Duane Mann met Peggy Yamaguchi in 1953 when he was based in Yokosuka, Japan from 1953 to 1954. He was 22, working as a slot machine repairman at an Air Force NCO Club.

Peggy worked as a hat-check girl in the same place, so a romance developed thanks to 14 months of courtship.

But suddenly, Mann was ordered to return to the U.S.. Yamaguchi was pregnant so he promised to send for her. The plan was to get married and live as a happy family.

Upon returning home, he found out that his father spent all of his savings.

Money he intended for Yamaguchi.

The couple wrote to each other regularly until about a month later when the letters stopped. He found out that his mother was burning Yamaguchi’s letters since she didn’t want him to marry a Japanese woman.

Mann did receive one letter from Yamaguchi. It was heartbreaking, with Yamaguchi saying she lost the baby and married another man.

“It was over. That set in the idea that I abandoned her. [It] just wore me out. That’s not an honorable thing to do,” he said.

His grief and guilt haunted him for the rest of his life.

Mann thought Yamaguchi believed he neglected her while she was pregnant.

In May of 2022, KETV NewsWatch 7 shared his story globally, including the Japanese media who also ran stories of his lifelong search for Yamaguchi.

Theresa Wong is a 23-year-old Canadian researcher for the History Channel.

She was so moved by the story that she began her own investigation. A 1956 article called “Tokyo bride likes life in Escanaba” revealed a last name and an address she could trace.

Yamaguchi, now 91, was now the U.S. with her Navy husband where she had 3 sons.

She lived in Escanaba, Michigan, not too far from Mann in Iowa.

Yamaguchi’s adult sons were also moved by their mom’s past.

Wong tipped reporter Michelle Bandur, who then contacted Yamaguchi’s son, Rich Sedenquist, showing his mother the news story regarding Mann’s search for her.

And wouldn’t you know it, she still remembers Mann.

Rich’s brother, Mike Sedenquist, was touched by Mann’s dedication. His middle name is Duane too, after his mother’s first love.

Duane and Peggy soon reunited at the Island Resort and Casino in Escanaba. Mann cried “Peggy!” upon seeing her again.

A sweet embrace got the former lovers reminiscing about their time in Japan.

Mann explained his side, showing Yamaguchi his old photos of her. They were in his wallet for almost 70 years.

“And I’ve thought about that all my life, I worried that you thought that I abandoned you,” he told her. “And I’m here to tell you that I didn’t abandon you at all. I just couldn’t find you.”

Yamaguchi thanked him for remembering her all this time, hugging and kissing her former lover.

She never felt abandoned considering all the time that passed. Mann says the reunion had really been a freeing experience for him.

Watch this beautiful reunion below!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: My Positive Outlooks, KETV NewsWatch7