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Mercedes O. CubriaAmerican military man originally from Cuba
Date of Birth: 15.04.1903
Country:  USA |
Content:
Mercedes O. Cubria: The First Cuban-American Female Officer in the U.S. Army
Mercedes O. Cubria, also known as 'La Tia' ('The Aunt'), was born on April 15, 1903, in Guantanamo, Cuba. She was an American military officer and the first Cuban-American woman to serve in the United States Army. Cubria served in the Women's Army Corps during World War II, in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and was called back to service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1988, Cubria was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.
Early Life and Career
When Cubria was a young girl, her family relocated to the United States. She received her primary and secondary education in the U.S. In the pre-war years, Cubria worked as a nurse and on a ranch. On September 1, 1943, the Women's Army Corps became an integral part of the U.S. Armed Forces. Following the U.S. entry into World War II, Cubria enlisted in the corps. After receiving basic military training, she was sent to England for further education in cryptography. Cubria was commissioned as a second lieutenant, making her the first Cuban-American female officer in the U.S. Armed Forces. She was assigned to the 385th Signal Company and later transferred to the 322nd Signal Company, where she worked on secret codes and gathered intelligence on the Axis Powers. Cubria was promoted to the rank of captain at the end of World War II. She was deployed to the Caribbean Theater of Operations, serving in the Panama Canal Zone.
Korean War and Continued Service
When the United States entered the Korean War, Cubria was promoted to the rank of major and relocated to Japan, where she continued her work in military intelligence. After the Korean War ended in 1953, Cubria was honorably discharged due to health issues. She was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for her achievements in ground operations against the enemy. In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Cubria was recalled to active duty in the U.S. Army. Her primary responsibilities included instructing Cuban refugees on the non-disclosure of classified information and conducting interviews with defectors fleeing the communist regime in Cuba. Additionally, Cubria helped find employment and housing for the refugees. Her work proved invaluable to the U.S. Army and the CIA. Cubria was awarded the Legion of Merit and continued to serve for the next eleven years.
Retirement and Legacy
Mercedes Cubria was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and retired in 1973 at the age of 70. She received a second Legion of Merit. Cubria passed away in her home in Miami, Florida, on October 14, 1980. In 1988, she was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, which was established in the same year to honor soldiers and civilians who made exceptional contributions to military intelligence. The hall is located at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center on Fort Huachuca in Arizona.
