Worcester’s service from the opening of the war until the surrender of the Philippines took him from Manila to Corregidor to Cebu to Mindanao. Just prior to the evacuation to Corregidor on December 31, 1941, Worcester directed the removal of valuable shipping from the Pasig River while under bombardment. For this action he won the Silver Star Medal. Worcester then served on Corregidor until sent on a special mission to the Visayan Islands on February 20, 1942. Worcester traveled with future Philippine President Manuel Roxas and U.S. Naval Reserve officer Sam Wilson to transfer the printing plates for Philippine currency out of harm’s way on Corregidor. In this pursuit, all three ended up on the island of Mindanao evading the Japanese onslaught through the Visayan Islands. When surrender came on May 10, 1942, Roxas went into captivity. Wilson and Worcester, though being separated earlier, both made the decision to take their chances in the jungle. Worcester had planned on the eventuality and being from Mindanao, he had friends set up an evacuation place him in the Bukidnon region of the island.