Japanese American hero marks 100 remarkable years
Randall
A veteran of two wars celebrated his 100th birthday this week.
What makes Minoru “Mino” Ohye unique is that the West Sacramento, CA veteran fought for two different countries- the Imperial Army of Japan and the United States.
Ohye’s family sent the California native to live in Japan with extended family along with his brother after their father died in a fishing accident.
Military.com reports at age 13, the Japanese Imperial Army forced Ohye into military service during WWII with the Imperial Army’s youth division.
After Japan lost the war, the Russians took him to a POW camp in Siberia. He survived frigid temperatures of 60 degrees below zero. Eventually the Russians released him and in 1951 he returned to the U.S. to live with his mother in Northern California. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War.
“His story is pretty incredible, he’s a Korean War vet and then in World War II he was on Japanese Imperial, but then he was also in the U.S. Army,” his caregiver Alfonso Linares said during his birthday party.
According to KCRA, he is still active. He picks up trash every day, collects clothes for U.S. veterans and leads a veteran support group.
The celebrations for his birthday will continue with the VFW planning a party as well.
Randall
A veteran of two wars celebrated his 100th birthday this week.
What makes Minoru “Mino” Ohye unique is that the West Sacramento, CA veteran fought for two different countries- the Imperial Army of Japan and the United States.
Ohye’s family sent the California native to live in Japan with extended family along with his brother after their father died in a fishing accident.
Military.com reports at age 13, the Japanese Imperial Army forced Ohye into military service during WWII with the Imperial Army’s youth division.
After Japan lost the war, the Russians took him to a POW camp in Siberia. He survived frigid temperatures of 60 degrees below zero. Eventually the Russians released him and in 1951 he returned to the U.S. to live with his mother in Northern California. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War.
“His story is pretty incredible, he’s a Korean War vet and then in World War II he was on Japanese Imperial, but then he was also in the U.S. Army,” his caregiver Alfonso Linares said during his birthday party.
According to KCRA, he is still active. He picks up trash every day, collects clothes for U.S. veterans and leads a veteran support group.
The celebrations for his birthday will continue with the VFW planning a party as well.
Similar Readings (5 items)
Former student nurse who shared her Battle of Okinawa experience dies at 96
WWII Japanese flags given to group for return to soldiers' families
Japan's Emperor Naruhito turns 65
summary of Japanese civic group holds final gathering to hear from WWII survivors
Ishiba attends Japan-US joint memorial service on Ioto Island to honor war dead
Summary
Minoru "Mino" Ohye, a Japanese American, celebrated his 100th birthday. Uniquely, he served in the Japanese Imperial Army (WWII) & the U.S. Army (Korean War), enduring a Siberian POW camp. Now active, he supports veterans. #WWII #KoreanWar
Reading History
| Date | Name | Words | Time | WPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/01/31 21:46 | Anonymous | 230 | - | - |