Cuddy also worked for the U.S. Navy Intelligence, and later the National Security Agency, where she ran a think tank of 300 linguists and other experts on Soviet Union intelligence. She was the first Asian American woman in the Navy and the first woman gunnery officer teaching air combat tactics. World War II Navy Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy’s story could easily be taught in history classes. Cuddy took that philosophy and ran with it. Susan Cuddy told the LA Times that her mother didn’t talk to her for five years. In January 1944, now-officer Cuddy was sent to Atlantic City Naval Air Station to train naval aviators on how to fire a .50-caliber machine gun. World War II Navy Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy's story could easily be taught in history classes. Susan Ahn Cuddy stands on the street where the Ahn family home was located between 1936 and 1946. To that, she replied. It’s like, what do you need to teach a kid? Be the first to answer! Cuddy went on to continue blazing trails after the war. One of her last speaking engagements was at the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum in Port Hueneme, California. Susan Ahn Cuddy: Navy Gunnery Officer. Graduating from San Diego State University in 1940, she joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, where she would serve until 1946. I only found one book featuring Susan, it is Willow Tree Shade: The Susan Ahn Cuddy Story by John Cha. What did Susan Ahn Cuddy do all day? Cuddy learned later in life that her initial rejection by the Navy was because of her race. From there, Cuddy was sent to a training program in Georgia to learn how to work early flight simulators that she then instructed future pilots on. Biography and History of Susan Ahn Cuddy who is a Korean American and American Woman Pioneer. She was the first female 2 nd class interior communications electrician (IC) petty officer in the modern Navy. She wanted to honor her father and fight the Japanese who had imprisoned him. Remembering One Tough Veteran: Lieutenant Susan Ahn Cuddy. She also served as an instructor in both combat air tactics and the use of the .50 caliber machine gun, worked at U.S. On Sept. 2, 1945, Japan officially surrendered, ending World War II and breaking Korea free from Japan’s rule and occupation. But people there were still suspicious of her because of her race. This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we salute her and all of her hard work! But when you’re down here with me, you do what I tell you to do.”. 1:35. [86216541-en] We are preparing more information. Daughter of Hye Ryon Lee and Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, sister of Pil Lip "Philip" Ahn, Philander "Ralph" Ahn, and Soorah Ahn, Philson Ahn. My mother was born in Los Angeles in 1915. Information about the funeral process. But it didn’t deter her. Her book Willow Tree Shade is available online here. Meet the First Asian American Female Officer in the U.S. Navy, When she first tried to sign up for a naval officer’s school, Cuddy was rejected because she was Asian, according to biographer, Years after her service, she recalled disobedient trainees, including one who stated. Biography and History of Susan Ahn Cuddy who is a Korean American and American Woman Pioneer. All Rights Reserved. July 1, 2015 11:47 AM PT In her final weeks, Susan Ahn Cuddy kept her calendar full, as always — she attended fundraisers, participated in U.S. military events and … So, in early 1942, despite criticism that it wasn’t suitable for an Asian woman, she enlisted in the Navy. Cuddy’s father, Dosan, was a revered leader of Korean independence and made their home a resource center for other immigrants. Over the years, she also promoted civic engagement among her people and, after watching her parents struggle to gain acceptance when she was young, worked to build bridges between racially diverse communities. “She’s a much different parent than, you know, someone who owned a bakery.”, “She was really unusual,” Christine said. To that, she replied, “I don’t care what you do up there. “It was a white world and if you wanted to do anything you just had to forge ahead,” her son Flip told StoryCorps in August. He took several trips back to his homeland throughout Cuddy’s youth to operate various freedom movements. In 1947, she defied her mother’s wishes and married a White man, escaping anti-miscegenation laws in Virginia, where she had been living, and tying the knot on base instead, Time noted. Funeral of Susan Ahn Cuddy. But she was also a Korean American lieutenant in the U.S. Navy who trained pilots to shoot down enemies during World War II. The two fell in love and married in April 1947. Susan Ahn Cuddy (Korean: 안수산, Hanja: 安繡山; January 16, 1915 – June 24, 2015) was the first female gunnery officer in the United States Navy.She was the eldest daughter of Korean independence activist Ahn Chang-ho and Helen Ahn, the first married Korean couple to emigrate to the United States in 1902. A Korean American woman broke glass ceilings of her time when she became the first Asian American female officer to serve in the U.S. Navy at the height of World War II. She worked on top secret projects for the Defense Department and supervised more than 300 scholars and experts in Russian affairs. Born to the first Korean married couple to immigrate to the U.S., Cuddy, the third of five children, learned the value of independence from a young age. She reapplied, and in December 1942, she was accepted as an enlisted member. Oveta Culp was born on January 19, 1905 in Kileen, Texas. This video was made by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum as part of their Women in the Navy series. Cuddy’s father was staunchly opposed to the Japanese occupation of Korea. Despite this loss, Cuddy and her siblings learned a tremendous amount from their father. She also worked on many top-secret projects for the Department of Defense until her retirement in 1959, according to KoreanAmericanHeritage.com, where Flip serves as a host. Read Transcript. My grandparents were the first married couple to come to America from Korea in 1902. A memorial service for Susan Ahn Cuddy. These two people are extremely important figures in both Korean and American history. In November 1943, she was sent to gunnery school in Pensacola, Florida, to train on a variety of weapons. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Unfortunately, the last time his family saw him was in 1926. The Korean American trailblazer and her husband. In honor of her commitment to public service, Cuddy was named Woman of the Year in 2003 by California State Assembly District 28. She was the first female Asian American naval officer and eventually became the service’s first female gunnery officer — feats that were possible thanks to her childhood and Korean background. A protestant social activist, he established the Shinminhoe (New Korea Society) when he returned to Korea from the US in 1907. Mae Krier. Susan Ahn Cuddy was the US-born daughter of Dosan Ahn … Cuddy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. The comments, opinions and information provided here to the best of our knowledge represent what we consider to be the truth about Dosan. Flip Cuddy and Christine Cuddy. Trump said he’d protect Social Security, then slashed it. Susan attended Fremont Elementary school and Belmont High School. Cuddy went on to continue blazing trails after the war. It wasn't until historian John Cha's biography of Susan was published in 2002 that her children learned about many of their mother's accomplishments. She was 100 years old. Her father, Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, was an outspoken activist who fought to liberate Korea from Imperial Japanese occupation until his death in 1938. Cuddy was born on Jan. 16, 1915, in Los Angeles. Neither supported this change. © NextShark INC. 2018. TV Shows. Her father is Dosn Ahn Chang Ho the famous Korean patriot and her brother if Philip Ahn the famous Hollywoood actor. It wasn't until after her death in 2015 that … Cuddy ignored the slur, her son said. Susan Ahn Cuddy was a spy, a leader, a veteran, and a pioneer in so many things. Cuddy’s pioneering spirit and can-do attitude helped open doors for women and Asian Americans in the military. While in Japan, Owens wrote letters to senior leaders, including the Judge Advocate General and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, advocating to let women go to sea. This website is about the legacy of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and Yi Hye Ryun - Helen Ahn. At the time, their home country was facing increasingly forced Japanese influence, so many pro-independence Koreans fled to America as the situation worsened. A biography of her life by John Cha, Willow Tree Shade: The Susan Ahn Cuddy Story, was published in 2002. Susan Ahn Cuddy. Chief Petty Officer Francis Cuddy, had two children: Flip and Christine. Cuddy left the Navy in 1946. She was part of the first group of WAVES to go through a five-week training course at a centralized recruit training center that had just opened in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He eventually became a national hero in South Korea. After years of unparalleled achievements — and two bouts of breast cancer — Cuddy died at the age of 100 on June 24, 2015. Years after her service, she recalled disobedient trainees, including one who stated “I’m not shooting until I see the whites of those Japs’ eyes.’”, Cuddy ignored the slur, her son said. During World War II, Lieutenant Cuddy trained Navy pilots in dogfighting maneuvers … The couple had two children: a daughter, Christine, and a son named Phillip. Asked by Wiki User. She said her dad had always taught them to be good Americans while not forgetting their Korean heritage. That fall, she was commissioned as a WAVES officer. World War II Navy Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy’s story could easily be taught in history classes. Susan Ahn Cuddy, who reached the rank of lieutenant, became an unlikely leader to countless White men, thriving in an atmosphere of anti-Asian sentiment and sexism in the military. She played women’s baseball in high school and at LA City College. Their children including Philip Ahn, Dosan's oldest son, and Susan Ahn Cuddy, Dosan's oldest daughter, are part of this story. Her father is Dosn Ahn Chang Ho the famous Korean patriot and her brother if Philip Ahn the famous Hollywoood actor. She was also the Navy’s first woman gunnery officer, eventually becoming a full lieutenant. Feature Images via Susan Ahn Cuddy Facebook Page. Her parents were the first Korean married couple to immigrate to the United States in 1902. Although America has a history of racial discord, this country has always been known for its diversity and individualism that are at the heart of breaking barriers. Susan Ahn Cuddy was the first Asian American woman in the Navy and the first woman gunnery officer teaching air combat tactics. Menu. In 2006, she received the American Courage Award from the Asian American Justice Center in D.C. Cuddy died in her sleep at her Northridge home on June 24, 2015. A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, respecting, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Susan Ahn Cuddy was born in 1915 in Los Angeles, California as the eldest daughter of Dosan Chang Ho and Helen Ahn. Determined to make Japan pay, she then enlisted as a service member, excelled at training and eventually qualified for officer school. In 1942, Lieutenant Susan Ahn Cuddy became the first female Asian-American to serve in the Navy and also its first female gunnery officer. Susan Ahn Cuddy didn't fit the 1950s housewife mold. She was the first female Asian American naval officer and eventually became the service’s first female gunnery officer — feats that were possible thanks to her childhood and … She then transferred to San Diego State College (now University) in 1940 and graduated with a degree in sociology. The anti-Asian sentiment followed her into service. Susan Ahn Cuddy. Susan Ahn Cuddy, long considered a living legend for shattering barriers for women and Asian Americans in the U.S. Navy and later as a code-breaker for the National Security Agency, passed away at her home in Northridge, Calif., on Wednesday afternoon, June 24, said her son Philip “Flip” Cuddy. At the ceremony, Susan Ahn Cuddy, 91, the eldest daughter of Dosan and Helen Ahn, recalled that the family home was always packed with visitors. Cuddy helped at the family’s restaurant, but she continued to support the city’s growing Korean American community and worked to preserve the history of her pioneering parents and other Korean immigrants. Cuddy’s father’s dreams of Korean independence were finally realized. Most of all, she was a Hero of Awesomeness. She passed away on June 15, 2015, at the age of 100. She said in an LA Times interview, in 2015, that she thinks her dad helped guide her in life by not forcing her to be a traditional “lady.” Instead, he encouraged his children to be free-thinking and independent. When Pearl Harbor happened, that distrust increased dramatically in America, but it didn’t deter Cuddy from wanting to do her duty to her country. One is the story of Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Asian American woman to enlist in the U.S Navy, and the daughter of Korean Independence Movement leader Chang-ho Ahn, who immigrated with his wife to California during the Japanese occupation. Eventually, however, she proved her worth and the office chose her to be its liaison with the Library of Congress. In her waning days with Navy intelligence, she met Chief Petty Officer Francis Cuddy, an Irish American code-breaker who also worked on matters pertaining to Korea’s independence. Oveta spent quite … To siblings Flip and Christine Cuddy, Susan Ahn Cuddy was "Mom." For one, she was an expert in air combat tactics. By the time she became a lieutenant, Cuddy had begun working with elite codebreakers at the Naval Intelligence Office, thanks to her ability to speak Korean. Daughter of Hye Ryon Lee and Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, sister of Pil Lip "Philip" Ahn, Philander "Ralph" Ahn, and Soorah Ahn, Philson Ahn. She was the first Asian-American woman to join the U.S. Navy. She served in the US Navy in World War Two and the National Security Agency. “Mom basically was a trained killer,” Flip told StoryCorps last year. Susan Ahn Cuddy (right), 1943 Susan Ahn Cuddy (1915 – 2015) was born in California to the first married Korean couple to immigrate to the U.S., just after the turn of the century. But even in her last few weeks, she kept her calendar full. Susan Ahn Cuddy and her brothers Ralph Ahn and Philip Ahn. When she first tried to sign up for a naval officer’s school, Cuddy was rejected because she was Asian, according to biographer John Cha. Here’s my... Revitalizing Diplomacy: A 21st Century Foreign Service | Elizabeth Warren. The Korean American trailblazer and her husband, Chief Petty Officer Francis Cuddy, had two children: Flip and Christine. Go out and play.”. Her children, Flip and Christine, remember her as a … Active in civic and community affairs, Cuddy, also a breast cancer survivor, has received numerous awards, from the L.A. City Council, California State Assembly and the Asian American Justice Center. As such, Cuddy felt compelled to enlist after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Cuddy was initially rejected when she applied to join the Women’s Reserve of the U.S. While she had many successes, she also faced challenges. Susan’s father, Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, is a prominent historical figure in Korea and in America; a number of landmarks are dedicated to him in his honor. You know? To siblings Flip and Christine Cuddy, Susan Ahn Cuddy was "Mom." He died in March 1938 while still incarcerated. By 1959, Cuddy moved back to LA so her relatives would learn to accept her husband, and so they could start their own family. Her book Willow Tree Shade is available online here. [more about funeral] Final resting place of Susan Ahn Cuddy 수산 안(수잔 안) 커디 Susan Ahn Cuddy 애국자 안창호선생님 큰딸 - Duration: 13:01. Praise And Polling Show Broad Support For President Trump. She was 100. She served in the US Navy in World War Two and the National Security Agency. Around that time, World War II was ramping up around the globe, as were anti-Asian sentiments due to Japan’s imperial expansion. Naval Intelligence as a code breaker, and served as Navy liaison to the Library of Congress . These archives are part of the legacy of my grandfather Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and my mother Susan Ahn Cuddy. At the time, the U.S. was putting more than 127,000 Japanese-Americans into internment camps. Cuddy became an intelligence officer breaking codes for the Navy and later joined the NSA, where she ran a think tank of 300 linguists and other experts gathering Russian intelligence. Hence, Cuddy the first Asian American woman in WAVES — or Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service — became the Navy’s corps of female members. She was the eldest daughter of Korean independence activist Ahn Chang-ho and Helen Ahn, the first married Korean couple to emigrate to the United States in 1902. Naval Reserve – better known as the WAVES, which stood for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. An officer who appreciated her work recommended she go to officer training, so in late summer 1943, Cuddy attended a 90-day officer training course at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She also worked on many top-secret projects for the Department of Defense until her retirement in 1959, according to, Get regular updates from our talented staff on the latest and greatest in the Asian American community, CEO Fired After Alleged LSD Usage Before Investor Meeting, Claims Discrimination, Over 85 Asian and LGBTQ Groups Band Together to Oppose COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, MC Jin, Wyclef Jean Call For an End to Violence in ‘Stop the Hatred’ Music Video, Mental Illness is ‘Common Denominator’ in Some Anti-Asian Attacks, NYPD Task Force Chief Says, Meet EASTERN PEOPLE, a New Clothing Collective for Asian Cultures, 15-Year-Old Called ‘Ch*nk’, Repeatedly Punched in the Head at Playground in Queens. Susan Ahn Cuddy, Korean independence fighter Ahn Chang-ho's eldest daughter, has been hailed as an "American hero" and "trailblazer" by the ShareAmerica website run by … Answer. ... Susan Day has written: 'The wildlife gardener's guide to hummingbirds and songbirds from the tropics' Upon graduation, she became the first female Navy gunnery officer. While in Korea, he was arrested and imprisoned for anti-Japanese activism. It was the most important organization to fight the Japanese occupation of … In 1947, she defied her mother’s wishes and married a White man, escaping anti-miscegenation laws in Virginia, where she had been living, and tying the knot on base instead. She was the oldest of five, born to Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and Helen Ahn, the first married Korean couple to immigrate to the U.S. in 1902. The daughter of the first married Korean couple to immigrate to the United States, Susan Ahn Cuddy grew … Susan Ahn Cuddy - Duration: 1:35. Susan Ahn Cuddy, who reached the rank of lieutenant, became an unlikely leader to countless White men, thriving in an atmosphere of anti-Asian sentiment and sexism in the military. Oveta Culp Hobby. 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