Yokosuka circa late 1800's
The core hospital (headquarters of U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka) is located on the grounds of the original hospital compound built in 1881 for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Earthquake and fire destroyed those buildings in 1923. The Imperial Japanese Navy rebuilt the hospital in February 1931 as a medical center and training school. At the end of World War II, American Occupational Forces used the facility as a 250-bed hospital dispensary. On September 11, 1950, at the beginning of the Korean War, the hospital was established.
The command received its first Navy Unit Commendation for treatment of over 5,800 casualties from the Korean War. A second Navy Unit Commendation was awarded for services rendered during the Vietnam War. In 1973, the base was revitalized with the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Midway and the start of the Overseas Family Residency Program. Due to the increased importance of the Middle East and Far East theatres, a new hospital facility was built in 1980 and opened on February 10, 1981.
New USNH Yokosuka
Shortly before the hospital opened, the command received a Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal for support provided to burn patients from the Marine Corps Training Camp, Camp Fuji, Japan, in October 1979. A second Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal was awarded for superb medical support provided between July 1986 and July 1988. A third Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal was awarded in July 1994 for support provided to victims of an explosion and fire aboard USS Midway in 1990 and victims of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the Republic of Philippines in 1991.
In 1999, the Navy Medicine Inspector General recognized USNH Yokosuka as a benchmark command in customer relations and marketing. USNH Yokosuka opened a joint Wellness Center at the Fleet Recreation Center in Yokosuka and the world's first Women, Infants and Children Overseas Office in 2001.
Old USNH
After September 11, 2001 the command reengineered operational readiness training. Throughout 2002, the command strengthened force health protection for the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces and those who support them while simultaneously improving Family Centered Care. In 2003 the command opened a Stork's Nest to assist pregnant women and their families throughout mainland Japan. USNH Yokosuka provided support to USS Kitty Hawk's medical department during and after Operation Iraqi Freedom. The command continues to support the Global War on Terror in numerous ways.
Old USNH
U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, provides a comprehensive range of emergency, outpatient and inpatient care services to about 43,000 active duty personnel and authorized beneficiaries in an area extending north to Misawa, south to Iwo Jima, and west to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Clinics and annexes are located in Iwakuni, Sasebo, Hario, Atsugi, Kamiseya, Camp Fuji, Yokohama, Iwo Jima and Chinhae, South Korea. With its regional Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS), USNH Yokosuka provides care to children with special needs at every military base in mainland Japan. We are "Here to SERVE with CARE."
Best Friends Gary Smoyer, JT Whaley, Vanessa, Sherry, Alan Czuprinski, Mr Takahashi, Winky White, Shinjo-san, Misako-san, Chief Quiogue ('Kabuki')......Chuck Marotta...Lt Upham (Hank Ziffle)...LOL
Best Moment 1) Karaoke! 2) seeing historic places in Japan 3) Getting to attend NEHC Conferences 4) all the silly times in the PM office 5) Learning Japanese
Worst Moment 1) having to drive to/from MSC Yokohama 2) standing out in the freezing December wind on the pier waiting to give the ship's HM a De-Rat Certificate, only to find out they already had one!!! 3) Monthly Department Meetings...yawwwwwwwwn!
Chain of Command Chief Q, Lt Upham, CDR Pickering
Other Memories Too many to list!!!! Had a blast there!!!
