CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa— For more than half a century, the steady snip of scissors and the hum of clippers have been a constant at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa (USNHO). After 56 years of dedicated service, Harue Uchihara, a beloved institution and hospital barber, is officially retiring.
Uchihara’s remarkable career began in 1970 at Camp Lester, working at what was then the U.S. Army Hospital Ryukyu Islands. She remained a steadfast fixture during a major transition in 1977, when the facility was turned over to the Navy and renamed the U.S. Naval Regional Medical Center.
Her commitment to the military community continued uninterrupted when the hospital relocated to its modern facility on Camp Foster in 2013. Through decades of organizational changes and passing generations of service members, her barber chair remained a place of consistency, comfort, and precision.
Over her 56 years, Ms. Uchihara maintained the military bearing of countless troops, and many left a lasting impression on her. One of her fondest memories is cutting the hair of then-Capt. Terry Moulton during his time as the commanding officer of USNHO. Even as Moulton’s career progressed — ultimately making Rear Adm. and enjoying a highly successful tenure in Navy Medicine — he always made time to stop by and see Uchihara when he was back in Okinawa. That enduring respect meant a great deal to her, and she proudly keeps a framed picture of the retired admiral on display in her shop.
News of her retirement has quickly resonated across the military community. A recent social media post announcing her departure has already garnered more than 3,000 likes, sparking an outpouring of comments from current and former service members wishing her a fond farewell.
As she steps away from the barber chair, Uchihara's retirement schedule will be anything but quiet. She plans to stay highly active, playing pickleball three days a week and volleyball one day a week. In addition to the courts, she also plans to pick up dancing again.
Ms. Uchihara leaves behind a legacy of dedicated service and community connection that spans generations of U.S. service members stationed in Okinawa.
U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Okinawa supports the Defense Health Agency's U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, which is the largest overseas medical treatment facility staffed by active-duty Navy personnel and stands at the ready to respond to contingency operations to support the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s area of operations. It is a critical regional asset for direct care delivery, regional referrals, and medical contingency operations. The staff at USNH Okinawa understand their vital role as pre-positioned, forward-deployed naval forces within the first island chain, aligned and in support of joint military commands and operations.
Trey Savitz, Public Affairs Officer U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan Comm: 011-81-971-7024 DSN: (315) 646-7024 isaac.s.savitz.civ@health.mil