Joe Dan Worley is an athletically built man with a positive attitude, an affable personality, a keen sense of humor and a profound faith in Christ. He might be described by some as the quintessential overcomer. He recently shared with a senior adult Sunday School class how he believes his faith in Jesus Christ sustained him in a fierce battle in Iraq during the War on Terror.
Worley joined the United States Navy in 2003 just prior to his 22nd birthday. He served as a Navy corpsman and was the medic attached to a Marine unit. He was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, knowing that he was going to leave his pregnant wife behind and that he would not be in the States when his child was born.
It did not take long for the Iraq war to become a harsh reality for Worley.
The first loss he experienced was that of Leroy Sandoval, a 21-year-old Marine who graduated from Harvest Christian Academy in Pasadena, Texas. He died of a gunshot wound while manning a machine gun for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Worley explained, “Losing our guy Sandoval was my first taste of what it was going to be like in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a great Marine. I was deeply grieved by his death, and it was the precursor of what we were to experience in Fallujah.”
Worley reflects that there were also some good moments. “One special person I met in the course of my military service was our interpreter, Sami. One day in a conversation about our favorite foods, I told him that my favorite food was pizza. Not long thereafter Sammi showed up with a pizza he had purchased on leave in Baghdad.”
Worley continued, “That pizza was the greatest gift I have ever received. Sammi had virtually nothing, but when he handed me that pizza, I was forever touched by his kindness.”
Heartbreaking days
However, “Labor Day, Sept. 6, 2004, was one of the most heartbreaking days of my life,” recalled Worley.
“Eight men in my platoon were killed in action when a seven-ton vehicle with an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) driven by a suicide bomber came beside their patrol and detonated. That was the hardest thing I have ever been through in my life. My wounds and loss were nothing compared to what happened to those Marines that day,” he said,
On Sept. 17, 2004, only two weeks left before his scheduled return home, Worley was seriously injured. He was in the last Humvee in a convoy of vehicles, and as the convoy was crossing a bridge, the first vehicle was demolished by an IED.
Worley grabbed his medical bag and ran toward the vehicle that had been blasted. Earlier that morning he was in such a hurry that he strapped his pistol on his hip instead of attaching it to his vest as usual. As he neared the destroyed Humvee, a second IED underneath the road exploded right next to him, practically ripping his left leg from his body.
He recalled, “I remember going up in the air and falling with my face on the ground. I saw how destructive the first explosion was and doubted that I could survive such a blast. I remember thinking I was dead.”
When he gathered his senses, Worley realized that his left leg had been severely injured. “It was hanging by a thread,” he said. His pistol “shattered into pieces, and it had stopped the blast from entering my hip, but my right leg was significantly damaged.”
His fellow Marines initially pronounced him as killed in action. But amazingly, he not only survived the blast but was able to tie his own tourniquet, apply the pressure dressing, and administer morphine. He then attempted to make his way to the Humvee that had been disabled by the IED, but quickly realized that he would not be able to cover the distance. The only survivor of the blast, a Marine, exited the vehicle and informed the wounded “Doc” Worley that there was nothing that could be done for the two men who died in the blast.
Realizing that nothing else could be accomplished at the site of the explosions Worley’s fellow warriors headed back to camp. Remarkably, after losing a leg and suffering other serious injuries, Worley continued to give aid instructions to help other severely wounded soldiers.
‘Favorite part of the story’
Worley stated, “My favorite part of the story is that I was the last one to get hurt. Nobody else got hurt.”
Worley received the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat and the Bronze Star for treating 25 wounded soldiers 10 days prior to his injury.
After arriving in the United States, he was soon joined by his wife, Angel, and 3-month-old baby girl, his dad, mom and sister. It was the first time he had seen his daughter, Abigail. Seeing his family served to fortify him for the multiple surgeries and trials he was destined to face in the months and years to come.
Undergoing the shock, suffering and distress Worley experienced would almost inevitably lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is common among those who have been in combat.
Greatest source of strength, hope
Worley said he has had the constant, unwavering support of a faithful, resilient wife and a loving family. He also received help in dealing with his emotions by joining groups with similar life stories and experiences.
Worley has found that service dogs provided by America’s VetDogs also give added support and companionship. He has had two dogs to which he has become quite attached, Benjamin and Galaxie. He contends that veteran service dogs effectively change people’s lives.
However, in his testimony to the senior adult class he frequently referred to his faith and surrender to Jesus Christ as his greatest source of strength and hope. Worley currently serves as a deacon at Flat Rock Baptist Church in Villa Rica, Georgia.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by J. Gerald Harris and originally published by the Christian Index.
