The Giant Killer: the shortest soldier in US history

[RescueRanger]

Richard James Flaherty was a Captain in the United States Army who served in the Vietnam War. Due to his small stature, he was known as "The Giant Killer". At 4Feet 9Inches He was the shortest US serviceman in history.

Watch the story of this remarkable warrior and his tragic yet mysterious death in this video below:

@Jango @jhungary @PanzerKiel @Signalian @HRK

 

[Jango]

Pretty interesting tale!

 

[Nefarious]

“It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.”

Napoleon complex is real

 

[Beast]

He is the perfect size for hunting Vietcong in tunnel during Vietnam war.

 

[Signalian]

Its the difficulties in life which bring hunger in a person to out do his competitors. Either give up or take the bull by the horns.

The real art is to turn the tide of a disadvantage in favor.

View attachment 861877
Richard James Flaherty was a Captain in the United States Army who served in the Vietnam War. Due to his small stature, he was known as "The Giant Killer". At 4Feet 9Inches He was the shortest US serviceman in history.

Watch the story of this remarkable warrior and his tragic yet mysterious death in this video below:

@Jango @jhungary @PanzerKiel @Signalian @HRK

 

[jhungary]

View attachment 861877
Richard James Flaherty was a Captain in the United States Army who served in the Vietnam War. Due to his small stature, he was known as "The Giant Killer". At 4Feet 9Inches He was the shortest US serviceman in history.

Watch the story of this remarkable warrior and his tragic yet mysterious death in this video below:

@Jango @jhungary @PanzerKiel @Signalian @HRK

Interesting guy indeed

I don't think he is going to be "Eligible" for military service if he is below 5 ft, think he would have been 1F immediately. But then back in Nam, the requirement weren't really enforced because they wanted just about anyone to rill the rank. Think you need to be at least 152cm to serve now

Contrary to many believe, Capt. Flaherty would never have worked as a Tunnel Rat because of his rank and affiliation

On the other hand, talked to a lot of Ranger (I myself went to Ranger School) and SOCOM people. If you know enough of those people you know they have one thing in common. They are small, tough type, because in that role, your body size worked against you, people who don't know unless they have participated in Special Force themselves, is that you are designed to last longer than you could have, the extra paddle, the extra stroke, the extra mile you go is what make a special force soldier, they aren't all like Arnie or Van Damme who are the muscle for the Brussel, it's the wits and wills that already have to triumph over their body. That's why you don't generally see SF soldier who's like a 6 ft 4 quarterback.

 

[RescueRanger]

Interesting guy indeed

I don't think he is going to be "Eligible" for military service if he is below 5 ft, think he would have been 1F immediately. But then back in Nam, the requirement weren't really enforced because they wanted just about anyone to rill the rank. Think you need to be at least 152cm to serve now

Contrary to many believe, Capt. Flaherty would never have worked as a Tunnel Rat because of his rank and affiliation

On the other hand, talked to a lot of Ranger (I myself went to Ranger School) and SOCOM people. If you know enough of those people you know they have one thing in common. They are small, tough type, because in that role, your body size worked against you, people who don't know unless they have participated in Special Force themselves, is that you are designed to last longer than you could have, the extra paddle, the extra stroke, the extra mile you go is what make a special force soldier, they aren't all like Arnie or Van Damme who are the muscle for the Brussel, it's the wits and wills that already have to triumph over their body. That's why you don't generally see SF soldier who's like a 6 ft 4 quarterback.

Have to second this post, worked alongside Canadian and USAF PJ's during operation lifeline (Pakistan Earthquake) and those guys weren't physically imposing like you said in your post but there was no doubt they were pretty elite

Here's a change coin from one of the Pedro's we worked with:

 

[jhungary]

Have to second this post, worked alongside Canadian and USAF PJ's during operation lifeline (Pakistan Earthquake) and those guys weren't physically imposing like you said in your post but there was no doubt they were pretty elite

Here's a change coin from one of the Pedro's we worked with:
View attachment 862306

Yeah, most of these SF don't stand imposing like what you would expect when we are talking about Special Force.

I remember when I was in Ranger School. That instructor told us what set us and normal soldier apart is that you have the will to last longer, and when everything go against you, your will power is the final frontier to overcome everything.

Most people found that vague as to what they were saying, but when you went thru the training, you know that your biggest enemy is your own body. You get tired, you get hungry, you get thirsty and you get pain, all these is when your body is telling you to stop, which your will power is the only thing that stop you from stopping, thus making that extra mile. Which mean the bigger a person is, you get more tired (Because you are bigger), you get more hungry (again, because you are bigger, you eat more), you get more thirsty and you get more pain, most likely big guy don't last in Special Force selection. Well, some do make but at the end of the day, it's not the body size that make you special, it's your mind.

 

[RescueRanger]

Yeah, most of these SF don't stand imposing like what you would expect when we are talking about Special Force.

I remember when I was in Ranger School. That instructor told us what set us and normal soldier apart is that you have the will to last longer, and when everything go against you, your will power is the final frontier to overcome everything.

Most people found that vague as to what they were saying, but when you went thru the training, you know that your biggest enemy is your own body. You get tired, you get hungry, you get thirsty and you get pain, all these is when your body is telling you to stop, which your will power is the only thing that stop you from stopping, thus making that extra mile. Which mean the bigger a person is, you get more tired (Because you are bigger), you get more hungry (again, because you are bigger, you eat more), you get more thirsty and you get more pain, most likely big guy don't last in Special Force selection. Well, some do make but at the end of the day, it's not the body size that make you special, it's your mind.

Excellently summarised. Thanks