best ever.
Mary Nell
Alabama
My trade is plumbing which doesn't
allow for much imagination but when I sat down to read 'The
Mucky Ducks' it was like entering a different life. Some
books you read a bit and put down and then start up again
later but this one I read right through in a single night,
it was impossible to put down. I think I liked the fact
that there were no heroes or anything; the men were just
as ordinary as me.
It also started me collecting ABBA music, something I had
never listened to until I read the book. I don't understand
why they say it's music for gays, I'm not and neither was
Harry and his crew, I like it and will say so and if anybody
says anything I will introduce them to a plumbers fist.
Thank you Harry and crew for taking me into your world,
it made living in mine a bit more bearable.
Leon Carter
HULL - UK
(C)
2007 THE MUCKY DUCKS FAN CLUB |
