Because of a permanent injury to his right shoulder from birth, DeLoach barely passed the entrance physical exam and medical screening to get into the Naval Academy.The type of shoulder injury suffered by DeLoach is known as Brachial Plexus Injury. The brachial plexus is an arrangement of nerve fibers (a plexus) running from the spine (vertebrae C5-T1), through the neck, the axilla (armpit region), and into the arm. DeLoach passed the physical as a result of his parents' early intervention and persistent exercising of his arm. He was able to make good use of his right arm even though it only had one-third of the strength of his left arm.United Brachial Plexus Network; Retrieved April 9, 2007
