My name is James, and at nearly 70 years old, the discipline the Marine Corps installed in me during boot camp still guides me. Once a Marine, always a Marine. That training gave me the tools to build a respectable life, but it couldn't prepare me for a different kind of challenge—the slow, creeping silence of hearing loss. It started around 1975, a consequence of my time in service, and it eventually took away one of the simplest things many people take for granted: the ability to use a telephone.
I joined the Marine Corps in 1976 and headed to boot camp at Parris Island. It wasn't a smooth start; I got pneumonia and had to go through it twice. But I pushed through, earned a promotion to PFC (E2), and received a prestigious order to report to the Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines. There, I was chosen to be our Battalion Armorer. In a short time, I was promoted from Lance Corporal (E3) to Corporal (E4).
After spending most of my tour in the Philippines, the Marine Corps offered me another stripe (E6) and a good check to reenlist if I would stay. But I’d always wanted to see the other side of the globe, and they couldn’t promise me a post in Europe. So, I decided to come home.
At Camp Pendleton, everything truly changed. My main responsibility there was on the firing range, teaching young Marines about our new weapons. One day, I was dealing with a jammed M16 rifle when the alarm for a 105mm howitzer sounded. It’s an extremely loud weapon. I was unable to get my ear protection up in time before it engaged. That single blast pretty much destroyed most of my hearing.
My homecoming wasn't what I expected. When I landed in Knoxville, Tennessee, a young lady threw a Coke can at me, hitting me in the face. It broke my nose and left me needing six stitches while she called me some pretty colorful names. I was set back, completely unaware of what was happening in America while I was in Southeast Asia. I had missed disco, the death of Elvis, and so many other world events. That was the first time I felt ashamed to be a soldier. I went into the restroom, took off my Marine dress blues, put on civilian clothes, and left my uniform and duffel bag behind.
Many years passed. When Desert Storm began, I started hearing, "Thank you for your service." To this very day, I still have trouble responding to that. I just can't find the words. I am very thankful that our soldiers are finally getting praise from Americans instead of Coke cans.
This history makes Veterans Day a complicated holiday for me. I don’t participate in public events. I pretty much stay home, but I make sure that anything that comes out of my mouth is total appreciation for our soldiers—especially the ones that got to come home. We are most fortunate and blessed, and I have never forgotten that. I still stay in contact with other Marines I was in Asia with, and I try to get out and show my appreciation for the younger soldiers.
As my hearing loss progressed, the world became quieter. I use hearing aids, and I can still enjoy the sounds of nature and some of the music I grew up with. But I’m completely off when it comes to understanding human language. For someone in the hearing-impaired world, the telephone becomes an impossible mountain to climb.
Society runs on the phrase, "Just call me." Simple words that are simply impossible for some. Can you call the utility company? Can you call the police? Can you call your doctor? Before I found InnoCaption, I was unable to use the phone at all. I was liberated when I discovered this wonderful team that builds and fine-tunes this beautiful app.
I’d been with you guys for a decade or better when a Marine buddy of mine, Pasquale Marchetti from Cincinnati, texted me about this company. I signed up immediately. The phrase that haunted me—Daddy, please call me, I need your help—was a reality I couldn’t answer. Until InnoCaption.
Is there a particular phone call that stands out? Absolutely. It was the moment I called my daughter and talked to her on the phone for the very first time in 35 years. And my son, too. Now, how rich is that?
That single experience is why I have stayed with InnoCaption. If I hadn’t become deaf, I probably wouldn't have realized just how embedded a phone is to our society. Now, when someone says, “Just call me,” I can say, “Yeah, not a problem.” The professionalism and sincerity of every single person on the team I’ve ever contacted is amazing. They respond like you’re their center focus. That loyalty is what has propelled InnoCaption as a leader from the gate.
My journey hasn’t just been about technology and community—it's also about the loyal companions who stand by my side every day. My service dogs, Elsa and Bailey, are a huge part of my life. Whether they're working or enjoying some well-deserved downtime, they bring a sense of confidence and comfort that words can barely describe.
Inspired by what these dogs have done for me, I’m building a website to help others train their own hearing service dogs. NobleCompanion.org is set to launch in January, and my hope is to provide guidance and support to anyone who wants to build the same life-changing bond I have with Elsa and Bailey.
For anyone just starting to lose their hearing and feeling unsure about trying an app like this, I’d suggest they read a short book called The Bridge to Hearing. I apologize, but I don’t remember the author. It's a wonderful story that will open up an entire new thought process.
We simply need to realize nothing is 100%. This is basically new technology. Even people with normal hearing don’t have it perfect. We, the hearing-impaired community, must come to the table and work with these developers. We have a responsibility to team up and move forward, to understand this tech is new and provide our input.
Over the years, by sharing my ups and downs with the captioning service, I’ve seen how we’re getting closer to that 100% real-time captioning goal. The hearing-impaired people coming behind me deserve that, and it’s up to us to help these beautiful developers achieve it. It will happen one day. We will wake up to a beautiful harvest and enjoy using a phone just like the hearing world. We will have been made whole.
Onward.
Minah Han is a marketing professional dedicated to advancing accessible communication solutions for the deaf and hard of hearing community. At InnoCaption, she leverages her expertise in digital marketing and storytelling to amplify the voices of individuals who rely on innovative technologies for everyday conversations. Minah is passionate about bridging the gap between technology and accessibility, helping to drive awareness and education around captioned calling solutions.
InnoCaption provides real-time captioning technology making phone calls easy and accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Offered at no cost to individuals with hearing loss because we are certified by the FCC. InnoCaption is the only mobile app that offers real-time captioning of phone calls through live stenographers and automated speech recognition software. The choice is yours.
InnoCaption proporciona tecnología de subtitulado en tiempo real que hace que las llamadas telefónicas sean fáciles y accesibles para la comunidad de personas sordas y con problemas de audición. Se ofrece sin coste alguno para las personas con pérdida auditiva porque estamos certificados por la FCC. InnoCaption es la única aplicación móvil que ofrece subtitulación en tiempo real de llamadas telefónicas mediante taquígrafos en directo y software de reconocimiento automático del habla. Usted elige.
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