Despite his short stature, Richard Flaherty became known as the "Giant Killer" for his bravery on the battlefield — and beyond.
Richard J. Flaherty/FacebookRichard Flaherty, despite his accomplishments, ended up homeless and largely forgotten by all but a few.
At just four feet and nine inches tall, Richard Flaherty was one of the shortest men to ever serve in the U.S. Army. His stature should have barred him from service — but instead, he became a highly decorated Green Beret.
Defying expectations, Flaherty fought his way into the ranks, earning a commission and leading men in the jungles of Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division, where his valor in combat earned him a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts. The battlefield, however, was only the beginning.
Flaherty’s unique skills and unyielding courage also purportedly propelled him into a shadowy world of clandestine operations, from working as a mercenary in Africa to infiltrating criminal networks for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Yet, for all his larger-than-life exploits, Flaherty ended his days homeless and forgotten, his incredible legacy known to only a few.
And it may well have stayed that way, had he not met a Miami police officer named David Yuzuk.
The two had been unlikely friends for 15 years when Flaherty suddenly admitted to Yuzuk one day, “It’s time I tell you who I really am.” But in an even more bizarre twist, Flaherty was killed in a hit and run just 10 days after this confession, sending Yuzuk on a years-long search for answers.
The Early Life Of Richard Flaherty
Born on Nov. 28, 1945, in Stamford, Connecticut, Richard James Flaherty was always going to be different. His mother had an Rh-negative blood type, which caused issues with young Richard’s gestation and birth. He developed a hormonal imbalance that permanently stunted his growth.
As a child, he learned early that his size made him stand out. His childhood friend Rick Farina told Yuzuk in an interview for his book, The Giant Killer, “Nobody that I can remember ever picked on Richie — at least not when he was around me.” However, Farina noted that people often stared at Flaherty uncomfortably in public.
In high school, Flaherty began practicing karate and boxing. Farina said it was as if his friend was “preparing himself for some type of mission or duty that he would later be called upon to fulfill.”
As it turned out, Richard Flaherty was working toward what seemed like an impossible dream: joining the United States military.
Richard J. Flaherty/FacebookRichard Flaherty (right) standing next to a fellow soldier.
That was easier said than done, though. Standing at least an inch below the Army’s minimum height requirement, Flaherty was initially met with flat rejection. Of course, he was not the type of man to take “no” for an answer.
He embarked on a relentless campaign, writing letters and petitioning his congressman. He bulked up, supposedly consuming raw eggs and milk to meet the weight standards. That persistence paid off, securing him a rare congressional waiver and opening the door to basic training.
The initial hazing was intense. His fellow soldiers saw him as both a curiosity and a liability. They called him “Private Mighty Mouse,” among other names. But Flaherty, as he had always done, met every challenge with an unwavering determination, be it a grueling physical march or a demanding academic test.
In 1967, Flaherty completed Infantry Officer Candidate School, earning a commission as a second lieutenant and silencing his doubters through his actions, not his words. It was in Vietnam, however, where his legend truly began.
Vietnam: The Making Of A Legend
As a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division, Richard Flaherty’s true mettle was tested in the jungles of Vietnam. There, his size, once considered a disadvantage, instead proved to be his greatest tactical asset.
Unlike some taller soldiers, Flaherty could move stealthily through dense undergrowth. He could also fit inside Viet Cong tunnels with ease. With this advantage, he led his men on perilous long-range reconnaissance missions, often operating deep behind enemy lines.
Richard J. Flaherty/FacebookRichard Flaherty and other soldiers in Vietnam.
He became a Green Beret and earned the nickname “Giant Killer” for his ferocity in combat. During the Tet Offensive, he was wounded in combat when grenade shrapnel struck him twice and a bullet grazed his head. He ultimately earned two Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, and two Bronze Stars during his service in Vietnam.
He had surprised everyone with his bravery and skill on the battlefield. He hadn’t just survived; he’d thrived, proving that there was no real height requirement for courage.
His higher-ups took notice, too.
From Green Beret To CIA Operative
Richard Flaherty left the Army in 1971 after achieving the rank of captain, but his time in Vietnam had only been the beginning of his military career. He soon headed to Africa to carry out contract work in Rhodesia and Angola.
The Giant Killer/FacebookRichard Flaherty speaking with a fellow soldier while wearing his Green Beret uniform.
“Now let’s get this straight — did Rick throughout his life get paid to fight in numerous conflicts throughout the world? Damn right he did,” said a friend who went by the pseudonym Frank Sosa in an interview for The Giant Killer. “But he always picked his battles, and he never allied himself with any government or system that he felt was against the interests of the United States… and he f—king hated Communism… He told me the oldest profession in the world — and the true prostitutes — were mercenaries.”
Flaherty’s Vietnam record and involvement abroad eventually caught the attention of American intelligence agencies, as well. He was purportedly quietly recruited, first by the CIA and later by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), for missions that required a man with his unique set of skills.
Not all of that attention was positive, though.
Richard Flaherty’s Secret War At Home
“One man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist,” an anonymous ATF agent told Yuzuk in The Giant Killer.
In the late 1970s, Flaherty allegedly helped supply Contras in Nicaragua, but he was caught possessing illegal gun silencers. Dayton hoped the charges would be enough to get Flaherty to tell him what he knew about some illegal weapons operations out of Fort Bragg, but Flaherty didn’t trust Dayton.
Richard J. Flaherty/FacebookRichard Flaherty, holding a flag, is held up by two other soldiers.
“I needed to shut Flaherty down, and I finally found my chance to grab him at a gun convention in Fort Lauderdale,” Dayton said. “Well, Flaherty ended up being a tougher nut to crack than I originally thought. Even with federal charges looming over his head he refused to cooperate, or even work with me as a confidential informant.”
Eventually, ATF agent Fred Gleffe, who also had former Army experience, was brought in to deal with Richard Flaherty.
Flaherty, now believing he had found an equal worth sharing information with, told Gleffe, “First things first, I only work with you. There will be no Daytons on this case. And you immediately take care of squashing this silencer nonsense.”
It turned out that Flaherty’s information was worth the price. The “Giant Killer” began working undercover with the ATF, infiltrating dangerous smuggling rings. He spent a good deal of time in deep cover, assuming new identities and navigating a world of constant threat.
Unfortunately, this took an extensive toll on his mental health. He grew paranoid, withdrawn, and reliant on alcohol to shut out the world.
Warren W. Chan/FacebookRichard Flaherty (front row) with his fellow soldiers.
“Some of it was my fault,” Flaherty later reflected, “but you also have to remember I’d made powerful enemies over the years. Enemies that would pursue me for however long it took to make sure I was finished… [K]illing me would be far too generous of them. They want to make my life a living Hell.”
But even as Flaherty confessed this to Yuzuk, the officer-turned-documentarian had his doubts. He had known Flaherty for more than a decade, but they had met when Flaherty was homeless and living in squalor. What if he was simply delusional and paranoid?
But what if he wasn’t?
Who Killed Richard Flaherty?
As Yuzuk spoke with Richard Flaherty about his past, it was hard to tell if the “Giant Killer” was the victim he claimed to be or if years of grueling military experience and untreated mental health issues had degraded his mind. It seemed that everyone was out to get him.
Then, just after midnight on May 9, 2015, a woman driving a silver Toyota Prius left the Miami-Dade Police Department to head home. As she drove along a road in Aventura, Richard Flaherty awoke from his slumber beneath a palm tree, watching as a helicopter overhead flew away from him.
He stood, threw his backpack on, and began to cross the street. As he did so, the Prius’ headlights illuminated his frame. The woman attempted to brake. It was too late.
Flaherty, weighing around 100 pounds, was struck by her car and killed. The woman drove off, returning later that morning to observe the taped-off crime scene alongside other curious onlookers.
Richard J. Flaherty/FacebookRichard Flaherty, right, standing next to other soldiers in Vietnam.
She later claimed she had never seen Flaherty — not when she struck him, nor when she exited her vehicle to look for something in the street.
Yuzuk believed her ignorance could have been the result of a trance-like state brought on by extreme fatigue or substance abuse. It didn’t explain everything, though. The woman also worked as a court stenographer for the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Unit, and in the end, the state attorney’s office never pressed charges. The case was closed.
That was, until Yuzuk found an old, stained cardboard box that had once belonged to Richard Flaherty. Inside, he discovered a miniature cassette recorder, various world maps, cell phones, language translation books, writing pads full of cryptic notes, travel itineraries, and Flaherty’s passport, which featured stamps from exotic locations around the world.
For at least 20 years, Flaherty had been traveling across the globe, despite being homeless back in the United States. It seemed that his wild claims about his past were true after all.
After reading about the life of Richard Flaherty, go inside the awe-inspiring stories of nine soldiers who gave their lives for their country. Or, discover the truth about Pat Tillman’s mysterious death by “friendly fire.”
