During World War II, a deaf man named Eric Malzkuhn fooled some hearing soldiers in his pursuit to join the United States military. That is, until they figured out that he was deaf and then threw him out. Disappointed with the decision, Malzkuhn explained that there were some hearing people who did not want to serve at all, and he was willing to take their place and fight for his country. He sent a letter to the military suggesting that they establish a “special” division for deaf soldiers but nothing came out of it.
Over sixty years later, with the United States fighting several wars and trying to prevent another terrorist act against national interests, our military’s personnel and resources have been drained and spread dangerously thin. Yesterday, a Time article by Mark Thompson described the military’s inability to sign enough new recruits even with attractive incentives. To address this problem, Thompson said that the military has now decided to issue waivers to bring in once-barred candidates. The article continues:
Such waivers allow recruits with criminal records, medical problems or poor aptitude scores to enlist despite problems that otherwise would bar them from service. Most are so-called “moral waivers,” which include some felonies, misdemeanors, and drug and traffic offenses.
Although Thompson focuses on the implications of having “immoral” people serve our country, could the military be overlooking deaf and hard of hearing people in its liberal granting of waivers?
There are plenty of deaf and hard of hearing people in perfect health (besides their hearing loss) who would be happy to enlist in the military and a good number may not have criminal records. Some deaf and hard of hearing people could probably communicate well with their hearing comrades. Others may feel more comfortable serving alongside their own people in their language. Like Malzkuhn’s idea back in World War II, a deaf division of the Army, Marine Corps or other branches of the military could be established. These soldiers could be called on to serve during domestic issues such as protests, natural disasters or even engage in combat.
The National Association of the Deaf tried to bolster the nation’s military personnel during World War I in 1917 when they asked U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt Woodrow Wilson to allow the organization to recruit 1,000 deaf soldiers. It was apparently a fruitful attempt. The same kind of effort today could still bring in over one thousand desperately needed deaf and hard of hearing recruits who are patriotically ready to serve their country.
Have deaf or hard of hearing people served in the military in modern times?
In July 2004, DeafNation reported meeting an Emergency Medical Technician with the United States Army, Sergeant Steve Schrader. However, DeafNation’s claim that Schrader is the world’s first Deaf fireman, the world’s first Deaf EMT, and the world’s first Deaf person deployed to a combat zone is dubious. With literally thousands upon thousands of wars on this earth spanned over the last several hundred million years (or millenia, depending on your religion), coupled with the fact that deafness occurs with fair frequency, at least one deaf person has probably served in at least one combat zone prior to 2004. For instance, a World Around You article describes the story about a deaf man named Patrick Atuonah who was forced to join the Biafran army at a young age and fought in a war against the Nigerian army for two years.
When I traveled to Israel in 2000 with a large group of deaf people, we met two deaf Israelis who served in the military. Keep in mind that in Israel, all citizens are required to serve in the military. I do not know the rules for deaf citizens, though. One deaf woman performed her military duties at a deaf program. Later, we met a deaf man who told us that he was a military photographer for the Israeli army. There’s even an article about an Israeli solider who teaches sign language to deaf soldiers (I assume she is hearing). You would think that it goes the other way around. In any case, I am sure that there are many more stories about deaf and hard of hearing people serving in the military around the world.
Are deaf and hard of hearing people excluded from serving in the U.S. military? Ron Powers at About.com put deafness under a category titled “H” and described four degrees of severity. Anything between levels 1-3 (which is 30 db loss or less) may allow person who has a “mild hearing loss” to perform military duties; however, level 4 is, “Definitely [sic] a disqualifier for both entering the military, and for continued military service, if already in the military.” It shouldn’t be.
Deaf and hard of hearing people, regardless of their hearing loss, are capable of doing many of the duties required of our country’s soldiers. It’s time to put law-abiding deaf people ahead of criminals in those military waivers.
Note:
To see the video with Eric Malzkuhn, go to: http://www.rit.edu/~deafww2/ (which is a fantastic website) and click on “Videos,” then “Deaf Mosaic,” and then click on “Eric Malzkuhn”. He mentions his idea at 3:15.
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http://www.lsjunction.com/people/smith.htm
Erastus Smith - a scout who helped Sam Houston during the Texan Revolution was deafened due to some kind of accident. However from reading an article on him on Wikipedia, I’m given the impression that he had a minor hearing loss. It’s extremely doubtful that he’s culturally Deaf.
Just one of few examples - *shrug*
Anyway, I definitely feel that Deaf and deaf persons can contribute to military by serving in our armed forces especially in non-combat areas such as mechanics or logistics. I’m curious about the Israeli model - can you find out more?
I doubt that your idea of “deaf culture” existed back in the 19th Century so therefore Erastus Smith wouldn’t have been culturally deaf according to your societal norms today.
Even if “Deaf Culture” was not yet crystallized into a coherent concept back then, it probably still existed. I’m not saying this just to argue about “what” Erastus Smith was - the fact still lies therein that he had some sort of hearing loss.
I am extremely curious about the Israeli model, as well, and would love to find more information about this. Do Israelis have a more accepting disposition toward people with disabilities? If so, why?
first and foremost, i am a pacifist. i do not believe that war should ever be an option.
the current war is losing support on an exponetional rate. there are soliders who are refusing to go to Iraq on the basis that the war is illegal. their claims are not unfounded. we, americans did vote for bush twice, not only that–we allowed him to declare war on flimsy grounds. weapons of mass destruction?? saddam is dead and iraq is in worse condition than it was when he was dictator.
i dont agree with sending anyone whether deaf or not off to die in a strange land where he is separated from his family by an ocean. neither do i support the notion of sending our people there to kill others. so destructive. tragic waste of lives.
the military desperately need men now more than ever because, seriously, look at the middle east. who would want to go there?
live and let live.
Ben Vess,
That’s not the point of Shane’s column. Please re-read it and keep the psychobabble to yourself.
I’m a pacifist as well but we all should keep in mind that warmongering, although the most visible, is one function among others the military have. They do disaster aid (think the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina), reconstruction (although much of this is currently privatized in Iraq), peacekeeping (the U.N. needs to go to Darfur), and more.
Sweden presently has the longest uninterrupted peace at 200-odd years, yet they have maintained an army all that time. Their perspective on the military is vastly different from ours, so let’s conclude that our dissatisfaction might have more to do with our present and past Commander-in-Chiefs.
With that said, there should be a place for the deaf in the military. Actually, there already is. See my comment somewhere below.
Yes I agree WAR is not a solution to world’s problem! What did our parents say when we are angry or want to fight with another person? JUST IGNORE THEM! Why couldn’t we ignore or why do the US Government feel they need to POLICE the world? why? because they want to be in the loop and be in power.
That’s what I believe but if WAR was the only solution to save our country, I do not see why Deaf people cannot enlist if they want to. Imagine you are in the battlefield, no one can hear each other anyway with all the shootings, bombings, and missles and so on… if we were to use sign language during the battlefield, wouldn’t that be a considered advantage on our part? Even if a soldier is 100 feet away and we know he or she is in danger, at least we can sign to them what to do…YELLING would be worthless with all the background battle noise!
Ignorant people, if they feel criminals and murderers are better than deaf people, that’s their own consequences to face! NOT OURS!
Thank you for writing this article about Deaf Soliders.
It was an interesting article!
Personally, I’m against the Iraq war. However, war can be sometimes necessary (WW1, WW2, Afghanistan). In those cases, do I feel that deaf soliders could participate? Absolutely. I’ve always thought that deaf soliders would do best as spies. No, they can’t hear, but we all know how good deaf people are at getting in places, blending in, finding things and being unobstructive. Ideal situations would be blending in at a party, finding the secret door to a room or something. You can always have to tech guys right there with their mics attached to the deaf person and send them signals through a patch on their body that pulses with vibrations. Then when they get busted, nobody will believe they’re a spy because they’re deaf. ;) Oh and the patch? It’s a nicotine patch. So?
Okay, maybe it’s a silly fantasy, but I always thought it’d be cool. :)
It’s a shame that military doesn’t allow some deafies to join. I know if the deafies join the military, they would be twice proud,honorable and dedicated than others…
To date, many deaf people that decide not/are not eligible to attend college are having a very difficult time finding jobs.
I think that by allowing deaf people to join the military, it will help more deaf people secure jobs without having to obtain college degrees.
Well…
First of all, can the Deaf people hear and follow the orders at the same time? It is absolutely crucial that the orders be heard and followed promptly, because of the nature of combat demands it. The military depends on wireless radio technology, so I am not certain how the Deaf could adjust to it.
Even if one could solve the problems of sound-to-text translation, there are other factors that should be considered before allowing the Deaf to participate as soldiers. Can the Deaf hear the sounds of enemy soldiers quietly sneaking up behind them? Can the Deaf hear the distant sounds of tanks coming straight for them? Can the Deaf catch the enemy off guard in the midst of forest or swamp? Can the Deaf hear the mortars being dropped on their heads? Can even the Deaf tell where the sounds of gunfire are coming from?
I’m sorry, but as much I’d like to have the Deaf serving in the military, I know that the Deaf can’t do some critical duties. The combat is not funny, it is dangerous and lethal to anybody participating in it. If the hearing soldiers are often cut in half as soon the combat breaks out, then what hope do the Deaf have? Not much.
However, on the other hand, perhaps it is possible for the Deaf to serve as remote pilots controlling the Predators and other UAVs. Although, it’s certain that the Deaf cannot act as the ground support for the troops, but they can act in strategic roles, such as targetting terrorists or keeping an eye on them. I don’t see why can’t the Deaf do that kind of stuff. But actual combat? I don’t think so.
Sure, some of you might argue that the Deaf are known to survive the combat, so what’s the difference? Granted, both hearing and Deaf people aren’t that different from each other, and both are still human beings. Nevertheless, when one wants to engage in combat, you always try to bring most advantages to it, otherwise you’re gonna get killed pretty much quickly. Can the Deaf survive the onslaught by a professional army? Let me ask you a question, can the Deaf division survive a single combat engagement with the US Marines? I don’t think so. When the civilians are caught up in it, they don’t have to follow orders, they will try to get out of crossfire as soon as it is possible. And occasionally, some civilians may be inclined to defend their homes, but more than often, they will flee anytime combat takes place. This is why some of the Deaf could survive it.
But in any case, it’s unrealistic of us to expect the Deaf to be able function just like the hearing soldiers. We have to accept the fact we are limited in some ways, but there are always other different ways for us to fully serve America to the best of our abilities.
For the record, I did post this question to some of former soldiers who did serve in Vietnam and Gulf wars on a military forum. The replies I received indicated that in some instances it is possible for the Deaf to be able to serve efficiently, however, such roles would have to be behind the lines or in strategic roles like piloting the UAVs. Still, in most cases, it isn’t possible for the Deaf to be fully efficient in intense combat situations. Sorry.
Picard90:
I agree that deaf people should not be involved directly in active combat. It’ll be difficult to follow orders that usually are relayed verbally or via radio. Can you imagine a scenario where either an interpreter, or worse a CART transcriber with the huge monitor, being escorted out in the middle of the war zone to relay the commands? Talk about a DEAD giveaway to the enemy front.
I do appreciate what you are saying here, and I am sure to an extent such concerns are valid.
However, I am not sure that I would want to base a decision regarding Deaf people being able to serve in the military on the views of some veterans - while certainly they have an inner understanding of what combat is all about that most of us don’t, it does need to be remembered that such views are undoubtedly based on the pathological definition of deafness as the loss of hearing, rather than the cultural view of “Deaf people can do anything…except hear.”
I hate that whole “except” clause at the end of this statement, because it does set up a precedent for people to start adding more exceptions - such as serving in the military. I write a bit about this in a blog on my own website - “Deaf People Can Do Anything - even walk on fire!” (which you can find by clicking on my name and going to the site)…
Can Deaf people be fully efficient in intense combat situations? Maybe not…but then, I suspect there are some hearing folks out there who wouldn’t be “fully efficient” either. And of course, those individuals who are have undergone a considerable amount of training in order to achieve such efficiency.
I know there are Deaf civilians who do work at the Pentagon and on military bases - I used to be director of an agency in Pennsylvania that contracted with the Dept. of Defense to provide interpreters for a Navy shipyard. I think this in itself demonstrates an ability of Deaf people to serve their country in some capacity.
Yes, they might not be able to be on the front lines, but I see no reason why those deaf and hard of hearing individuals who desire to gain the training and then use their skills in service to their country shouldn’t be given the right to do so.
Our government should be exploring the possibilities, not just arguing the impossibilities.
yes you are right, it is crucial to follow orders or you can be court martialed if you do not. A grave misunderstanding from not able to understand orders could make this deaf person or view deaf person as untrustworthy but that is what it could happen…but there are so many what deaf people can do that is not involved in direct orders like you said Picardo but maybe, just maybe the military can accept deaf people on their TRAINING BASE like they do with women but not putting women in battlefield unless truly needed. Maybe giving deaf people a benefit of a doubt at the training camp and see how they perform in rigourous activities and what talent they have to provide for the US military such as computer, driving, medical, and so on… who knows some might surprise them! I am not saying throw deaf people in IRAQ now… duh that would be dumb on anyone’s part without any training to see if they can actually do any military services! POINT IS GIVE DEAF A CHANCE, it’s only at the military training base!
During my time as an educational interpreter, I worked with one student who was in the JROTC group. Their primary focus was performing drill marches - they were all in formation, and they would turn on command, etc. The deaf student was ALWAYS at a disadvantage because her marching response time depended on MY response time. I heard the commands at the same time the hearing students did, but there was the split-second of lag time that always put the deaf student behind.
It may be possible that other countries like Israel have history or necessity to go to war or live in a state of war, and have some criteria in mind for the deaf.
History is easily forgotten, filtering out the bad. We don’t have much information of evils of WWI except for novels such as “johnny got a gun”. Media was more involved in Vietnam war and since then, most major and minor conflicts were intently followed by the media and picked apart.
Movies such as “Full Metal Jacket”, “Platoon”, “The Three Kings”, and “Jarhead” depicted psychological warfare within. It’s possible we’re much more aware about dangers of the war and people involved. Centuries ago, war was a way of life. we’re now tame and domesticated, having jobs or some kind of income support, surfing the internet and going to the mall. We care less about our government’s gripes with others.
Fascinating entry! I tried googling the subject of deaf Israelis in the IDF but didn’t find anything relevant. Their success stories and lessons learned could help determine if deaf people should/can have a role in the US military.
I’m also reminded of how the UK and other countries are now allowing its gay and lesbian citizens to enlist and serve - and how this could set the stage for the US military. And there’s also the quote that John Stewart said: “Why can’t they have gay people in the army? Personally, I think they are just afraid of a thousand guys with M16s going, “Who’d you call a fa****?”
But I digress.
That reminds me of Eddie Izzard’s one man show, “dressed to kill”.. He talked about a transsexual wearing drag brigade, parachuting into nazi occupied places and confusing the soliders into losing a battle :)
Ha. Yeah. I love that line by Jon Stewart, and imho, it’s probably true!
I think deaf people should be able to serve in the military to the best of their ability. I don’t see why we can’t serve in a supporting capacity. We don’t have to serve on the front lines or in a combat duty situation.
Something definitely worth considering!
All of my family served in the military,(my father(AF),uncles(Army),cousins(Marine,Navy,& AF), in all about 14 of them) but me. My 90 years old grandpa since retired in the Navy in the early 70s after becoming a Chief Warrant Officer 4. He dreamed that one day I could serve my country, but it didnt happen. I could use $40,000 (thanks’immigrants for taking advantage of it) toward my college degree (w/o inferior VR which pays toward your education less than HALF.) Plus with job training in the military, you’d be guarantee to have a JOB and a military pension. (Go look at Army’s Tv commerical and it’s almost over 200 different field to your liking.) It’s ironic that Military tv commerical do have closed captioned. I think, personally, it is an insult when its CC but it is not intended for the deaf??) So, if DOD can see my message, I hope they realized how valuable we can be for serving our country. And, not to mention, saving a HUGE gov’t money on ssi/ssdi/ssa, etc. I suggest to those hearing people who complained that most of us are collecting govt’ checks. Well, while you are at it, how about complaining to them and say we be INCLUDED? thanks-
From what I remember when I lived there was that deaf Israelis were not required to join the IDF. But because it is complusory for the Jewish Israelis to join, it is a rite of passage for many young Israelis (including Arabs, Druzens, Bedouins, etc). Now, because the deaf are exempt from this requirement, I understand the IDF has “tironut” which is a Hebrew word for recruiting training. A lot like the back door of joining the army and receiving training in specific military duties that aren’t combat-related. I knew a few deaf Israelis who joined doing non-combative duties. I’m sure a few have fought to join in the traditional way like their hearing counterparts. But, I haven’t yet met or heard anyone deaf that were situated in the frontlines. It is a sore issue for some of the deaf Israelis-they have the same passion as the rest of the country to fight for Israel. IDF there is a very very very important aspect of the Israeli life. It signifies the commitment to the country, the belief of having a Jewish state, and the rite of passage. Not joining the IDF is similar to the Americans not experiencing college.
Check out this link for more information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tironut
For those of you who are wondering, IDF stands for “Israel Defense Forces”, the English name for the Israeli military.
Oops, thanks Shane!
I do not know what information is accurate. The information below is printed in this week’s Deaf Digest blue edition.
“Theodore Roosevelt… proposed to establish an all-deaf cavalry unit that would fight in the World War I and in fact, asked for deaf volunteers; there was a long list of these deaf sign ups; the idea, however was shot down by President Woodrow Wilson.”
WAD,
I just updated the blog to change the name to Woodrow Wilson after someone else notified me of the error. Thanks for sharing.
Update II:
I just learned that the information in the NAD timeline was taken from Lawrence Newman’s book, Sands of Time (published by the NAD). The entry reads:
“In addition to raising money for three ambulances to help the French cause in World War I, there was a request by the convention attendees that 1, 000 deaf soldiers be permitted to serve under Teddy Roosevelt. Although it never materialized, Roosevelt himself replied that it was possible, if Congress authorized it.”
Page 133.
The reason why the entry on the timeline was confusing is because all past presidents are always referred to as “President NAME”. The NAD website has been updated to avoid confusion.
Thanks for explaining. By the way, it’s a good blog!
I used to work for a state agency in AZ, and next door was the office for veteran services. Word from them was that a quarter of their clients have hearing loss that occurred during their tour of duty and didn’t necessarily lead to their discharge from military service. Also, still hearsay, there are a number of senior officers still serving and with severe hearing loss, and deaf by most definitions.
Interesting, huh?
Don’t get me wrong, I believe being deaf should preclude us from certain positions, but all of them, including the non-fighting ones?
Oh also, there’s (was?) an intern wearing an CI presently with the U.S. Army and stationed in Italy. He’s identified simply as “deaf”: http://www.utsa.edu/today/2006/07/rubin.cfm
I personally have mixed feelings about Deaf/deaf people serving on the U.S. military due to the past warmongering tendency. I deeply care about my own people. I don’t want to see them being physically maimed or psychologically damaged.
Deaf/deaf people still experience the second/third-class citizen status from the employment to accessibility issue. Why should D/deaf people bother to serve on the U.S. military for tossing out many excellent GLBT individuals out of the military?
The U.S. military decisionmakers and policymakers are very narrow-minded on their own without regarding the best interests of our nation’s population contribution over years.
The U.S. military during the WWII chew and spit out the African Americans without helping them to lead the dignifed life after the war or military service. Many African American air pilots and other battleground soliders made the real difference in winning the military victory. African Americans with military dismissal honors were treated shabbily by their countrypeople without regarding for the advancement of civil rights within the racially oppressed population segement.
Why should we fight for the illogical war machinery if not threatened in any way on our borders?
NAD just got herself in the patriotic fervor, not the pragmatic moment of mobilizing and advancing the interests of deaf people.
Look at the golden years for deaf people during the WWII! Many deaf people got jobs with thick paychecks in name of war efforts at Akron and other manfacturing plants.
My deaf cousin used to complain about being excluded from serving on the U.S. military during the 80s. He wanted to serve our country pretty bad. *sigh*
If our country re-instate the draft status for everyone under 35 years old. So the draftees will be equally dispatched regardless of income, political connection, sexual preference ########## background.
I would not have any objection to anyone deaf serving on the U.S. military under voluntary status, not manadatory.
I really wish that the Bush twins of President Bush and Laura are legally forced to send to Iraq. So the commander in chief would have a second thoughts about engaging in such an unnecessary military adventure.
How interesting about Woodrow Wilson turned down TR’s idea for establishing the all-deaf military unit! Wilson himself came from Stauton, VA where the VSDB was located.
I always piqued about what Woodrow Wilson really thought about deaf people in general during his lifehood in Stauton, VA.
Theodore Roosevelt seems had more progressive views of deaf people than Woodrow Wilson. Since TR was destined from the NYC area himself. Wilson was unbelievably racist in many ways beyond imagination.
The United States Armed Force probably do not want to be upstaged by deaf military units whose happen to be more superior than other units combined. Who knows?
Deaf “Estrarus” Smith was more like a spy than the foot solider himself. Sam Houston personally dispatched Smith to gather information on the Mexican army.
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
Regardless of our personal feelings about war- I’m not crazy about it at all- , looks like deaf soliders in combat is nothing new under the sun. I found this excerpt (see bottom) in http://www.pbs.org (Yes, the same PBS channel)- look for “Sound and Fury”, click on :History Timeline”, and go to 1910-1950.
People who tell me deaf people cannot do the combat work involving police and soldiers because they cannot hear, I always reply- “So you’re saying hearing ability helps someone survive a dangerous situation? (nod) Okay why do we have all those graves then? Did hearing ability save them? More importantly, if someone wants to serve his/her country, who has the final right to decide how to live their own life?” My dad is a retired Army first class sgt, I grew up seeing Army forts in Georgia, sometimes I wonder to myself what if I just wanted to enlist? Yes I know there are benefits to hearing shouts of “INCOMING!!!” or “CEASE FIRE, CEASE FIRE!”, (although I still wonder how they can hear that in the midst of a hyperchaotic and noisy battlefield, I mean, did anybody feel like you were going through a confusing vortex of hell just watching Saving Private Ryan - the last “realistic” war movie I will ever watch- but I digress) but I have to recognize that the nature of war is changing, technology is changing, and we cannot forget that deaf people’s degree of hearing loss are wide-ranging. Some will hear these shouts (I’m talking to you, Mike McConnell, smile)
Sometimes it is circumstances that force people to come up with inventions. I’d think it’d be logical to think that if the armed forces found itself having a significant number of deaf enlisted soliders, even 5%, is enough to force the Pentagon to call for inventions specifically geared to assist in communication during combat. Such inventions would probably met universal design requirements, meaning it would benefit both the deaf and the hearing soldiers. Example? There have been and still are a lot of “friendly fire” going on- soldiers accidently killing their own soliders due to unclear or missing visual cues. Pentagon comes up with an invention that allows the deaf and the hearing to identify “friendlies” by some kind of special goggles from a great distance. I’m sure somebody can come up with better ideas.
Excerpt from PBS:
“Meanwhile, in Europe, entire companies of deaf soldiers take up arms. In the field, commands are given using special signs that can be seen at a distance.”
Kristi,
I’m glad you brought up that concept, that necessity drives innovation. The military often comes up with the most creative ideas (for example the first internet, ARPAnet made DeafDC possible, smile).
One more thing- anybody watched “Black Hawk Down?” Remmy that soldier who became deaf due to standing too close to some machine gun? Who was with me rooting for the deaf guy to survive?:-)
You, people HAVE to UNDERSTAND that the Hollywood war movies often really do not resemble the realities of war. The matter of life-death often have to be done in “few seconds” decision.
Same thing with the paintball games. Too many people fanastize about being soliders with the paintball game.
RLM
I’m curious what do you mean by YOU PEOPLE? please define!
Actually did you ever experience playing paintball? Pretend the paintball is actually a bullet! We would have to make the same decision right there and then!
I refer “you, people” to the DeafDC readers/browsers/respondents.
I did play paintball games several games, but still much different from real war itself. No laughings or say “Jeez” when splat with paintball. Timeouts, too.
Paintball games forbid anyone hit above the shoulder area with protective gear - eye goggle.
The real war hit anywhere - head, eye, ankle, foot, kneecap, hands, etc.
RLM
Yes my point was not the AFTER the facts of shooting the paintball! My point was, the hunt for your “enemy” and shooting your target or getting shot by a paintball. Imagine that was a bullet! Yes we do get hit in the ankle, foot, kneecap, head! I got hit everywhere! When I got hit, it was not funny at first cuz it f**king hurts!
After the game is over, yes it’s fun, we laugh about it and how we did this and that and so on and at war we do not laugh. I’m talking about strategy, pulling the trigger.
In case you want a little deaf history –
*The American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb* (1875) contains an account of William Chamberlain, a “semi-mute” who tried to pass as hearing to serve in the Civil War. He enlisted in the Union Army, and “was never detected until I attempted to pass the guard line one day, when my inability to hear the sentinel led to the discovery of my deafness” (54). He managed to reenlist and pass an exam by a doctor, “whose questions I readily comprehended from his lips, and who never suspected that I could not hear a sound.” He was eventually caught and cast out: “I was very much annoyed, as I really desired to serve my country,” Chamberlain writes (54).
Several deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans did apparently fight in the Civil War. William Simpson, a hard-of-hearing man from St. Louis, went to New York, pretended to be hearing, and enlisted there. Another account tells of a deaf Confederate prisoner whose guard was also deaf; they supposedly carried on lively conversations in sign language. Two other deaf men, Hartwell Chamberlayne and William M. Berkeley, served in the Confederate army, which may have been more willing to let deaf men fight due to its pressing need for soldiers. See Gannon, Deaf Heritage 10.
Krentz, thanks for sharing with all of us from the source like the American Annals of the Deaf.
I am sure that there are more “undocumented” history of deaf individuals serving on the armed forces in the United States.
I wonder about any deaf Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Bulter during the Civil War. I am just being saracastic about those fictional characters.
I am kinda curious about any deaf belles or plantation owners or slave overseers down in the history or what. I know some of the wealthy plantation owners having deaf offsprings.
What about any deaf Revolutionary War patriot soliders?
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
This is a very good discussion. I find it interesting that we have neglected to mention deaf who served in the Civil War and in wars prior to that. Remember the story of the two Civil War spies from opposing forces meeting and realizing that they were both deaf and began chatting with each other forgetting their duties? Granted, that story could be a myth but it is still very possible that it happened. Usually myths are evolved from actual events. Anyway, if we read Paddy Ladd’s “Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood” book, there is historical evidence that shows deaf people did have duties within the army such as being messengers, spies, etc. A lot of our history has not been written or has since been lost so there’s a lot that we don’t know.