Growing up, Flaherty was sensitive about his height (4'9"), therefore he tried to achieve the best physical fitness and learned martial arts. Over eight weeks, soldiers learned about tactical skills, squad and platoon offensive and defensive tactics, and how to use certain weapons. Although the driver fled the scene, they were eventually caught. He had spent his last years alive homeless. Flaherty was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant after attending Infantry Officer Candidate School on 31 August 1967. Americans often carpet bombed areas under suspicion to try flushing out the enemy. The War also claimed the lives of approximately 200,000 allied soldiers in Vietnam, nearly one million North Vietnamese/ Communist allied deaths, and an incomprehensible number of civilians. Richards future, therefore, was sealed before he took his first breath. In the war's moral outrages, crimes and betrayals, many saw the US empire for the first time. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Under Lieutenant Flahertys astute direction and leadership, the enemy bunker was swiftly destroyed, enabling his platoon to advance and continue its devastating attack against the enemy.. You see, Richard Flaherty was only 410. His investigation raised more questions than it answered. One tunnel rat claimed that the booby traps and Viet Cong did not frighten them as much as encountering the local ants. As a student, she worked in a variety of research positions, including as an archivist. Finding out about him and what he had done since graduating from high school has put me through a roller coaster of emotions. His only problem was that he stood four feet, nine inches tall. Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! Another method frequently used attempted to flood the area so badly that the enemy desperately sought to escape to avoid drowning. When you used to stack bodies, but your 15 yo great grandson keeps calling you "Piper Perri" and you don't know why. Once in, he was able to qualify both for Special Forces training and for Officer Candidate School (OCS). Again, those inside suffocated. The Veterans Site asks that you take a moment out of your day to consider donating to help house homeless veterans. Flaherty returned to the U.S. later that year, and graduated from the Armys Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, becoming a member of the elite Green Berets. Published March 04, 2022 06:48:08. lkunl/Shutterstock. I never thought of him after that until I received an email last May from one of my old high school friends. After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course, Flaherty was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a detachment commander and sent to southeast Asia with the 46th Special Forces Company. 4' 9" 97lb Vietnam War Vet Green Beret Captain Richard J. Flaherty was the smallest US soldier to ever serve in the military. An Army Infantryman (MOS 11B) currently has the shortest amount of time in AIT at four weeks. In particularly horrendous circumstances, enemy soldiers would dig another pit directly beside it. This page is to honor the memory of Green Beret Captain Vietnam veteran Richard Flaherty. He increased the amount he ate and gained muscle through sports. That month, his platoon came under heavy automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fire from a North Vietnamese Army force. It was only after a determined effort, which included the involvement of his local Congressman, that he managed to acquire a waiver. The US Army Special Forces, commonly referred to as the Green Berets, are one of the countrys most elite fighting forces. Just sitting and waiting. Lieutenant Flaherty then personally directed and assisted the 90 Millimeter recoilless rifle team in an assault of the enemy bunker, braving up the intense hail of hostile fire. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. Flaherty is buried in an unmarked grave in Milton, West Virginia. It is here that his story begins to take many twists and turns. He was struck and killed in a hit and run in 2015. Flaherty was unfazed by the criticism he continued to receive throughout his life. He showed his fearsome warrior spirit during the Vietnam War, and later entered the roster of the Army's elite task . Flaherty was the shortest of these elite soldiers, standing at only four feet, nine inches tall. franklin roosevelt. Shortest US soldier in Vietnam War was not short in courage. Flaherty had an admiration for the Army Special Forces known as the Green Berets. American soldiers were often prepared for traps that may be on the ground, but they had not prepared for those coming from above. The soldiers then camouflaged the pit using natural undergrowth, mud, or crops. After Vietnam, he did contract work for the CIA all over the world. Not only was he the shortest Green Beret to serve in Vietnam, he was also the shortest US serviceman in history. He was a Special Forces Green Beret Captain and was . All rights reserved. With Harvey Arango, Ernie Bourcier, Jeff Burns, Carl Cain. Significant causalities ensued on both sides, but the combined Australian and American forces were unable to fully uncover the extensive tunnel network. Short Story / War and Military. the shortest have one line. Marine Corps: (Accession and Regular Standards) Male - 18%. ODAs are the tactical arm of the Special Forces Regiment. Some of these men were career military officers. Medically speaking, Richard would be considered a proportionate dwarf. Similarly, the bamboo whip was a very traumatic trap. 75,000 Vietnam veterans are severely disabled. He was working on finding a way to join. Read. Soldiers who are not fluent in another language will attend six to 18 months at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) prior to AIT. A former TV Reporter. Approximately 2.7 million American men and women served in Vietnam. We can imagine that it may have had something to do with his Vietnam combat experiences. The Viet Cong amassed around 250 kilometers of underground tunnels. They belong to us. The Lone Soldier. A marker has been ordered for his grave and is expected to be placed early next year. Later that year, he was reassigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens. To even attempt Special Forces training, Flaherty had to gain six pounds and get another height waiver. Have the latest local news delivered every afternoon so you don't miss out on updates. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Meanwhile, Flahertys burial spot, just behind Lisa Davis Annesss grave, remains unmarked as another Veterans Day approaches. He served as both an A and B detachment Commander. [5] Fifteen years before Flaherty's death, he was befriended by Miami Police officer David Yuzuk after Flaherty became homeless. After successfully graduating the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC), also known as Q course, Flaherty was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group. Low near 45F. Tunnel rat soldiers often used flashlights to guide the way and thus warned the enemy of their presence. Not only was he the shortest Green Beret to serve in Vietnam, he was also the shortest US serviceman in history. Richard Flaherty, was certainly a standout. March 28, 2022 Local Vietnam veterans showcase . Quite simply, many troops were deployed to Vietnam but few were actually in combat. The Viet Cong were simply experts at utilizing their surroundings to their advantage. Photo credit: Funker360. As a Vietnam veteran he is my brother. As a result, sending a soldier underground, known as a tunnel rat, was often a final measure if all other methods had failed. David Yuzuk's police radio blared from his shoulder as he leaned against his patrol car outside Boston Market in Aventura. . Flaherty dedicated himself to gaining weight. Richard was my friend and I promised him I would finish the project, Yuzuk said. accounts, the history behind an article. Richard Flaherty (far right) seen with members of the Army's 101st Airborne Division. Yuzuk is the director and its his first movie. TIMES STAFF WRITER. An example of a classic punji booby trap. Don't Threaten. That medically makes you a dwarf (little person). Watch on. Choose wisely! A life warrior. racist or sexually-oriented language. Thankfully, Richard Flahertys story lives on, as he shared it with David Yuzuk, a local police officer, before his death. Richard J. Flaherty may never be known. Some volunteered to go to Vietnam. Similarly, one American soldier highlighted how they liked to soften things up by throwing in one or more hand grenades before sending in tunnel rats. saigon 1975. army soldier. person will not be tolerated. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Four-foot, nine-inch tall veteran Richard J. Flaherty claimed to be the shortest man ever to serve in the United States military. This early condition stunted his growth. Overcast. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Vietnamese expanded these tunnels to hide nationalist guerrillas known as the Viet Ming. A large proportion of the U.S. troops consisted of African American men from the inner cities, the sons of immigrants . It has a rating of 7.4 on IMDb. This offensive is commonly seen by historians as a turning point for American involvement in the Vietnam war. As a 2nd Lieutenant and a platoon leader, he proved to be a fierce defender of his men. M. Once the Viet Cong caught on to what was happening, they began to use the same soap the Americans used. Wakeman wrote numerous letters home detailing her love of rushing at the enemy amid gunfire . Females - 26%. Trni was severely wounded after he skied into a mine during 1942, but . As each day passed he would cut the stick off another notch until on his rotation day he was left with only a small stub. Overall, the Vietnamese were very quick to restore damages and continue as if nothing happened. "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." The Giant Killer: Directed by David Yuzuk. This also allowed soldiers to help find and collect any wounded or dead comrades. Here, leaders forced soldiers into specific chambers and made to recite their name, rank, and service number. But then everything we know about him gets lost in a blur of fragmentary vignettes. His life may have ended tragically, but it was also a life that included real heroism and self-sacrifice. Myanmar 159.52cm (5 feet 2.80 inches) The Temples of Bagan in Mandalay, Myanmar. Her research focused on military, environmental, and Canadian history with a specific focus on the Second World War. More from us: Phil Bucklew: The Father of US Naval Special Warfare. Since last May I have thought about him off and on and finally felt that I needed to tell his story, or as much of it as I could find out. Photo credit: The Chive. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Flaherty was killed during a hit and run attack on May 9, 2015, in Miami. But many of the soldiers who went were drafted into the service, ineligible for a student deferment because they had never been to college. In the 1940s Ho Chi Minh, one of the founders of the Viet Cong, stated You can kill ten of my men for every one I kill of yours. In the battle of Quang Tri, during the Tet Offensive in 1968 . After his tour in Vietnam, he returned to the U.S. and attended the Special Forces Officer Course at Fort Bragg. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. is the nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 1980 to fund and build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. . The tunnels also hosted armament workshops, training depots, headquarters, and a variety of other facilities, Though Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders claim to know these hideouts existed, they overlooked their size and importance, , these countries failed to understand how difficult it would be to detect and neutralize such networks, Read on to learn about the crazy booby traps soldiers faced, the creepy crawlies they encountered, and the damaging psychological consequences of such close combat, You can also learn about how these soldiers came about, who opted to become one, how they trained, and what equipment they used, If you are squeamish or hate thinking about claustrophobic conditions, take this as a warning: gruesome facts lie ahead, During the Second World War, the Vietnamese first constructed underground tunnels to fight Japanese invasion, In the 1940s and 1950s, the Vietnamese expanded these tunnels to hide nationalist guerrillas known as, 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, In a more direct attempt to seek out the enemy, US soldiers used portable turbines to blow CS gas into tunnel shafts they located, Using this tactic, they added yellow dye to the water to enable aerial observers to spot any entrances that ground troops had missed, What they failed to realize is that many of the tunnels had several layers and doors built into them to help prevent such fatalities, The Viet Cong built drain pipe ventilation shafts every 20 to 30 meters at an oblique angle to prevent flooding, Tunnels were also built in zig-zags to prevent the enemy from pouring in chemicals or shooting bullets over a long distance, As a result, sending a soldier underground, known as a tunnel rat, was often a final measure if all other methods had failed, BCT included lessons on hand-to-hand combat, chemical-warfare defense, map reading, first aid, bayonet fighting, guard duty, and the use of hand grenades, , was the experience gained in the dreaded gas chambers, Here, leaders forced soldiers into specific chambers and made to recite their name, rank, and service number, It helped give them the experience and confidence to cope with gas, should they encounter it in combat, Infantry Advanced Individual Training also helped them to deal more in-depth with other issues, Over eight weeks, soldiers learned about tactical skills, squad and platoon offensive and defensive tactics, and how to use certain weapons, , was the brief amount of training time spent detecting, removing, and laying booby traps, Though this article will explore specific examples later, these traps were particularly brutal in the tunnels, probe the sides, roof, and floor of the tunnels, listening and trying to smell the enemy or look for trap doors, Some tunnel rats were also fortunate enough to take part in Combat Engineer Advanced Individual Training, used explosives to collapse tunnel entrances and destroy what they found inside, combat training was particularly valuable, While it covered a lot of the same things as, The center offered classes designed to show the best techniques of searching, detecting, and destroying hiding places, , other than being underground, they were actually very different from the real Viet Cong tunnels, , they were not popular among tunnel rats as the light was unnecessary, and the silencers were too long and did not function well, A light tunnel exploration kit may also include items such as powdered CS, colored-smoke grenades, insect repellent, protective masks, a field telephone, a compass to plot the route, a telephone wire spool, probing rods, bayonets, a flashlight, entrenching tools to reveal and widen entrances, and a .22-calibre HD or MK I pistol, A heavier tunnel-exploration kit may also include nylon rope, body-armor vests, grappling hooks, work gloves, kneepads, and earplugs, Remote-controlled explosive charges and small smoke grenades kits were, to signal exit locations to fellow comrades, 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, When it comes to headgear, some soldiers wore a helmet or a visored cap along with a microphone and/ or transistor radio attached, One of the other problems soldiers faced is the deafening sound of gunshots echoing through the tunnels, While tunnel rats often wanted to wear hearing protection to help lessen the consequences of this noise and avoid damage to their eardrums, they risked not being able to hear the enemy approaching, Stories reveal that one American soldier raised his head through a tunnel entrance only to have a piece of metal, When triggering a tripwire, a plank weighted with barbed metal spikes and bricks would fall, from the earth squashing the soldier below, Communist soldiers would attach one side of the string to a stake in the floor, and the other to the safety pin in the grenade, When an American soldier tripped the wire, the grenade would detonate inside the tunnel, When the soldier triggered the tripwire, foot-long spikes placed all over a long bamboo pole catapulted into the soldiers face and chest at a rapid speed, Already well-adapted to subterranean life, many insects and animals of the Vietnamese jungle found the underground tunnels to be a worthy living environment, Huge bees, gigantic rats, centipedes, spiders, snakes, bats, and fire ants (to name a few) plagued these tunnels, One tunnel rat claimed that the booby traps and Viet Cong did not frighten them as much as encountering the local ants, Talking of booby traps, Lt. Jack Flowers recalls how the Viet Cong used tripwires to release boxes of scorpions into the tiny confines of the tunnels, , one soldier recalls how an encounter with the biggest rat he had ever seen led him to, American soldiers were often prepared for traps that may be on the ground, but they had not prepared for those coming from above, Again, tripwires would trigger the release of snakes hidden somehow inside bamboo sticks, known to soldiers as bamboo vipers, Sometimes these snakes were even poisonous and so became known as three-step snakes because a soldier was only granted three more steps before the venom killed him, Imagine being stuck in a tiny space, panicking, screaming, and trying to escape as a snake, Reports state the soldier in question had no time to scream or to unsheathe his knife, the snake had already knotted tighter around his neck and, A colleague he worked with recovered his body by, American morale as it was difficult to comprehend that the enemy could be hiding, feet away yet were undetectable and unreachable, Frank Gutierrez, for example, served with the US Army in Vietnam from 1967 to 1970 as a rifleman, field wireman, and an ordinance specialist at Chu Chi and Long Binh, When interviewed he stated: We often wondered how things happened in the night and we never saw what was going on, guys getting their throat cut, Nobody ever knew where these guys were coming from they pointed out in jungle school that there was a tunnel system we had, tunnel rats, but we never knew exactly where or how extensive or where the entrance was, Even if they could deal with the claustrophobic conditions, air and artillery support had not prepared them for the type of old-fashioned combat that relied on savage behavior, individual strength, guts, and cunningness, The Viet Cong, with their lack of funding, was more skilled in this area given the necessity of their style of warfare, One Viet Cong technique was to slit a mans throat or garrotte him as he came up through a connecting trap door; this often did not phase the men, , some found it difficult to kill when they were face-to-face with the enemy in such tight confines, On occasion, they ended up having severe nervous breakdowns and their colleagues dragged them out of tunnels crying and screaming, 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, knew he was there, in the corner, not even hiding anymore, The United States conducted two major campaigns to search and destroy the tunnel system: Operation Crimp (1966) and Operation Cedar Falls (1967), Operation Crimp hoped to target a key Viet Cong headquarter location believed to be unground, Significant causalities ensued on both sides, but the combined Australian and American forces were unable to, This attempt enjoyed more success than Crimp but was short-lived as the tunnels were in working order again within weeks, , the Vietnamese were very quick to restore damages and continue as if nothing happened, Mai Chi Tho, brother of Le Duc Tho (a prominent Hanoi Politburo member) highlights how they used the tunnels to infiltrate Saigon, Tho claims the Viet Cong prepared both the necessary troops and assembled the supplies needed in these tunnels to conduct the, seen by historians as a turning point for American involvement in the Vietnam war, In hindsight, listening to the Viet Cong talk about their experiences in these tunnels, it appears more training, Tunnel rat soldiers often used flashlights to guide the way and thus warned the enemy of their presence, In fact, volunteers boasted of their ability to change flashlights in pitch black without realizing the damaging consequences of this, , one American soldier highlighted how they liked to soften things up by throwing in one or more hand grenades before sending in tunnel rats, , as the Viet Cong soldier highlighted, by throwing grenades into the void ahead, or shooting pistols, the noise was deafening and alerted them to their presence, , remains unknown as there were no extensive records kept on this exact type of engagement with the enemy, According to archives held by the US government, there were 58,220 US military deaths.