On November 28, 1945, doctors in Stamford Connecticut's Regional Hospital intensely worked to save newborn Richard James Flaherty’s life. His mother didn’t know at the time of his birth that her blood type was Rh-negative which may lead to serious health problems—and death—in a second-born fetus. Richard’s future, therefore, was sealed before he took his first breath. The complications caused a hormonal imbalance that stunted his growth. He was expected to only grow to the height of 4’ 7” but Richard proved them wrong as he grew to 4’ 9.”
Smallest Soldier, Green Beret Captain Richard J. Flaherty
At 4’ 9” 97 pounds, Richard J. Flaherty was the smallest and most unconventional man to serve in the U.S. military and needed a congressional waiver just to join the Army. Bullied and ridiculed through basic training, Richard nonetheless achieved the kind of stature that’s only dreamed of: He became a Green Beret Captain, and earned the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts for his actions in Vietnam. Richard served with the 101st Airborne during the Tet Offensive, he served as a Recon Platoon leader with Echo Co. & the 3rd Special Forces Group stationed in Thailand.
His decommission and expulsion from the Army in 1971 due to the military budget downsizing (RIF Reduction in Force) was unexpected and devastating, and Richard sank into the murky world of private contract work. He is believed to have worked as a military contractor throughout Africa and most notably in Rhodesia and Angola in order to continue his fights against communism.
During these ongoing operations, he gained a reputation for intelligence, and was recruited by a government entity in the late 1970s to supply the Contras in Central America with weapons and cash. So began a wild adventure involving guns, cash, and High Altitude Low Opening parachute jumps into the Florida Everglades swamps. All of that ends when the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms) learns of the operation and Richard is brought in for questioning.
Richard then signs on to work an undercover investigation with the ATF to locate a smuggling ring stealing tons of explosives & weapons from inside Fort Bragg. The case ends successfully with the prosecution of several Green Berets who are later found found guilty of weapons smuggling. The case is not without controversy as several newspaper articles written at that time alleged that the operation was really a covert CIA op run by Captain Flaherty to send weapons to the anti-communist groups in Central America.
Miami Police officer David Yuzuk befriended Richard J. Flaherty when the former soldier was living on the streets as a homeless man. Later in life Richard suffered from severe PTSD and neither friends nor family had any luck keeping him off the streets. After 15 years of friendship, Richard finally told his friend Yuzuk, “It’s time I tell you who I really am.” In 2015, only 10 days later Richard would be killed in a bizarre hit and run.
After Richard’s death, Yuzuk kept digging, researching, and confirming. He located witnesses and found documentation in a storage unit that revealed that even while homeless, Richard was still conducting clandestine missions around the world—Cambodia, Iraq, Jordan, Venezuela—but who was he working for? The CIA? Private contractors? Or were his missions something much darker?
“My three-year journey of discovery dragged me down the rabbit hole of CIA conspiracies and the hunt for stolen classified weapons—stretching from the bloody jungles of Vietnam to the dangerous streets of Iraq and Venezuela, all in search of the peripatetic Green Beret Captain Richard J. Flaherty,” Yuzuk said.
Captain Flaherty's incredible life story was captured in the Amazon #1 Best Selling book, "The Giant Killer" available worldwide on Amazon & Walmart as a Paperback, Hardcover, eBook, & Audiobook, and the award-winning documentary, "The Giant Killer Finding Flaherty" is available worldwide on Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes, VUDU, Roku, Xumo, and free on Tubi.
Captain Flaherty's Irish lineage is traced back to his grandfather Joseph Patrick Flaherty who was born in the Aran islands and his grandmother Bridget Smythe was born in the village of Feakle next to the Sliabh Aughty Mountains.
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Flaherty's military bio:
Flaherty attended Infantry Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2Lt on August 31, 1967. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and went to Vietnam serving as a Platoon Leader and Recon Platoon Leader with companies B, C, and D, & E. He and his platoon were engaged in some of the heaviest fighting on the outskirts of Hue during the Tet Offensive. He earned the Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars (w/V, 3OLC), and 2 Purple Hearts.
After his tour in Vietnam, he returned to the U.S. and attended the Special Forces Officer Course at Fort Bragg. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group and assigned to the 46th Special Forces Company in Thailand. He served as an A Detachment Commander and Liaison Officer. In 1970 he was reassigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens. He served as both an A and B detachment Commander. He was discharged in October 1971 as a Captain.
On November 28, 1945, doctors in Stamford Connecticut's Regional Hospital intensely worked to save newborn Richard James Flaherty’s life. His mother didn’t know at the time of his birth that her blood type was Rh-negative which may lead to serious health problems—and death—in a second-born fetus. Richard’s future, therefore, was sealed before he took his first breath. The complications caused a hormonal imbalance that stunted his growth. He was expected to only grow to the height of 4’ 7” but Richard proved them wrong as he grew to 4’ 9.”Smallest Soldier, Green Beret Captain Richard J. FlahertyAt 4’ 9” 97 pounds, Richard J. Flaherty was the smallest and most unconventional man to serve in the U.S. military and needed a congressional waiver just to join the Army. Bullied and ridiculed through basic training, Richard nonetheless achieved the kind of stature that’s only dreamed of: He became a Green Beret Captain, and earned the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts for his actions in Vietnam. Richard served with the 101st Airborne during the Tet Offensive, he served as a Recon Platoon leader with Echo Co. & the 3rd Special Forces Group stationed in Thailand.His decommission and expulsion from the Army in 1971 due to the military budget downsizing (RIF Reduction in Force) was unexpected and devastating, and Richard sank into the murky world of private contract work. He is believed to have worked as a military contractor throughout Africa and most notably in Rhodesia and Angola in order to continue his fights against communism.During these ongoing operations, he gained a reputation for intelligence, and was recruited by a government entity in the late 1970s to supply the Contras in Central America with weapons and cash. So began a wild adventure involving guns, cash, and High Altitude Low Opening parachute jumps into the Florida Everglades swamps. All of that ends when the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms) learns of the operation and Richard is brought in for questioning.Richard then signs on to work an undercover investigation with the ATF to locate a smuggling ring stealing tons of explosives & weapons from inside Fort Bragg. The case ends successfully with the prosecution of several Green Berets who are later found found guilty of weapons smuggling. The case is not without controversy as several newspaper articles written at that time alleged that the operation was really a covert CIA op run by Captain Flaherty to send weapons to the anti-communist groups in Central America.Miami Police officer David Yuzuk befriended Richard J. Flaherty when the former soldier was living on the streets as a homeless man. Later in life Richard suffered from severe PTSD and neither friends nor family had any luck keeping him off the streets. After 15 years of friendship, Richard finally told his friend Yuzuk, “It’s time I tell you who I really am.” In 2015, only 10 days later Richard would be killed in a bizarre hit and run.After Richard’s death, Yuzuk kept digging, researching, and confirming. He located witnesses and found documentation in a storage unit that revealed that even while homeless, Richard was still conducting clandestine missions around the world—Cambodia, Iraq, Jordan, Venezuela—but who was he working for? The CIA? Private contractors? Or were his missions something much darker?“My three-year journey of discovery dragged me down the rabbit hole of CIA conspiracies and the hunt for stolen classified weapons—stretching from the bloody jungles of Vietnam to the dangerous streets of Iraq and Venezuela, all in search of the peripatetic Green Beret Captain Richard J. Flaherty,” Yuzuk said.Captain Flaherty's incredible life story was captured in the Amazon #1 Best Selling book, "The Giant Killer" available worldwide on Amazon & Walmart as a Paperback, Hardcover, eBook, & Audiobook, and the award-winning documentary, "The Giant Killer Finding Flaherty" is available worldwide on Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes, VUDU, Roku, Xumo, and free on Tubi.Captain Flaherty's Irish lineage is traced back to his grandfather Joseph Patrick Flaherty who was born in the Aran islands and his grandmother Bridget Smythe was born in the village of Feakle next to the Sliabh Aughty Mountains.https://ift.tt/GqL0XEa military bio:Flaherty attended Infantry Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2Lt on August 31, 1967. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and went to Vietnam serving as a Platoon Leader and Recon Platoon Leader with companies B, C, and D, & E. He and his platoon were engaged in some of the heaviest fighting on the outskirts of Hue during the Tet Offensive. He earned the Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars (w/V, 3OLC), and 2 Purple Hearts.After his tour in Vietnam, he returned to the U.S. and attended the Special Forces Officer Course at Fort Bragg. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group and assigned to the 46th Special Forces Company in Thailand. He served as an A Detachment Commander and Liaison Officer. In 1970 he was reassigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens. He served as both an A and B detachment Commander. He was discharged in October 1971 as a Captain. https://ift.tt/xSg54ws https://ift.tt/KXm4oqR
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