Robert Hawthorne, chief of the American Forces Network Pacific technical services division, passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2023, due to a heart attack at Yokota Air Base in Japan. (AFN)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Robert Hawthorne, head of the American Forces Network Pacific’s technical services division, died at the base after suffering a heart attack, as reported in a Facebook message from the network on Saturday.
His wife, Kim Hawthorne, shared in a message on the Yokota Civilian Medical Forum Facebook group that he passed away at the Urgent Care Clinic.
She criticized the clinic’s lack of capacity to provide critical care in emergencies and the uncertainty of healthcare for U.S. military personnel at Japanese medical facilities as contributing factors to her husband’s death.
“The Yokota [Urgent Care Clinic] lacks the ability to handle any life-threatening situations,” she stated. “Both active-duty and civilian personnel are at great risk.”
Robert Hawthorne began his career as a service member and remained active as a civilian leader even after his military retirement, according to the AFN announcement.
“Rob was an exceptional leader with a distinguished four-decade career in the Department of Defense, serving across various roles including the Defense Media Activity and the American Forces Network,” the announcement noted.
Kim Hawthorne’s concerns mirror previous complaints from Cathy Hakun, whose husband died in 2021 after facing delays for surgery following a heart attack. This raises alarm about the adequacy of emergency healthcare for military personnel in Japan.
