Susan Ahn Cuddy
Susan Ahn Cuddy | |
---|---|
Ahn Changho (father) | |
Other work | Library of Congress[2] National Security Agency[2] |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Rank | Lieutenant[2] |
Unit | Link Training, Gunnery, Intelligence |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Susan Ahn Cuddy (
Early life and education
Susan Ahn was born in 1915 in
As the family established themselves, the Ahn house
During her youth, Ahn Cuddy worked for many of Dosan's independence organizations in Los Angeles. She attended Beaudry Elementary, Central Junior High and
Ahn Cuddy graduated from San Diego State University in 1940 and joined the United States Navy in 1942, where she would serve until 1946.[8]
Career
After
Ahn Cuddy felt that her enlistment in the US Navy allowed her to honor her father's legacy of fighting for Korean independence and to fight against the Japanese who, she viewed as "predators."
Ahn Cuddy eventually became a lieutenant and went on to work for US Navy Intelligence and the Library of Congress.
Even today, Ahn Cuddy's accomplishments are considered remarkable and unparalleled.[8][16][17][18]
Personal life
Even in her personal life, Ahn Cuddy proved a trailblazer. In April 1947 she married Chief Petty Officer Francis X. "Frank" Cuddy,
The couple had two children, Philip "Flip" and Christine. Ahn Cuddy left the intelligence community in 1959, so she could spend more time with her children. Returning to California, she helped her eldest brother Philip Ahn (the pioneering Asian American actor) and sister Soorah run their popular Chinese restaurant, Moongate, in Panorama City. After Philip died in 1978, Ahn Cuddy largely filled the role of family representative, worked to archive her legendary family's records, and managed the restaurant until 1990.[8][18]
In 2003, the State Assembly of California of District 28 named Cuddy the Woman of the Year in honor of her commitment to public service. On October 5, 2006 she received the American Courage Award from the Asian American Justice Center in Washington D.C.[21]
In her elder years, she remained active, speaking at Navy functions and Korean American community events, even campaigning for presidential candidate
Death and legacy
Susan Ahn Cuddy died at her home in Northridge, California, on June 24, 2015.[23] She was 100 years old.
Her life story is the subject of the short biography Willow Tree Shade by John Cha.[3][8][18]
Family
- Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, 1878 – 1938 (father)
- Helen Lee (Yi Hye Ryon), 1884 – 1969 (mother)
- Philip Ahn, 1905 – 1978 (brother)
- Philson Ahn, 1912 – 2001 (brother)
- Soorah Ahn Buffum, 1917 - 2016 (sister)
- Ralph Ahn, born 1926 - 2022 (brother)
- Francis Xavier Cuddy, 1917 – 1998 (husband)
- Christine Ahn Cuddy, born 1950 (daughter)
- Philip Ahn Cuddy, born 1955 (son)
Awards and recognition
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
Date | Award/recognition | From |
---|---|---|
March 11, 1985 | Appreciation of Service | Independence Hall of Korea[citation needed] |
August 15, 1987 | National Merit Award #4803 | Republic of South Korea from President Chun Doo Hwan[citation needed] |
June 17, 1992 | Appreciation Award | KAC – 12th Annual National College Leadership Conference[citation needed] |
August 11, 1992 | Recognition of Service | County of LA Supervisor Mike Antonovich[citation needed] |
March 1, 1994 | Achievement Award | March First Women's Association USA[citation needed] |
May 10, 1995 | Appreciation | 1st Annual Korean Culture Night KSA UC Riverside[citation needed] |
July 28, 1996 | Appreciation | Radio Korea Los Angeles[citation needed] |
December 14, 2000 | Trailblazer Award | KoreAm Journal[citation needed] |
December 15, 2000 | Appreciation | March First Women's Association USA[citation needed] |
May 24, 2001 | Commendation of Service | US Navy Assault Craft Unit 5 Camp Pendleton[citation needed] |
May 24, 2003 | Woman of the Year | California State Assembly from Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas[24] |
March 24, 2003 | Congratulations | Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger[citation needed] |
March 24, 2003 | Congratulations | Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamonte[citation needed] |
March 24, 2003 | Commendation | Service to Korean American Community from University of Southern California[citation needed] |
August 8, 2003 | Commendation | The Los Angeles City Council[citation needed] |
September 11, 2003 | Recognition of Service | State Senator Richard Alarcon[citation needed] |
December 10, 2003 | Korean American Pioneer | California State Board of Equalization from John Chiang[citation needed] |
November 18, 2004 | 3 Dosan Post Office | City of Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn[citation needed] |
November 18, 2004 | Congratulatory Certificate | LA County Supervisor Yvonne Burke[citation needed] |
November 18, 2004 | Congratulatory Certificate | Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger[citation needed] |
January 16, 2005 | Birthday greetings | City of LA – home delivered by Tom La Bonge[citation needed] |
October 5, 2006 | American Courage Award | Asian American Justice Center, Washington, DC[24] |
November 2, 2006 | Recognition of Service | President 1995–2001 from March First Women's Association USA[citation needed] |
November 17, 2007 | Pioneer Award | Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of California[citation needed] |
August 12, 2007 | Appreciation | Chairperson Korean Independence Day Concert from City of Irvine[citation needed] |
January 19, 2008 | Pioneer Korean Award | Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger[citation needed] |
November 7, 2008 | Appreciation | Hung Sa Dan[citation needed] |
November 11, 2008 | Recognition of Service | City of Malibu Veteran's Day Ceremony from County of LA Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky[citation needed] |
January 16, 2009 | Birthday Greetings | County of La Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas[citation needed] |
May 1, 2009 | Leadership Award | Southern California Edison 4th Annual APA Heritage Month Celebration[citation needed] |
May 1, 2009 | Recognition of Service | California State Senate Gloria Romero[citation needed] |
May 1, 2009 | Recognition of Service | California State Senate Carol Liu[citation needed] |
May 1, 2009 | Recognition of Service | California State Controller John Chiang[citation needed] |
January 16, 2010 | Recognition of 95th Birthday | US Navy[citation needed] |
January 16, 2011 | Recognition of 95th Birthday | LA County Board of Supervisors[citation needed] |
January 16, 2012 | Recognition of 95th Birthday | Republic of Korea[citation needed] |
August 15, 2013 | Veteran of the Game | Los Angeles Dodgers[citation needed] |
January 16, 2014 | Korean 100th Birthday | Republic of Korea[citation needed] |
January 16, 2014 | Korean 100th Birthday | LA County Board of Supervisors[citation needed] |
February 14, 2015 | Recognition of Patriotism | Dosan Memorial Foundation of Korea[citation needed] |
January 16, 2015 | Recognition of 100th Birthday | LA County Board of Supervisors[citation needed] |
March 10, 2015 | Susan Ahn Cuddy Day | LA County Board of Supervisors[25] |
April 10, 2015 | Recognition of Patriotism | Soengnam City Mayor Yi Jae Yong[citation needed] |
May 9, 2015 | Recognition of Navy Service | US Navy Seabee Museum Port Hueneme[citation needed] |
May 29, 2015 | Recognition of Navy Service | US Navy Fleet Readiness Center Point Mugu[citation needed] |
June 6, 2015 | Recognition of Leadership | The Los Angeles City Council[citation needed] |
June 6, 2015 | Recognition of Contribution | American Cancer Society Relay for Life[citation needed] |
References
- ^ Ha, Julia (2009). "Defining Herself". KoreAm (February 2009).
- ^ a b c "Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Features Notable Asian Americans". Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. District of Columbia. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ a b Keely Damara. "First Asian American woman Navy officer honored in 'Born to Lead'". PCC Courier. Archived from the original on 2015-04-12. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
- ^ a b Lange, Katie (30 April 2021). "Navy Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy Carved the Path for Asian American Women". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
- ^ "Ahn Family House > Korean Studies Institute > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences".
- ^ Young Korean Academy (Hung Sa Dan)
- ^ "Susan Ahn Cuddy: Asian American Trailblazer". lapl.org. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ a b c d e "'Living Legend' Susan Ahn Cuddy Passes Away at 100". iamkoream.com.
- OCLC 1285774735.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ Gandhi, Lakshmi (6 June 2023). "The Asian American Women Who Fought to Make Their Mark in WWII". HISTORY.
- OCLC 1285774735.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - OCLC 1285774735.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ Daniels, Paula (1996), Susan Ahn Cuddy Oral Histories, retrieved 2019-04-19
- ^ "Navy Lt. Susan Ahn Cuddy Carved the Path for Asian American Women". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
- ^ a b Kim, Sung (6 May 2020). "Susan Ahn Cuddy: Asian American Trailblazer". Los Angeles Public Library Blog.
- ^ "'Living Legend' Susan Ahn Cuddy Passes Away at 100". iamkoream.com.
- ^ "Susan Ahn Cuddy". Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ a b c "Mother Didn't Speak to Me for Five Years…". Audrey Magazine. May 2005. Archived from the original on 2008-01-14. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
- ^ Chief Petty Officer Francis X. "Frank" Cuddy
- ^ "First female Asian officer speaks about her naval service". Navy Life. United States Navy. May 20, 2015.
- ^ "Past Awardees". advancingjustice-aajc.org. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
- ^ 도산 안창호 선생 장녀 안수산 美 자택서 별세 (in Korean)
- ^ "Interview with Philip Ahn Cuddy". 26 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Susan Ahn Cuddy, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy". Foundation for Women Warriors. 30 March 2020.
- ^ Lee, Suevon (March 11, 2015). "Los Angeles County Declares 'Susan Ahn Cuddy Day'". Character Media. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- "100 Years of Susan Ahn Cuddy". KoreAm. February 27, 2014.
Publications
- Cha, John (2005). Willow tree shade: the Susan Ahn Cuddy story. Korean American Heritage Foundation. p. 315. ISBN 978-89-953916-0-0. Retrieved 22 November 2009.