SASKATCHEWAN, April 17, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- There are many sides to every story, just as there are hidden chapters in our history. In 1942, naval recruits were 'volunteered' into the special service operations in Canada. This highly trained squad of combined troops attacked European shores by stealth from the sea, and then returned to the sea. Only one man is left to tell the story of these courageous men -- Agent 034. Author John M. Makie unveils this little known part of WWII history as he shares the true story of The Spy Worker.
Petty Officer John G. Makie of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve did not realize what he was getting into in the summer of 1942, when he gave an oath at Camp X under the Canadian Secrets Act of 1939. He was only seventeen years old and determined to defend the freedom of Canada. He did so, in the most extraordinary way. He was special agent number 034, of the secret service group -- underwater demolition squadron.
These secret agents were very highly trained commandos, who came from Canada, Britain, and Australia. These fearless men were scuba divers trained in small arms and hand-to-hand combat. They entered enemy-occupied countries by the sea, carried out acts of sabotage and clandestine warfare. Then, they quickly disappeared into the night, back to the sea. They had no name or rank, just mission after mission in Russia, Norway, Sweden and France. This brave group of men, personally encouraged by Sir Winston Churchill, Sir William Stephenson, and Lord Louis Mountbatten set out to 'set Europe ablaze.'
The year 1996 marks the end of the fifty-year gag order by oath and with it, the truth is finally set free. The Spy Worker reveals secrets of a time long, long ago -- all accounted by the lone survivor, now in his eighties -- which are finally free to share with friends and family. After many therapeutic sessions over the last ten years, events of this forgotten group are starting to surface. Although there are no records of their missions or medals of valor ever rewarded, The Spy Worker pays tribute to the unsung heroes of war in remembering their notable acts of bravery.
About the Author
John M. Makie's father, Petty Officer John G. Makie, is the spy worker in this biography, The Spy Worker. When the author was a young boy in the sixties, he grew up frequently asking his Dad questions about his wartime experiences, but to no avail. Forty-five years later, John M. Makie learned that he was keeping an oath of secrecy, a fifty-year gag order with the Canadian Government. The author had ambitions of joining the Canadian Navy, as he was a sea cadet for most of his teenage years. Today, he is a Systems Management Consultant in his own business, MultiNet Marketing. He is married with five grown-up children, three young women and two men. Today, John M. Makie is a certified journalist and has published various articles in sportswriting. Much of his work was creating technical manuals for telecommunication companies. He is writing this book to help explain another hidden chapter of World War II history.
The Spy Worker * by John M. Makie
1942 - 1946
Publication Date: April 16, 2009
Trade Paperback; $19.99; 253 pages; 978-1-4415-1835-4
Cloth Hardback; $29.99; 253 pages; 978-1-4415-1836-1
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