When he graduated high school in 1966, the 4-foot-9-inch man was 3 inches under the Army's height requirement. Shortest US soldier in Vietnam War was not short in courage. This picture is taken probably by the end of the war when really young and old citizens were enlisted for soldiers. He deployed with the Screaming Eagles to Vietnam and served as a platoon and recon platoon leader. Richard Flaherty, was certainly a standout. Photo credit: Funker360. 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Whitesides was killed, and Thompson was taken prisoner; he would ultimately spend just short . Sergeant Arnold Gutierrez of the 25th Division stated that after a while they became so tuned to what was happening that when the other person would flick an eyelid up or down, you really knew he was there, in the corner, not even hiding anymore. After college David moved to Miami and became a 19-year veteran of the Aventura Police Department working as a uniformed road patrolman, undercover officer, and detective. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. The soldiers then camouflaged the pit using natural undergrowth, mud, or crops. The Viet Cong built drain pipe ventilation shafts every 20 to 30 meters at an oblique angle to prevent flooding. His height was no object, however, and he put together an impressive record, with the honors to match. One tunnel rat claimed that the booby traps and Viet Cong did not frighten them as much as encountering the local ants. Another method frequently used attempted to flood the area so badly that the enemy desperately sought to escape to avoid drowning. There is a story about Flaherty being involved in a federal investigation that ended in the arrest of two Green Berets in the 1980s. As you may have guessed, life expectancy was low. Major Nguyen Quot, an officer that spent ten years in these tunnels, notes that by 1948 they already dug a tunnel system: each family, each hamlet, had a tunnel communicating it with others. 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If the army located an entrance and needed it explored, the team lowered a tunnel rat into the area to scout out the surroundings. In the war's moral outrages, crimes and betrayals, many saw the US empire for the first time. Despite his size Richard Flaherty had all the heart in the world and it showed when he was platoon leader in Vietnam. They belong to us. This is similar to the selection effect of underwriting requirement provision in the insurance industries. A friend of his from high school told me he had fond memories of watching Richard breaking boards with his hands when he walked past the Flahertys garage. On the other stood a 5ft 7in (170 . ~15 years. Released in 1973. Phil Bucklew: The Father of US Naval Special Warfare. Many knew him over the last decade and a half of his life as a nameless little homeless guy in Hallandale, but he was much more than that. Once his weight had increased enough, he petitioned his Congressman, Rep. Donald J. Irwin (D-CT), to fill out a waiver to allow him to enlist, despite his short stature. A twenty-two year old U.S. Army Lieutenant finds himself in the fight of his life on his birthday. In the late 1970s, he was sent to supply the Contras in Central America with weapons and cash. Private contractors? As a result, many tunnel rats often avoided using hearing protection while underground. Yuzuk said none of the relatives or companions of Flaherty or Anness he has spoken with was aware of a relationship between the two. A few years later, we started talking. That medically makes you a dwarf (little person). After a while, whenever Id see him, Id give him a little head nod and hed do the same. This is a dangerous condition that can lead to serious complications for the fetus or even death. 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. After 15 years of friendship, Flaherty finally confessed, Its time I tell you who I really am. Only 10 days later Flaherty would be killed in a bizarre hit and run. Standing tall in four-feet and nine-inches, Captain Richard Flaherty, might be too small for the conventional height for the United States Army. It begins in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1966, the year Flaherty graduated from high school, and also the year in which the American military presence in Vietnam had more than doubled from the previous year, while U.S. casualties had nearly quadrupled. Consequently, given the average smaller size of Vietnamese men, tunnel rat soldiers, by necessity, were the shortest, skinniest, and most limber men in the army: a maximum height of 1.58 meters. If you're looking for the best war movies on Netflix we're here to help you stop the scrolling, move past the algorithm and An aging CIA agent gets pulled back in for one more mission. If it did not force the enemy out, those inside the tunnels often suffocated to death instead. There are some interviews with the men that served under him and they talk about him ordering soldiers to kill civilians and surrendered VC. Vietnam Vet Richard Flaherty Was 'The Giant Killer', A Second Member of the Worlds Biggest Music Group Joins the Army, A Netflix Movie About WWII's Legendary 6888th Postal Battalion Starts Filming, Best War Movies Streaming Right Now on Netflix, Arnold Schwarzenegger Is 'FUBAR' in Upcoming Spy Series. Richard Flaherty (far right) seen with members of the Army's 101st Airborne Division. He had been the victim of a hit-and-run car accident. Flaherty began to open up and talk to Yuzuk about his life only a few weeks before his tragic and lonely death as a hit-and-run victim last May. That did not deter Flaherty. By the time RichardFlaherty graduated from high school in 1966, the US was already heavily involved in Vietnam. He would also earn two Bronze Stars, a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and five Purple Hearts during his two tours in the Nam. Low near 45F. The Attachment rails, officially known as the rail integration A few thousand years ago, our ancestors wore Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! Short in size he might have been, but short in courage he wasnt. This article was originally published 1/7/2021. When Flaherty was born, hed been deprived of oxygen, due to a rare blood condition his mother had, which stunted his growth. In many ways, Yuzuk became Flahertys friend. The following year, 1971, he was discharged from active duty and transferred to the Army Reserves, where he served until 1983. Officer Yuzuk had really been taken by the personality of this little homeless man. He was 69 . March 28, 2022 Local Vietnam veterans showcase . You see, Richard Flaherty was only 410. Flaherty served with the 101st Airborne during Vietnam. Active military action was carried out for almost 20 years, from 1 November 1955 to 30 April 1975.The Vietnam War is also referred to as the Second Indochina War, due to the involvement of all three countries previously constituting the French territory of Indochina. Comprised of 12 Special Forces soldiers, an ODA can operate independently behind enemy lines for long periods of time without supervision. when a soldier had approximately two months remaining on his tour in Vietnam, he might take a long stick and notch it for each of his remaining days in-country. According to an article in the Stamford Advocate, Flahertys body was found by two joggers. He says of Flaherty, I think that Vietnam tortured Richard.. He becomes a mystery to family and friends alike. Capt. The healthy soldier/worker effect gradually subdued over time. "The true story of the smallest Green Beret soldier who became a war hero-only to be killed homeless and alone, whose life and death are shrouded in mystery." He stood three inches below the height cutoff for enlistment and was barely 100 pounds. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Oct 15, 2015 Ian Harvey, Guest Author. He was expected to only grow to the height of 4 7 but Richard proved them wrong as he grew to 4 9.. What's the minimum requirement in the US army today? He first deployed to Southeast Asia in 1968 as a member of the 101st Airborne Division. An average Liberian man is 163.66cm (5 feet 4.43 inches) tall. They carried out tunnel rat duties as and when they needed in addition to any other duties they performed. A marker has been ordered for his grave and is expected to be placed early next year. American soldiers were often prepared for traps that may be on the ground, but they had not prepared for those coming from above. Yet, both of these tactics were not as successful as they hoped. After Flahertys death, Yuzuk kept digging, researching, and confirming. Flaherty then moved on to work as an informant in an undercover investigation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to stop a smuggling ring from stealing explosives and a classified weapon from Fort Bragg. The bombs caused earthquakes that destroyed the tunnels and their ventilation shafts. Another particularly horrific tactic became known as the spike ball or the mace. Use the 'Report' link on The Giant Killer: Directed by David Yuzuk. Afghan war. He was a Platoon Leader and Recon Platoon Leader with companies B, C, D, & E. Flaherty participated in some fierce combat outside of Hue City during the Tet Offensive which earned him a Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars and 2 Purple Hearts.[4]. Be Nice. Miami Police officer David Yuzuk befriended Richard J. Flaherty when the former soldier was living on the streets as a homeless man. Most helpful for tunnel rats, however, was the brief amount of training time spent detecting, removing, and laying booby traps. He enlisted that same year, finishing basic training, qualifying for Officer Candidate School, and deploying to Vietnam as a second lieutenant. One of the prerequisites for and provisions of the accords was the return of all U.S. prisoners of war (POWs). 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. Postal Service. But due to the Vietnam draft they would have likely taken him anyway if that was his only disqualifier from serving. Once the Viet Cong caught on to what was happening, they began to use the same soap the Americans used. Be Proactive. After all, it was a very stressful and dangerous job. Wounded Marine Gunnery Sgt. 4' 9" 97lb Vietnam War Vet Green Beret Captain Richard J. Flaherty was the smallest US soldier to ever serve in the military. He was a Special Forces Green Beret Captain and was . Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelhammer@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5169 or follow. None of these wars were longer than the Afghan war, anyway.] They helped conduct military operations on behalf of communist forces. Source of data: the Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File, as of April 29, 2008, of the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Files, part of Record Group 330: Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Not only was he the shortest Green Beret to serve in Vietnam, he was also the shortest US serviceman in history. When it came time to weigh in, Flaherty barely tipped the scale of 100 pounds. A small donation goes a long way. It's an exclusive offer for our viewers! Consequently, given the average smaller size of Vietnamese men, tunnel rat soldiers, by necessity, were the shortest, skinniest, and most limber men in the army: a maximum height of 1.58 meters. The Giant Killer (available to rent now on iTunes, Amazon and other VOD platforms) aims to unravel the truth of his post-service life and mysterious death. The tunnels also hosted armament workshops, training depots, headquarters, and a variety of other facilities. Most useful for tunnel rats, however, was the experience gained in the dreaded gas chambers. His decommission in 1971 due to the military budget downsizing (RIF Reduction in Force) was unexpected and devastating, and Flaherty sank into the murky world of private contract work. soldier has to be fit both physically and mentally to endure the hardship in an adverse environment such as a battle field. Historians, for example, estimate that booby traps caused around 11 percent of US causalities in the Vietnam War. Once in, he was able to qualify both for Special Forces training and for Officer Candidate School (OCS). Due to the blood type, his growth was stunted which resulted in him being diagnosed with dwarfism.[2]. A lot of the time it really depended on the size of the soldiers in the infantry division. Retired, David enjoys writing, walking on hikes, and spending time with his dog Simon. As a Green Beret, he served from 1969-71, before being honorably discharged. It was the result of his mothers rare blood type that left him vulnerable to oxygen deprivation as an infant. Clothing-wise, it was a good idea to wear tight waterproof items to stop clothing from snagging on obstructions, leather gloves, and, if possible as mentioned knee pads to assist with crawling around. Just 10 days before Flaherty's death, Flaherty told Yuzuk his story. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Lance Corporal Robert A. Bishop explores a Viet Cong tunnel complex found by Leathernecks of the 2d Battalion, 26th Marines. As a result, sending a soldier underground, known as a tunnel rat, was often a final measure if all other methods had failed. The Viet Cong used this to their advantage to scare, and even kill, American soldiers. This early condition stunted his growth. Your Herd from Herald-Dispatch Reach Manager. Flaherty was the shortest of these elite soldiers, standing at only four feet, nine inches tall. TIMES STAFF WRITER. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. If they hesitated at all, it is highly likely they would be the ones to die in such close confines. Awarded Medal of Honor for escape and resistance as a POW. Grenade traps were another form of booby trap placed along the base of tunnels. One of his men got stung and came out screaming, refusing to ever go into a tunnel again. The Veterans Site is dedicated to helping to provide awareness to the problem of homelessness among our veterans. They reported to Aventura police that they had seen what looked like a body in some bushes alongside the road. How does he get kicked out due to reduction of force? Either way, that's a lot of soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen, male and female that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and there are still people dying as a result of their wounds receiver so very long ago in a place called Vietnam. Yuzuk said it was not long after he moved to Florida in 1999 and joined the Aventura Police Department that he noticed Flaherty. This is a story about a real American military hero. #1 New York Times bestselling author Doug Stanton- "You are holding in your hands an amazing journey into a world of puzzles, intrigue, and mystery. The complications caused a hormonal imbalance that stunted his growth. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. When the Vietnam War heated up, Flaherty volunteered for the Army. Col. Floyd J. Thompson, who endured nearly nine years of torture, disease and starvation in Vietnam as the longest-held prisoner of war in American history, has died. Twenty-year-old Mike . Four-foot, nine-inch tall veteran Richard J. Flaherty claimed to be the shortest man ever to serve in the United States military. According to studies conducted during the war, after one year of service, the hearing and smell of a typical tunnel rat became sixty percent better than that of an average man. Although the driver fled the scene, they were eventually caught. The first point to keep in mind is that there was a lot of "tail" in Vietnam. The CIA? Americans often carpet bombed areas under suspicion to try flushing out the enemy. The only reason anything is known about his own past is that he shared it with an Aventura cop before he died. On the other hand, combat troops had nearly an even chance of getting wounded, roughly 50%. In riveting rifle, rucksack style author, David Yuzuk takes you deep into the jungles of Vietnam to walk in the combat boots of America's smallest soldier, Richard Flaherty. Naturally, there were only first chances, never second, so some simply killed as they had to. 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