Heart of a Lion
Posted for: ROBERT LEE WORRELL:
When we first saw PFC Robert Lee Worrell in February of 1968 we thought the Marines had made a mistake & sent us the wrong replacement. He was about 5’ 2” 5’ 4” weighed 120 pounds soaking wet & wore black rimmed glasses.

His helmet looked too big for his head & the flack jacket he had been issued was a large. He reminded us of a young boy who was wearing his father’s clothes.

As time went by PFC Worrell was affectionately nick named Pee Wee by the platoon. But there was nothing small about this Marine; on long patrols Pee Wee humped as much gear as any of the other Marines which at times could weigh as much as 50 to 65 pounds.

On one patrol we were on some of the other grunts in our squad were bitching & complaining about all the gear we had to hump, I happened to glance back at Pee Wee & he had this odd smile on his face.

When we stopped to check our map & coordinate our line of travel I asked him what that smile was all about, he paused for a few seconds & said with that same smile on his face “those guys aren’t so tough” & sat back down.

Pee Wee earned the respect, trust & admiration of every man in Alpha Company, 4th Marines, 1st Platoon, 1st Squad, 3rd Mar. Divi.

On April 26th, 1968 we went out on a platoon size patrol around the area of Con Thien & Yankee Station. We set up a 360 perimeter each squad was going to patrol a certain section & return to our perimeter. Second squad caught the first patrol, about 35 minutes later we heard small arms, automatic weapons fire & had grenades.

Due to the fact that the squads radio had been knocked out of commission & we had no way to communicate, we had to travel to the fire fight by line of sound, a Marine from second squad by the name PFC Kuzma found & led us to the battle.

By the time we arrived four Marines, the platoon LT. & Corpsman had been killed leaving 4 wounded Marines fighting for their lives. Unfortunately Pee Wee was among the KIA, we later learned that 2nd squad was ambushed & held off 2 companies of NVA until we arrived. If not for the bravery & tenacity of Pee Wee & the other Marines 2nd squad would have been totally wiped out.

This Marine may have been small in stature, but he had the heart of a lion & the courage of a true warrior, & he never let his fellow Marines down, it is & will always be an honor to have served with you & called you my brother Marine. Rest in peace my friend; God has one of our finest guarding his gates. Semper Fi.
Posted by: Sgt. Gutierrez, R, USMC Ret
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Relationship: We served together
Friday, November 4, 2005
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