Deaf teacher's quest for armed service inspires students

My sister was deaf. She had a hard life. Back then deaf people were called "deaf and dumb". She was anything but dumb. She tried finding a job, but nobody would even give her a chance. She was proficient at typing, never was distracted because she couldn't hear any distractions. She never had a job and died three years ago, with nothing ever to smile about. Like I said her life was hard. Maybe someday the deaf will be given a chance to be in the military, but I seriously doubt it.

FREDERICK, Md. — Four teens in camouflage fatigues march briskly around a brick plaza at the Maryland School for the Deaf, silently marking their cadence in American Sign Language: "Left!" ''Left!"

These members of the school's Cadet Corps aspire to military service, but their path is blocked. Deaf people are barred from joining the armed services, as corps creator Keith Nolan well knows. He's been told, "No," since 2001, when he tried to enlist in the Navy at age 18.