At 91, A Navy Veteran Finally Tracks Down His Long Lost First Love After 70 Years

May 01, 2023 by apost team

Duane Mann was only 21 years old when he was deployed to Japan in 1953, toward the end of the Korean War. Mann was among seven Navy personnel stationed in Yokosuka and undertook the task of handling priority Navy cargo at an airport. In his downtime, he worked as a slot machine repairman at the Air Force Non-Commissioned Officers Club, where he encountered a woman who would hold a special place in his heart for more than 70 years.

At the club, Mann first laid eyes on hat check girl Peggy Yamaguchi, who he fell for hard and fast. Their romance blossomed on the dancefloor and on scenic trips, and soon, Yamaguchi became pregnant. However, as the pair were making plans to wed, Mann received orders to return to the United States months earlier than expected. 

“We didn’t have any time to get married, we were just trapped,” Mann told KETV. “I reassured her, ‘Don’t be afraid. When I get home, I am just going to send for you,’” he added.

Upon his return home, Mann discovered that his savings, which he had planned to use to bring Yamaguchi over, had been spent by his father. Mann and Yamaguchi continued to write letters to one another, and he told her he would soon have enough saved up after securing a job in a highway construction company. However, the letters from Yamaguchi stopped coming. Years later, however, he learned it was his mother who had destroyed them. 

“She didn’t want me to marry a Japanese girl,” Mann recounted. 

He did, however, receive one final letter from Yamaguchi. 

“In that letter, she told me she married an Air Force man and that she had lost the baby and that was just dead for me,” Mann said. “I was pretty well devastated.”

As Mann carried on with life, marrying twice and having six children, the memories of Yamaguchi never left his mind. At 91, Mann’s heart still felt heavy with remorse, and he knew he needed to find her.

“It began to haunt me more and more through the years... I left her standing there, pregnant,” he told KETV in recalling the reason behind a Facebook post he shared in May 2022. Accompanied by Yamaguchi’s photo, Mann’s post implored anyone with information about his lost love to contact him. 

Mann’s story went viral across the globe and was even published by the Japanese media. It also caught the attention of 23-year-old History Channel researcher Theresa Wong. Touched by Mann’s journey, Wong was able to track down Yamaguchi after discovering a 1956 newspaper article with the headline, “Tokyo bride likes life in Escanaba.” With her last name, an address – and the irony – was quickly uncovered. Not only had Yamaguchi been living in the US all these years, but she had also settled and raised three sons only 650 miles away from Duane’s Iowa home.

Finally, Mann and Yamaguchi were set to reunite at the Island Resort and Casino outside Escanaba in June 2022. Witnesses were moved near to tears as the pair saw and embraced each other after spending 70 years apart.

Seated together, the 70 years between their last meeting seemed to disappear as they quickly began chatting, reminiscing and laughing.

“Remember the dancing?” Yamaguchi asked endearingly. However, Mann still had an important message to get off his chest.

“I’m here to tell you that I didn’t abandon you at all. I just couldn’t find you,” Mann told Yamaguchi, who nodded in understanding. Yamaguchi responded:

“Thank you for remembering and (saving) all the pictures. You must have loved me.” 

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