In 2018 Michael Bennett purchased a 23andMe DNA test kit to learn more about the medical history of his family. But when he got there, he discovered more than he had expected—a whole new family was waiting for him.

After World War II, Michael, who is now 70, was born in occupied Japan. His biological parents are Dick Webster, an American serviceman, and Yoshiko Nakajima, a Japanese woman.

In 1953, when he was three years old, a couple in the United States adopted Michael. He was only aware of his biological family at this point.

«I had a great childhood. He confessed to TODAY that he loved his parents.

After a while, Michael joined the Army, rose to the rank of Green Beret, and started his own family there.

Michael, who resides in Fort Worth, Texas, received a message from a young man named Damien from Cincinnati, Ohio in 2019 via the 23andMe app.

“I don’t know who you are, but we have a lot of DNA in common, someone said. My entire family is familiar to me. I have no idea who you are,” he replied.

Michael responded by relating his experience and mentioning that he had family in Japan. Then came additional inquiries.

Is Yoshiko Nakajima your mother’s name? You were born in Japan in the 1950s, right? Next, Damien inquired.

Michael experienced a major “aha” moment when he saw the name of his mother on the television.

Damien replied, “Hey, we know who your father is. Additionally, everyone in your large family wants to chat to you.

A couple of hours later, Michael was on the phone with Robin Reid, Damien’s aunt. That phone call opened up an entirely new world for him.

Robin was one of the seven half-siblings Michael, who was raised as an only child, had in Ohio. She even had a picture of him when he was a young lad.

Robin commented, «That picture of that little boy lingered with me all these years,» in reference to the photos their father had saved. The person explained, «I wanted to know where my brother was, and that head full of black hair and those gorgeous dark eyes stuck with me all these years.»

According to Robin, their late father, Dick Webster, tried his best to stay in Japan with Michael and his mother. He had re-enlisted in the Air Force for another three-year term in order to be with them. But the Air Force brought him back to the country.

Dick, an airman of low rank, lacked the authority to prevent the transfer. After learning that his son had been adopted, he never saw him again.

Robin said, «He was brokenhearted.» He was heartbroken since he had lost his family in Japan.

He would experience another love affair and marry Alma Jean for many years. But he didn’t stop worrying about his family in Japan, whom he had to leave behind. In the 1980s, he even sent two of his children on a search mission to locate them.

The brothers were still able to gather information for their father despite the fact that the mother and boy had long since fled. Yoshiko had put Michael up for adoption as a form of protection, as they learned from the locals. He was her only kid.

In 2017, Yoshiko passed away.

As a youngster of mixed race living with a single mother in post-World War II Japan, “she realized it was going to be hard for me,” Michael recalled. There is no doubt that she acted out of love.

Days after his pivotal phone conversation with Robin, Michael and his wife Mari traveled 14 hours to Cincinnati to finally meet his long-lost relatives.

When they arrived, Michael’s siblings were all waiting for them on the front lawn, ready to hug him.

He remembered the special day: “I don’t know if they’re all huggers, but they were that day. “And I was, but I’m not. Go figure, then!

When Robin first met Michael, she remarked, “It might sound crazy, but if you’ve ever lost a loved one, you know the feeling of wanting to be able to look into their eyes again. “I felt as though I got to see my dad once again. He’s got eyes. It was the world’s most soothing sensation.

Since that time, Michael has remained in touch with his family and shares holidays with them.

From a familial standpoint, Michael stated, “I’ll tell you the one thing it has changed for me: I get to be a big brother.” And I value that. I’m enjoying myself a lot.

The next gathering of the siblings is set for June in Fort Worth. It will undoubtedly be another reunion replete with hugs.

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