Richard J. Flaherty

Richard James Flaherty (November 28, 1945 — May 9, 2015) a historically notable United States Army captain in Vietnam War service. As once the smallest serviceman in USA history (standing at 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 m)) and inspired to undermine size-prejudice, investing his military leadership with insight and skills to survive bravery- Capt. Flaherty is today renown as "The Giant Killer".[1]

Richard J. Flaherty
Nickname(s)"The Giant Killer"
BornNovember 28, 1945
Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedMay 9, 2015(2015-05-09) (aged 69)
Aventura, Florida, U.S.
Buried
Forest Memorial Park
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service1967 – 1971
RankCaptain
Unit101st Airborne Division
3rd Special Forces Group
10th Special Forces Group
Vietnam WarTet Offensive
AwardsSilver Star
Bronze Star (2)
Purple Heart (2)
RelationsJoseph Patrick Flaherty (grandfather)
Bridget Smythe (grandmother)
Other work
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/TheGiantKIllerDocumentary/

Early life

Flaherty inherited Irish ancestry from a grandmother born in Feakle, one Bridget Smythe; and from a grandfather, Joseph Patrick Flaherty, born in the Aran Islands.

Flaherty himself was born November 28, 1945 in Stamford, Connecticut, where his maternal lineage would eventually contribute to a dwarfism diagnosis. As his mother was unfamiliar with her own Rh-negative blood-type, the attending Stamford Connecticut Regional Hospital staff were at some disadvantage to provide a blue-baby birth protocol. Cap't Flaherty's growth was affected.[2] Facing life as a vulnerable outlier, Flaherty would eventually develop both confidence and athleticism through martial arts' practice.

Flaherty was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant after attending Infantry Officer Candidate School on August 31, 1967.[3]

Service career

In 1968, in support of the Vietnam War Captain Flaherty was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, his initial tour to Viet Nam where he served as a Platoon Leader and Recon Platoon Leader with companies B, C, D, & E.

During the January, 1968 Tet Offensive Flaherty participated in the fierce defense of Hue City, earning a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts.[4]

After this tour Cap't Flaherty returned to the USA to attend Special Forces Officer Course at Fort Bragg. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a Special Forces Operations Detachment A (SFODA) Commander in Company A of the 3rd SFG in Thailand. Later that year, he was reassigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens. He served as an SFODA Commander in companies A and B.

Its also reported he served in Thailand as a Green Beret

In 1971, having attained the rank of captain, Flaherty left the Army, an act of service to his country and its conflicting agendas in the Viet Nam theater.

Later life

After being discharged, Flaherty did private and military contract work in Rhodesia and Angola in Africa. The Central Intelligence Agency recruited him in the late 1970s due to his knowledge of military intelligence. The primary focus of his time in the CIA was supplying the Nicaraguan Contras in Nicaragua. His stint with the CIA came to an end when he was arrested for possessing silencers.

After being removed from the CIA, Flaherty helped catch a smuggling ring at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and worked undercover for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as an informant.

Flaherty was killed on May 9, 2015, in a hit and run.[5] Fifteen years before Flaherty's death, he was befriended by Miami Police officer David Yuzuk after Flaherty became homeless. Just ten days before Flaherty's death, Flaherty told Yuzuk his story.[6] After Flaherty's death, Yuzuk went to look into his history and uncovered troves of information from Flaherty's storage unit, such as his passport with stamps from Cambodia, Venezuela, Iraq and Jordan.[7] Flaherty was buried at Forest Memorial Park in Milton.

Documentary film

David Yuzuk directed, co-produced and co-wrote a biographical documentary film about the life of Flaherty, The Giant Killer, which was released in 2017. It has a rating of 7.4 on IMDb.[8]

Awards and decorations

Personal decorations
Silver Star
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Other accoutrements
Combat Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge

References

  1. "Giant Killer: Richard James Flaherty's life". IrishCentral.com. 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  2. "Height-waiver Green Beret: Captain James Flaherty was a Special Forces legend". We Are The Mighty. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  3. "Height-waiver Green Beret: Captain James Flaherty was a Special Forces legend". Sandboxx. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  4. "Vietnam Vet Richard Flaherty Was 'The Giant Killer'". Military.com. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  5. Clary, Mike. "Decorated Vietnam War veteran killed by hit-and-run driver". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  6. "Police Identify Aventura Hit-and-Run Victim as Decorated War Veteran". NBC 6 South Florida. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  7. ""The Giant Killer" a Fascinating Look At the US' Smallest Green Beret". SOFREP. 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  8. "The Giant Killer". IMDb. April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.

https://blog.theveteranssite.greatergood.com/smallest-beret-vet/

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