4' 9" 97lbs Vietnam Vet Green Beret Captain Richard J. Flaherty - 101st Airborne & 3rd Special Forces Group Vietnam 1967-1971 - Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars & 2 Purple Hearts.
#1 New York Times best seller - Author Doug Stanton
"Giant Killers are among us-- author David Yuzuk walked with one and returned with this tale."
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. During his first tour in Vietnam, Flaherty is placed in command of the Airborne's Delta Platoon. Later he's assigned to command Recon's Echo Platoon.
Starting with the Tet Offensive, Flaherty and his units are engaged in harrowing non-stop action and deadly fighting. Flaherty's Platoon is ordered to conduct Search and Destroy missions on the outskirts of the City of Hue to engage the large fleeing enemy NVA and VC units.
Written with extensive access to surviving members of the 101st Airborne and 3rd Special Forces Group, on-the-ground eye-witness, family members and friends, as well as archival, and declassified military records, Yuzuk has created a gripping narrative of Richard Flaherty's inspiring life and career.
Yuzuk also releases never published information of a covert operation Flaherty worked in order to locate and recover a recently declassified stolen weapon of mass destruction (Project Green Light).
Author and police officer David Yuzuk befriended Richard J. Flaherty in 1999, when Flaherty was living homeless on the streets of Aventura, Florida. Flaherty warned Yuzuk that asking too many questions about his secretive life could be bad for Yuzuk's career and dangerous to his own health. Sure enough, eight hours after Yuzuk made a call to confirm Flaherty's identity, Flaherty was killed in a hit-and-run.
Former U.S. Army Ranger and CIA contractor Kris "Tanto" Paronto is also interviewed for the book. Kris is known for his heroic actions during the 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. Ambassador and CIA compound in Benghazi. Kris offers his insight and knowledge into Flaherty's Private Military contract work and Flaherty's ongoing battle with PTSD.
For his actions in Vietnam and South East Asia, Flaherty earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star W/Valor Bronze Star (3OLC), Purple Heart (1OLC), Purple Heart, Air Medal, Gallantry Cross W/Silver Star, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, 3 Overseas Bars, Sharpshooter Badge W/Rifle Bar, Air Medal, Parachutist Badge, Vietnam Service Medal W/Bronze Service, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal
On November 28, 1945, doctors in Stamford Hospital intensely worked to save new born Richard 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 which stunted his growth. Medically speaking, Richard would be considered a proportionate dwarf. He was expected to only grow to the height of 4' 7" but Richard proved them wrong as he grew to 4' 9." He later later proved many others wrong by achieving the impossible and becoming a Green Beret Captain.
If Richard Flaherty was only the shortest man to ever be in the U.S. Army and a Green Beret, that would certainly be a unique story in itself. Flaherty was much more, though. He was a bonafide war hero and beloved leader of the men he commanded. A small stature with a oversized shadow. Yet, he was cut from the Army that was his life after two tours in Vietnam. This story documents as much as can be known about a man whose post army life was spent in a variety of jobs freelancing, alternating between classified missions conducted by the CIA and NSA.... What an interesting man and totally unique story. -John Werner, VINE VOICE