Question

Why was the location of Cuba so significant during the Cuban Missile Crisis

Answer 1

Its location allowed for missiles (which were not as advanced at the time) to reach and strike large portions of the United States that they could not hit if launched from the Soviet Union.

Answer 2

Cuba's position and the range of it's missiles allowed the missiles to be launched towards a very significant portion of the U.S.  This is in distinction to missiles stored in the Soviet Union, which could not reach America.