Minoru “Mino” Ohye has a truly unique story not matched by many other veterans.
Not only did Ohye turn 100 years old recently and is one of the last remaining World War II veterans, but he also served for both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.
Ohye was born in Sacramento, California in 1926. However, after his father was killed in a fishing accident, Ohye and his brother were sent to Japan to live with their extended family, according to CBS Sacramento.
At just 13 years old, Ohye was forced into military service, joining the Japanese Imperial Army’s youth division. At the time, Japan was battling the Soviet Union in the early stages of World War II.
Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, Ohye was taken prisoner by the Russians and sent to a POW camp in Siberia. Temperatures plummeted to 60 degrees below zero while he worked in coal mines under brutal conditions.
But Ohye survived and emerged from the POW camp to return to the U.S. in 1951. He reunited with his mother, living in Northern California. He joined the Army and fought in the Korean War, serving near the demilitarized zone, the contentious border between North and South Korea.
In 2012, residents in Yolo County, California where Ohye resides, raised funds for the veteran to return to Japan to see his brother Hiroshi after being apart for almost 60 years.
“I’ve never seen him get angry with anybody,” Linares said. “He’s very easy to get along with...everybody loves Mino, you know.”
Overcoming Hard Times
On Thursday, Ohye celebrated hitting the century mark with close friends and fellow veterans at Eskaton Wilson Manor, a senior living facility in West Sacramento, California.
Heading into his special day, Ohye had a simple wish: 100 birthday cards to honor 100 years of life. But his expectations were far exceeded when almost 600 cards were sent to the senior center.
Unfortunately, Ohye no longer has family members living in Northern California, so he relies on friends for support, like Alfonso Linares, who’s known the veteran for more than 40 years.
“Several years ago, I asked him, ‘What’s your goal, Mino?’ And he said, he wants to be 103,” Linares said, laughing.
Dining on sushi and birthday cake, Ohye smiled and shared stories with friendly faces, including fellow Army veteran John Meugniot.
“I still enjoy being able to bond with the veterans. It’s a community, that’s it,” said Meugniot. “You know, to get to help out each other through the hard times and the good times.”
Ohye worked as Linares’s gardener for years and their bond grew tighter after spending time together at the West Sacramento VFW post. They’re now as close as family.
“I’ve never seen him get angry with anybody,” Linares said. “He’s very easy to get along with...everybody loves Mino, you know.”
Rare Story
The fact that Ohye served in both the Japanese military in World War II and the U.S. Army in Korea just several years later is an extremely rare feat.
After his military service, life wasn’t always kind to the Japanese American. He found himself battling homelessness following the loss of a restaurant he managed.
Eventually, Ohye connected with the VFW in West Sacramento, where he met new friends and received the help he needed to get his life back on track. He found stable housing and served as the VFW post commander in the mid-1990s.
Through the years, Ohye has taught Linares many life lessons, including the ability to lead by example.
“Find something, whether it’s a church, veteran organizations, you know, volunteer and get to meet people, be sociable and help out. And don’t expect a lot in return,” Linares said.
Even today, at age 100, Ohye is still helping veterans. He organizes drives to collect clothes for unhoused veterans and helps manage a veteran support system.
