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#1 New York Times bestselling author Doug Stanton- "You are holding in your hands an amazing journey into a world of puzzles, intrigue, and mystery. Just sitting and waiting. . Finally, this list will look at how successful these attempts were in the grand scheme of things. We just didnt know. Active military action was carried out for almost 20 years, from 1 November 1955 to 30 April 1975.The Vietnam War is also referred to as the Second Indochina War, due to the involvement of all three countries previously constituting the French territory of Indochina. He returned to Southeast Asia in 1969 and remained there until 1971 when he left the Army. He was awarded a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts during his service. Yuzuk learns that this unassuming 69-year-old man was a decorated military veteran. Special forces officer with a great deal of success. In his new life as a civilian, Flaherty studied at the University of Miami in Florida, but entered a period of despondency after a girlfriend died in a car wreck in 1975. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Photo credit: The Chive. Some even fled to Canada to escape conscription. The openings to these tunnels were very small and those tunnel rats who went into them did so armed only with a flashlight, a K-bar (knife), and a .45 pistol. We had built the runway surface with 2 ft by 12 ft Marston Mat aluminum planks with interlocking grooves along each edge. According to archives held by the US government, there were 58,220 US military deaths overall as a result of the Vietnam War. Thankfully, Richard Flahertys story lives on, as he shared it with David Yuzuk, a local police officer, before his death. He first deployed to Southeast Asia in 1968 as a member of the 101st Airborne Division. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. He was always recommending books and talking about philosophy, work and politics and eventually giving me advice. Soon after, Flaherty is killed by a hit-and-run driver. In the war's moral outrages, crimes and betrayals, many saw the US empire for the first time. Each panel is numbered from "1" to "70" at the base, with West Panel 1 and East Panel 1 . Some tunnel rats were also fortunate enough to take part in Combat Engineer Advanced Individual Training. During one search and destroy operation, for example, a unit destroyed 6000 pounds of rice, 40 pounds of salt, 8 rifle grenades, 8 bunkers, numerous dwellings, and one 120-foot-long tunnel. 22. With Harvey Arango, Ernie Bourcier, Jeff Burns, Carl Cain. With a passion for historical learning and historical education, her writing interests include social history, and war history, especially researching obscure facts about the Second World War. lkunl/Shutterstock. But then everything we know about him gets lost in a blur of fragmentary vignettes. Well anything under 4'10" is legally a disability under the law. For his leadership and heroism, he was awarded the Silver Star. Punji stake traps found in the tunnels highlight one of the most disgusting and feared examples of Vietnamese booby traps. Some of these men were career military officers. We won't share it with anyone else. This is a story about a real American military hero. Snakes were also commonly used traps inside these tunnels. During the Second World War, the Vietnamese first constructed underground tunnels to fight Japanese invasion. After his service in Vietnam, Richard Flaherty applied for Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In Britain, during the Nap. 1,806 U.S. troops killed in action ( source) 2. This was devastating news to Yuzuk. She received both her bachelor of arts degree in history, and her master of arts degree in history from Western University. He returned to the U.S. that same year to attend the Army Special warfare School at Fort Bragg, where he earned his green beret. One of his men got stung and came out screaming, refusing to ever go into a tunnel again. However, only about 20 percent of those served in generally recognized 'combat' roles. Of course, the local Vietnamese population designed the tunnels with their own size in mind. Yuzuk said none of the relatives or companions of Flaherty or Anness he has spoken with was aware of a relationship between the two. Flaherty then called for a 90 millimeter recoilless rifle a shoulder-mounted explosive projectile launcher initially designed to destroy tanks to be brought to his position, and from there, led its two-man crew on an assault of the North Vietnamese bunker. Richard James Flaherty (November 28, 1945 May 9, 2015) was a captain in the United States Army who served in the Vietnam War.Due to his small stature (he was just 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 m) tall), he was known as "The Giant Killer". These homeless veterans deserve more from us. The Veterans Site asks that you take a moment out of your day to consider donating to help house homeless veterans. A retired Miami cop spends three years trying to unearth the truth about a homeless gentleman he'd befriended. Shortest US soldier in Vietnam War was not short in courage. After this, he refused to ever go into a tunnel again. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. What it also doesn't mention in the video is how absolutely ruthless this dude was. Shortest U.S. It was a horrendous ordeal to face and brought even the toughest of men to tears. The primary focus of his time in the CIA was supplying the Nicaraguan Contras in Nicaragua. Nguyen Van Vuong started as a soldier in the North Vietnamese Army in 1966 and ended his service in 1971 after contracting malaria. 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. . What did we lose because we were unable to understand him, or to welcome him home? You just backed out and told them up above the tunnel was cold.. As a result of their lunchtime talks, Yuzuk had decided to make a documentary about Flaherty. Comprised of 12 Special Forces soldiers, an ODA can operate . Flaherty was born to a mother who, unknown to her, had a blood type that made her second-born son vulnerable to oxygen deprivation in his infancy, which stunted his growth. But he may have left me with more mysteries than Ill ever be able to solve.. Throughout the battle, he repeatedly exposed himself to the hostile fire in order to better direct the suppressive fire of his squads. On the other stood a 5ft 7in (170 . You will usually find him on the top of a mountain admiring the view and wondering how he got there. If they were feeling particularly cruel they may point the sticks downwards at an angle. Tools of the trade metal tin sign. As a student, she worked in a variety of research positions, including as an archivist. After being discharged, Flaherty did private and military contract work in Rhodesia and Angola in Africa. Special Forces Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) exfiltrate a Counter Improvised Explosive Device lane in a via MRZR off-road utility vehicle at Panzer Local . It has a rating of 7.4 on IMDb. Flaherty took Yuzuk to a storage locker he rented to pull out photos and documents that might be useful in the documentary, and they returned several times in the following weeks until May 9, 2015 the date Flaherty was struck and killed by a hit and run driver near his palm-shaded campsite. One of the other problems soldiers faced is the deafening sound of gunshots echoing through the tunnels. Indirect Fire Infantrymen (MOS 11C), Combat Engineers (MOS 12B), and Bridge Crewmembers (MOS 12C) also have short . He increased the amount he ate and gained muscle through sports. Flaherty was tasked with training the Royal Thai Army in counterinsurgency, in preparation for being sent to Vietnam. He appealed to his Connecticut Senator, Christopher Dodd, and was able to get a special waiver into the Army. He would see Flaherty and talk with him every day; they would even eat lunch together. Got the VC screaming "we said no Oddjob! Don't Threaten. Your Herd from Herald-Dispatch Reach Manager. Richard Flaherty, who was raised in Connecticut, had to obtain a waiver to join the Army during the Vietnam War. limit, but he could do nothing about the height part. This picture is taken probably by the end of the war when really young and old citizens were enlisted for soldiers. He was a tough, determined guy, said David Yuzuk, who befriended Flaherty more than two decades after the war ended, when both were living in Aventura, Florida, a planned community in the suburbs north of Miami. Johns Hopkins University. 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In addition to exposing himself to enemy fire while leading the charge on the bunker, Flaherty displayed extraordinary heroism while engaged in close combat with a well dug-in enemy force, in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.. The NVA troops hit the soldiers with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. A large proportion of the U.S. troops consisted of African American men from the inner cities, the sons of immigrants . Photo credit: The New York Times. Flaherty enlisted late that year. everyone would watch to see which way the wind would take him. In general, volunteers had to have common sense, be exceptionally brave, have an inquisitive mind, and have an even temperament. Neither family, nor friends know why. The Viet Cong used this to their advantage to scare, and even kill, American soldiers. He worked for a while as a confidential informant for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the 80s but he was homeless in Aventura, just north of Miami, by 1990. 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. After Flahertys death, Yuzuk kept digging, researching, and confirming. Her research focused on military, environmental, and Canadian history with a specific focus on the Second World War. Not only was he the shortest Green Beret to serve in Vietnam, he was also the shortest US serviceman in history. This offensive is commonly seen by historians as a turning point for American involvement in the Vietnam war. His investigation raised more questions than it answered. Infantry Advanced Individual Training also helped them to deal more in-depth with other issues. However, he was initially turned down because of his size. He returned to Vietnam in 1969 and stayed there until 1971 when he left the Army. If you include the near-nine years of fighting that took place during the First Indochina War, add that tally to the 20-year war in Vietnam, you understand why the conflict is sometimes referred to as the Ten Thousand Day War, that number more or less equating to 30 years. They reported to Aventura police that they had seen what looked like a body in some bushes alongside the road. [5] Fifteen years before Flaherty's death, he was befriended by Miami Police officer David Yuzuk after Flaherty became homeless. Click Today's Obituaries to view all of the listings. At 4 9 and 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. 58,169 were killed and 304,000 wounded out of 2.59 million who served. 4' 9" 97lbs Vietnam Vet Green Beret Captain Richard J. Flaherty - 101st Airborne & 3rd Special Forces Group Vietnam 1967-1971. He took to eating six meals a day and was able to bulk up to the 100 lb. The stakes would then spear any soldier that fell into the pit. The following year, 1971, he was discharged from active duty and transferred to the Army Reserves, where he served until 1983. Flaherty, who had to obtain a waiver to join the Army during the Vietnam War because of his size, was a paratrooper and platoon leader with the 101st and received a Silver Star for leading his platoon on a flanking assault of an enemy bunker. He was still denied entry into the Army. Consequently, given the average smaller size of Vietnamese men, tunnel rat soldiers, by necessity, were the shortest, skinniest, and most limber men in the army: a maximum height of 1.58 meters. Another particularly horrific tactic became known as the spike ball or the mace. You had to be a minimum of 5 feet tall and weigh at least 100 lb. After completing basic training, Richard Flaherty qualified for Infantry Officer Candidate School, earning the rank of second lieutenant. Example of a spike ball booby trap on display. Approximately 2.7 million American men and women served in Vietnam. He began to eat and stay in fighting shape, as he was an avid sportsman in high school, especially good at martial arts. You see, Richard Flaherty was only 410. Richard James Flaherty (November 28, 1945 May 9, 2015) was a captain in the United States Army who served in the Vietnam War. 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. After his tour of duty was over, he applied for Special Forces training. Operation Crimp hoped to target a key Viet Cong headquarter location believed to be unground. Postal Service. Photo credit: Funker360. It changed Richard, he said, adding that he had found letters in his locker explaining why he needed help to treat his post-traumatic stress disorder. In most cases, tunnel rats were engineers, infantrymen, cavalry scouts, or chemical specialists. May they rest in peace. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Be Proactive. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. They have given so much and suffered so much. Flaherty was the shortest of these elite soldiers, standing at only four feet, nine inches tall. David Yuzuk directed, co-produced and co-wrote a biographical documentary film about the life of Flaherty, The Giant Killer, which was released in 2017. pearl harbor. If they hesitated at all, it is highly likely they would be the ones to die in such close confines. He was discharged in October 1971 as a Captain. 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. 11 talking about this. That medically makes you a dwarf (little person). Hed traveled a lot, read a lot and was interesting to talk with.. He had crossed the DMZ back into South Vietnam where he was shot as he was recaptured. March 28, 2022 Local Vietnam veterans showcase . He located witnesses and found documentation in a storage unit that revealed that even while homeless, Flaherty was still conducting clandestine missions around the worldCambodia, Iraq, Jordan, Venezuelabut who was he working for? I mean really small. The Giant Killer: Directed by David Yuzuk. Shortest US soldier in Vietnam War was not short in courage. These tunnels hugely impacted American morale as it was difficult to comprehend that the enemy could be hiding just feet away yet were undetectable and unreachable. Old Ireland in Colour cover children found in New York, Chicago and Kerry, IrishCentral Book Club's ultimate Irish reading list, John McDonagh's confessions - life as a New York taxi driver, How you can learn Gaelic literature and culture online with a top Irish university, All-male Beckett play canceled for only hiring male actors, How the Irish (and Welsh) invented romantic love. Although the driver fled the scene, they were eventually caught. But I bet he would have gotten in during the OIF surge if he wanted to. This early condition stunted his growth. Though this article will explore specific examples later, these traps were particularly brutal in the tunnels. 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