Deaf Irish American wants to serve in the U.S. Army

Young man defies the odds in bid to serve in military

HILDA HIGGINS,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, September 1, 2011, 8:15 AM

Updated Thursday, September 1, 2011, 8:15 AM

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Keith Nolan

Photo by 'Commission Cadet Nolan Now.'

Keith Nolan has always has a wish to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and great-uncle’s experiences in fighting in Word War II.

However being born to deaf parents, meant that the young man would never pass the compulsory hearing test to gain admittance to the U.S. Army.

Determined not to give up on his dream, the 29-year-old spent a decade applying to the Army's Reserve Officers Training Corps' (ROTC) program, before he was finally allowed to audit classes.

A focused scholar he got perfect grades in his military sciences class at California State University and his superiors were so impressed they even allowed him to wear the uniform.

However in May he was once again disappointed when he could progress no further under the military’s current policy.

"All I really want to do is join the Army," said Nolan, who signed to an interpreter in an interview at the university's ROTC office.
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"I want to do my duty, serve my country and experience that camaraderie, and I can't, owed to the fact that I'm deaf."

He added 'I am convinced that there is a non-combat position that I can do in the military without harming our armed forces' effectiveness and readiness.'

Nolan who completed a Masters in Deaf Education, was described by Capt. Sid Mendoza, one of his supervisors on the training program as an oustanding student..

Born to deaf parents, his father, Kevin Nolan won a city council seat against a 20-year serving candidate and always taught his son to be tenacious.

More than 6,000 people have responded in support of Nolan's Facebook page, 'Commission Cadet Nolan Now.'

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sirpeter | Sep 02, 2011, 09:25 AM EDT

Who would want to join the American army after this:US troops did execute Iraqi civilians,leaked letter claims.More than five years after the American military denied claims that its troops had executed at least 10 Iraqi civilians in cold blood,new evidence has emerged in a WikiLeaks diplomatic cable.Mr Alston sent a series of questions about the incident to the US embassy in Geneva, which passed them on to Washington.Although the US military announced an investigation into the incident,no known action was taken.Mr Alston's concerns reflect those in the original report by Iraqi security officials at the local Joint Coordination Centre. Its report said: "The American forces gathered the family members in one room and executed 11 persons,including five children, four women and two men. Then they bombed the house, burned three vehicles and killed their animals. (Independent.co.uk/news)Sickening.Army indoctrination.They have a whole bunch of sciency/psychological stuff to give you the blood lust so you will be a better soldier.

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sirpeter | Sep 02, 2011, 07:22 AM EDT

You can tell he is dumb enough for the army by letting them take a pic of him holding a rock..What's he doing that for?It makes him look like an idiot.Of course it's the parents fault.They puff them up from birth with confidence and turn part of their personally into an arrogant insufferable assho*e.He wouldn't be doing stupid sh*t like that if they treated him normally.I know,I know. Harsh but true alot of the time.

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patriciabruhn | Sep 01, 2011, 11:13 PM EDT

I am a veteran, a few years ago i tired to re enlist in the Air force reserves they had a bonus for certain jobs because they have a hard time filling them. I was turned down because of the meds I take for gerds & thyroid, they also tired to tell me i have eye issues, i dont! When I 1st went to join, I had a very slight hearing loss from when I was younger, I asked & received a waiver and passed the hearing test back in 85. With that said, The Military continues to discriminate to this day and It needs to stop.You also have to be a certain weight. There are plenty of jobs this young man could do and he has a passion and wants to be there! It is a volunteer service and without volunteers they would not be a military.

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cillowen | Sep 01, 2011, 02:32 PM EDT

other more qualified persons need the job. sob sisters, i know.

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Deidra47 | Sep 01, 2011, 02:15 PM EDT

The military has and always will have standards regarding medical and psychological conditions that will prevent men and women from joining their ranks and that is for the benefits of the troops. He would be a danger to himself and others in a war zone. You depend on your eyes and ears when in combat.

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OldMariner | Sep 01, 2011, 12:34 PM EDT

Hurrah to this young man wanting to serve his country. But it is out of the question of he serving on active duty. I am long time retired from the navy and presently hard of hearing (with hearing aids) I could not now perform the job I had done when I had served due to being even partially deaf. His status is much worse and could be a detriment to him and his comrades in battle situations.

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Suivness10 | Sep 01, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT

This guy has guts. More power to him.

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