Vietnam Vet Richard Flaherty Was 'The Giant Killer'

Four-foot, nine-inch tall veteran Richard J. Flaherty claimed to be the shortest man ever to serve in the United States military. He was a Special Forces Green Beret Captain and was awarded the Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars, and 2 Purple Hearts for his actions in Vietnam. “The Giant Killer” (available to rent now on iTunes, Amazon and other VOD platforms) aims to unravel the truth of his post-service life and mysterious death.

We’ve got a clip from the movie that details Richard’s ruthlessness in combat.

Miami police officer David Yuzuk befriended a homeless man and, after 15 years of friendship, Richard J. Flaherty finally revealed who he really was. Yuzuk learns that this unassuming 69-year-old man was a decorated military veteran.

Yuzuk started digging and discovered that Flaherty had worked undercover with the Feds during the ‘80s.  Soon after, Flaherty is killed by a hit-and-run driver. His friend decides to investigate and finds a passport that shows Flaherty was secretly traveling to dangerous locations like Jordan, Iraq, Thailand, Vietnam, and Venezuela while living as a homeless man. He did time in prison for drugs but was that a cover or a real conviction?

“The Giant Killer” is one of those stranger-than-fiction tales that would never make it as a movie pitch because it’s just so unbelievable. Yuzuk is the director and it’s his first movie. It’s not slick but it is fascinating.