Mercedes O. Cubria was the first Cuban born woman to achieve the rank of officer in the United States Army. She served as codes officer during World War II and served as intelligence officer during the Korean War. Cubria was also recalled into service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Cubria was known as “La Tia” (The Aunt), for her work with Cuban refugees whom she helped find jobs and housing. Cubria was born on April 15, 1903 in Guantanamo, Cuba. When she was still very young, her family moved to the United States. After receiving her primary and secondary education, she started working as a nurse and found work as a rancher in the years leading up to World War II. In 1943, the Women’s Army Corps became an integral part of the U.S. military. Cubria enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps after the United States entered World War II. After she completed her basic training, she was sent to England for further training in cryptography. Upon completion of her training, Curbia was commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant, making her the first Cuban born female officer in the United States military. She was first assigned to the 385th Signal Company but was later reassigned to the 322nd Signal Company, where she worked on secret codes and gathering information on the Axis Powers, the nations that fought in World War II against the Allies. After WWII ended, Cubria was promoted to the rank of Captain. She was assigned the United States Caribbean Theater in the Panama Canal Zone, where she was the first woman to serve in active duty. When the United States entered the Korean War, Cubria was promoted to Major and deployed to Japan, where she served as intelligence officer. When the Korean War ended in1953, she was given a medical discharge and awarded with the Bronze Star Medal for “meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy”. Cubria was recalled to active duty by the United States Army in 1962, when the development of the Cuban Missile Crisis was unfolding. Her primary assignment was to debrief Cuban refugees as well as defectors who were fleeing the Cuban communist regime. She also helped the refugees find work and places to live. Cubria’s work proved to be a significant asset to the United States Army and the Central Intelligence Agency. Curbia was awarded the Legion of Merit and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. She continued to serve for the next eleven years and in 1973, retired from the military. Lieutenant Colonel Mercedes Cubria passed away on October 14, 1980. In 1988, she was posthumously inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.

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