Michael Bennett, at 70 years old, uncovered a life that he never knew about.
In the early 1950s, Bennett was 3-years-old in Japan. Then, he was adopted by a couple from America. He was always aware that his mother was Japanese and his father was an American serviceman. At that time, it wasn’t acceptable for Yoshiko Nakajima, his mother, to have a mixed child.
“…she was a single mom and wanted the best for me. And thought the best for me would be to be raised in America,” Bennett stated.
In 60 years, Bennett was raised as an only child, joined the Army, traveled all over, and raised his American family. When he turned 68, he wanted to know more about who he was.
Bennett then got on the 23andMe platform for a DNA test. He then received his first direct message.
“Hey, we gotta lot of DNA in common. I don’t know who you are. I know all of my family…,” the message read.
The person who sent the message was from Ohio. They were able to verify his mother’s name, and the year that Bennett was born. He was informed that the person knew who is father was and was told that he has a large family.
He was then put into contact with his sister, Robin Reed. Reed disclosed that their father had died but always spoke of the son he had in Japan. She added that their father attempted to stay in Japan with his child and the child’s mother, whom he had fallen in love with. However, because he was a low-ranking member of the military, he couldn’t stop his transfer back to the U.S.
Both of Bennett’s biological parents are deceased now, but hours after talking to Reed, he traveled to Cincinnati. There, he discovered that he had seven brothers and sisters, waiting to meet him.
Bennett, from Fort Worth, was told that he looked just like his dad. His siblings also stated that it was always their father’s desire that they find their brother.
Bennett expressed his feelings on the whole matter. “I’ll tell you something that has changed for me. I get to be a big brother. And I cherish that. I’m having a great time.”
