b. 27/04/1948 Farmington, New Mexico. d. 12/08/1968 Bo Ban, Vietnam.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 12/08/1968 Bo Ban, Vietnam.
Kenneth L Worley MOH
Worley was born on April 27, 1948, in Farmington, New Mexico, and completed the 8th grade at Farmington Elementary School in 1962. After being orphaned, he moved to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, and attended Hot Spring High School there for two years. He moved to Modesto, California, at age sixteen to live with an aunt. The conditions there were poor for Worley; he lived in a travel trailer with no running water or electricity. Instead of going to school, he worked as a truck driver, hauling loads of Christmas trees out of the mountains. After injuring his foot at work, he was taken in by Don and Rose Feyerherm of Modesto. They treated him like a son and became his foster parents.
Worley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Fresno, California on June 14, 1967, he received recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California. Upon completion of recruit training in August 1967, Pvt Worley was transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, and underwent individual combat training with Company R, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, and basic infantry training with the 2nd Infantry Training Regiment, completing the latter in October.
He was promoted to private first class on November 1, 1967, and, later that month, was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam. Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, he served consecutively as a rifleman with Company I, with Headquarters and Service Company, and with Company L. He was promoted to lance corporal on May 1, 1968. While serving as a machine gunner with Company L on August 12, 1968, he was killed in action, saving five fellow Marines by his actions. His family received his posthumous Medal of Honor from Vice President Spiro T. Agnew at The White House on April 20, 1970.
MOH CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner with Company L, 3d Battalion, in action against enemy forces. After establishing a night ambush position in a house in Bo Ban, a hamlet of Quang Nam Province, security was set up and the remainder of the patrol members retired until their respective watch. During the early morning hours the marines were abruptly awakened by the platoon leader’s warning that “grenades” had landed in the house. Fully realizing the inevitable result of his actions, L/Cpl. Worley, in a valiant act of heroism, instantly threw himself upon the grenade nearest him and his comrades, absorbing with his body, the full and tremendous force of the explosion. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, he saved his comrades from serious injury and possible loss of life although five of his fellow marines incurred minor wounds as the other grenades exploded. L/Cpl. Worley’s gallant actions upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
BURIAL LOCATION: WESTMINSTER MEMORIAL PARK, WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA.
BLOCK 29 (FOUR SEASONS), SECTION 784, GRAVE 4.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: FAMILY.
