The Giant Killer - U S Army's Smallest:

 - I used to be a big guy - so wasn't challenged to fight that much as a lad - but American Richard J Flaherty was only four foot nine - just 144 cm tall when fully grown - and he had it tough growing-up.

Richard J FLAHARTY in Vietnam:

He was the smallest man ever to serve in the U S Military - but in his four years service he rose to the rank of Captain .. earned a Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, plus a Purple Heart while with 101st Airborne Division in VIETNAM, 3rd Special Forces Group & 10th Special Forces Group (Green Berets)

A short Wikipedia page records his life detail:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_J._Flaherty

Here is another version of his interesting story - military life & death .. fascinating reading ..

newtimes.com/news/a-homeless-man-in-aventura-was-secretly-a-dashing-war-hero-and-maybe-a-spy-9036982https://www.miami

On the surface he ended-up homeless in Florida for 15 years - but there is record of "military contract" work in Rhodesia & Angola followed by CIA involvement in Nicaragua - plus time as a BATF&E agent.

PTSD - an alcohol problem & likely drug usage - plus paranoid fears that he was being sought and followed by enemies were all part of his latter days. - Were his fears FACT?

I'm just introducing this strong character to you - his life story is shadowed in secrecy - from 'doing prison time' for possession of a silencer to covert work for Government agencies .. and it ended as a homeless man killed in a 'hit & run' accident .. even his death and interment add mystery to his life - There is a book:

Marty K.