Graywolf, Ben

Born hard of hearing as Ben Carrero in Staten Island, NY; deafness probably from his mother's being ill with leukemia during pregnancy. Attended a Catholic boarding school. After graduation, decided to join the Army together with a friend. By copying his fiend's responses on the hearing test, Carrero fooled the examiners and was immediately shipped off to Vietnam. He also did two tours of duty in Germany, and transferred to the Navy, serving in the Seabees, receiving many medals along the way. He took the surname Graywolf at age 23. Although he did not accept a deaf identity and learn sign languge until well into adulthood, he became very active in the Intertribal Deaf Council; also a very active Indian dancer. Worked as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor for deaf and hard of hearing men at Casa Los Arboles, and also worked part time as a massage therapist.