Читать книгу Seize the Day - A M (Jack) Harris - Страница 5

This is the story of a very special Australian. Jack Harris’ life has been one of remarkable achievement, largely unknown until now. He has come a long way from Buronga as an athlete, professional boxer, merchant seaman, linguist, warrior, spy, successful author, businessman, scholar and entrepreneur. A long list, yet each endeavour represents an achievement from which he learned and used in the next stage of his life. You will be struck immediately by the vitality of the man, his determination to be involved in all that is going on and by his desire to extend himself. Yet it is uncanny in the way he is always drawn to the action. Where does the line between instinct and reasoning begin?

Indeed, you may read some of his exploits with scepticism, even disbelief. For example, you really have to wonder why, after being so badly wounded in Korea in 1950, he would want to return? Once there, with a crippled left hand, how did he ever get involved in line crossing? In hastening to verify the truth of his story, I have to say that Jack, in his understated way, makes some incredible episodes in his life seem commonplace. So much of the real danger he faced was when he was totally isolated from his own soldiers. There was no one to observe and later report, no one whom he could have drawn on for vicarious support. There are few people surviving who have attempted what he achieved and can talk of similar experiences.

While he would call himself a soldier and, with reticence, admit he had travelled in company with warriors there is no way he would ever acknowledge that as a line crosser he had taken his soldiering to a level known to very few. Quick, highly intelligent and absolutely pragmatic, his decision making was invariably instantaneous. Above all, he has always been a very positive person. Doubt and fear have never been part of his vocabulary. That is not to say he was in any way foolhardy he was far too bright for that, rather we should say those two critical, and at times most difficult factors would have been speedily appraised. In any case, he would hold them as words never to be spoken for they are infectious in themselves and are indicative of personal frailty. So it is that much in the narrative is somewhat matter-of-fact and the reader has to remind himself or herself from time to time of where all this is going on.

For sheer excitement, if that is the word, one has only to look at his period behind the enemy lines with his Korean companions to marvel at his audacity. When you reflect on the risks and the dire consequences of a lone Caucasian, dressed in Chinese uniform, carrying Chinese weapons and papers, in a totally Asian and hostile world, the hairs on the back of your neck begin to rise. To have made such a trip ten times, to a depth of fourteen miles through and beyond the enemy lines, and to remain each time for many days, trusting only the people you are with, leaves one totally in awe. The tensions must have been very heavy. At any time, an accidental encounter with say, a lost enemy soldier could have blown everything.

It was a remarkable feat of arms and courage of the very highest order. The whole of Jack’s life follows this inspirational path and reminds us all of the need for determination in our lives and of the premier Australian quality, absolute refusal to be deterred by an setback.

Major General D. M. Butler. AO. DSO.

Portsea. April 2012.