[6][8][9][10] Susan Ahn Cuddy, a Korean American icon who died earlier this year aged 100, will be honored for her achievements by her alma mater, Los Angeles City College. She was the first Asian-American woman to join the Navy and became the first female to operate flexible-mount or turret-mounted machine guns on an aircraft. The Ahn family also lived at a house on the University of Southern California campus and today it serves as the Korean Studies Institute. Lieutenant Cuddy was initially turned down by the Navy’s officer school because she was Asian, but eventually was accepted anyway and became the first U.S. female gunnery office, training air combat tactics to White men. But she was also a Korean American lieutenant in the U.S. Navy who trained pilots to shoot down enemies during World War II. Service Time Period: 1942-1946, Gunnery Officer in the United States Navy. During World War II, she trained pilots in air … Even today, Mrs. Cuddy's accomplishments are considered remarkable and are, indeed, unparalleled. 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. —The Editors Susan Ahn Cuddy, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, still remembers her father Dosan Ahn Chang Ho’s parting instructions to his family before he boarded the boat to Korea: “Be good Americans. If there is one Korean American whose life demands dramatization, it would be Susan Ahn Cuddy.. Ahn Cuddy worked on many top secret projects for the Department of Defense and other agencies during her service with the United States government until 1959. Having had the opportunity to learn about Susan Ahn Cuddy shorty after my freshman year, I have attempted to shape my accomplishments and aspirations during my high schools to deeds within the same context (but to an evidently smaller scale) of Susan Ahn Cuddy’s community efforts. 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 first Asian American woman in the Navy and the first woman gunnery officer teaching air combat tactics. This video looks at Susan Ahn Cuddy, who was the first female Asian American officer and the first female gunnery officer in the United States Navy. Susan Ahn Cuddy. Trailblazer Susan Ahn Cuddy joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. “These were all firsts as an Asian American woman in a man’s world,” he said of her accomplishments, during a March 10 ceremony. Susan Ahn Cuddy was one seriously tough woman, who wore many hats — and broke many barriers — throughout her life. Ahn’s banner will be unveiled Nov. 18 inside its campus. Susan joined the Navy at a time when sexism and anti-Asian sentiment were prominent issues. 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. Pictured above: Kathleen Park and Rich Lee in Born to Lead. 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. During her youth Susan Ahn Cuddy worked for many of Dosan′s Independence organizations in Los Angeles. But she was also a Korean American lieutenant in the U.S. Navy who trained pilots to shoot down enemies during World War II. Three years later, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. Susan Ahn Cuddy … For one, she was an expert in air combat tactics. Siblings Christine Cuddy (left) and Flip Cuddy hold a photo of their mother, Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Asian American woman in the Navy, at their StoryCorps interview in Northridge, Calif., last July. Proclaim March 10, 2015 as “Susan Ahn Cuddy Day” Throughout Los Angeles County The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will proclaim March 10, 2015 as “Susan Ahn Cuddy Day” in Los Angeles County in recognition of her contributions to national security during World War II and the height of the Cold War, as well as her [citation needed] Even today, Ahn Cuddy's accomplishments are considered remarkable and unparalleled. It wasn't until after her death in 2015 that … The following article offers additional information on Susan that we didn’t have space for in the print edition. While researching his life, I became very familiar with the accomplishments of his children, especially Philip Ahn (Master Kan of "Kung Fu" TV Series fame, among many many other roles) and Susan Ahn Cuddy. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so it seems appropriate to remember the life and accomplishments of Susan Ahn Cuddy, a Korean American who would serve as the first female Asian-American officer in the US Navy and … Susan … After her military service, Cuddy continued to speak at Navy functions and Korean-American community events. To siblings Flip and Christine Cuddy, Susan Ahn Cuddy was "Mom." The Seabee Museum has the distinct pleasure of hosting a talk and public presentation with Ms. Cuddy this Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m. by JIMMY LEE. Her parents had moved from Korea to the United States in 1902. She was the first Asian-American woman to join the U.S. Navy. Susan Ahn Cuddy, who was the daughter of the first Korean couple to immigrate to the United States, also uplifted the Nation through strong work ethic, an unwavering love of country, and a steadfast devotion to her life mission, even in the face of great adversity. He was also a… Susan Ahn Cuddy was born in Los Angeles, CA January 16, 1915 to Dosan Ahn Chang Ho and Helen Ahn. She served from 1942 to 1946, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant. 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. 1942 Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy Korean-American Susan Ahn Cuddy was the first woman gunnery officer in the U.S. Navy, training male pilots to shoot machine guns. By John R. Desselle, Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division February is BLACK HISTORY MONTH, a time to commemorate the history and heritage of African Americans and for us, their accomplishments in the U.S. Navy.Here are a few notable figures from naval history. She was the first Asian-American woman to join the U.S. Navy. In 1937, her father was killed by the Japanese during a visit to Seoul, in now-South Korea, for speaking out against Japanese occupation and oppression of Korea. She left the Navy in 1946 at the rank of Lieutenant. During World War II, Lieutenant Cuddy trained Navy pilots in dogfighting maneuvers and firing .50-caliber machine guns. They were the first married Korean couple to immigrate to the United States. Susan Ahn Cuddy (January 16, 1915 – June 24, 2015) was the first female gunnery officer in the United States Navy. This past spring, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors designated a “Susan Ahn Cuddy Day.” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who introduced the declaration, was an especially devoted fan. In school Susan played sports such as field hockey and baseball. For Susan Ahn Cuddy, serving in the military as a woman in World War II was personal. Carl M. Brashear, while on assignment during bomb recovery operations in March 1966, a line … She was 100 years old. 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. Today’s image features Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Asian American woman in the service when she joined the Navy under the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) program. Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Asian-American female U.S. Navy officer, was born in Los Angeles in 1915. Susan Ahn Cuddy didn't fit the 1950s housewife mold. Siblings Flip and Christine Cuddy remembered their mother, Susan Ahn Cuddy, WWII lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, on StoryCorps.. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors later commemorated her achievements by officially declaring March 10th “Susan Ahn Cuddy Day” in 2015. Acting on a motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Board of Supervisors unanimously declared Tuesday, March 10, 2015, as Susan Ahn Cuddy Day throughout Los Angeles County, in honor of a 100-year-old Korean American pioneer and patriot.. Susan Ahn Cuddy was the first Asian American woman to join the US Armed Forces. She then worked for Navy Intelligence and the National Security Agency. Kim Yuna - First Figure Skater To Complete A Career Super Grand Slam 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. I have long been a fan of Susan Ahn Cuddy's father, Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho. Accomplishments: Even with her short period of service, she is the first asian american to serve as the gunnery officer of the US Navy. Susan Ahn Cuddy. To siblings Flip and Christine Cuddy, Susan Ahn Cuddy was "Mom." Susan Ahn was born on January 16, 1915 in Los Angeles, California. 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