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Today marks 5 years since the passing of Captain Flaherty. Today we mourn his death but we must also celebrate his inspiring life.
At 4’ 9” 97lbs, Captain Richard J. Flaherty AKA “The Giant Killer” is believed to be one of the smallest men to ever serve in the US military. He earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star w/V, Bronze Star (3OLC), Purple Heart (1OLC), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Comb...at Infantryman’s Badge and Parachutist Badge among others for his service in Vietnam.
He attended infantry OCS and was commissioned a 2Lt on August 31,1967. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He went to Vietnam with the Division and served as a Platoon Leader and Recon Platoon Leader with companies B, C and D, 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne Infantry Rgt. He returned to CONUS and attended the Special Forces Officer Course at Fort Bragg, NC. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group. He returned to South East Asia and 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, MA. He served as both an A and B detachment Commander. He was discharged in October, 1971 as a Captain. He served in the Reserves until 1983.
It's believed Flaherty served for several years during the 70's as a private military contractor in the Rhodesian war. In 1984 he worked in an undercover capacity with the ATF on a weapons smuggling ring located inside Ft. Bragg. The operation is not without controversy as several newspaper articles written about the case claimed that the operation was just a ruse so CIA operative Flaherty could smuggle weapons down into hands of Anti-Sandinistas in Central America.
On May 9, 2015 while living homeless on the streets of Miami he was killed in a hit and run. The book, "The Giant Killer" available on Amazon & was written about his incredible and enigmatic life. See More
At 4’ 9” 97lbs, Captain Richard J. Flaherty AKA “The Giant Killer” is believed to be one of the smallest men to ever serve in the US military. He earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star w/V, Bronze Star (3OLC), Purple Heart (1OLC), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Comb...at Infantryman’s Badge and Parachutist Badge among others for his service in Vietnam.
He attended infantry OCS and was commissioned a 2Lt on August 31,1967. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY. He went to Vietnam with the Division and served as a Platoon Leader and Recon Platoon Leader with companies B, C and D, 1st Battalion, 501st Airborne Infantry Rgt. He returned to CONUS and attended the Special Forces Officer Course at Fort Bragg, NC. Upon graduation he was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group. He returned to South East Asia and 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, MA. He served as both an A and B detachment Commander. He was discharged in October, 1971 as a Captain. He served in the Reserves until 1983.
It's believed Flaherty served for several years during the 70's as a private military contractor in the Rhodesian war. In 1984 he worked in an undercover capacity with the ATF on a weapons smuggling ring located inside Ft. Bragg. The operation is not without controversy as several newspaper articles written about the case claimed that the operation was just a ruse so CIA operative Flaherty could smuggle weapons down into hands of Anti-Sandinistas in Central America.
On May 9, 2015 while living homeless on the streets of Miami he was killed in a hit and run. The book, "The Giant Killer" available on Amazon & was written about his incredible and enigmatic life. See More
