David Yuzuk shared a remarkable story on Tik Tok about James Flaherty, a homeless man he befriended while serving as a police officer in Aventura, Florida. Over time, Flaherty opened up to Yuzuk, sharing his military history over a sandwich at a Subway. At just 4-feet, 9-inches tall and weighing under 100 pounds, Flaherty was the smallest person to ever serve in the U.S. military. During times of war and national emergencies, all armies “lower the bar” to bring in much needed troops who might otherwise be disqualified. After repeated attempts, Flaherty finally got his medical waiver and enlisted in the Army. He served in the Infantry, was a Paratrooper, became a Special Forces Green Beret, rose to the rank of Captain and was highly decorated for his combat actions in Vietnam. Known as “The Giant Killer,” he received the Silver Star for Gallantry In Action (the country’s third highest combat decoration), two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts for being twice wounded in action. A week after the conversation, Flaherty was killed in a traffic accident, but his bravery lives on in this video.
To view the video, click here.
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