Richard Van Derlyn LaRue was born on January 23, 1918. His parents Mr. and Mrs. Raymond H. LaRue resided in Malvern. His father operated the Malvern Pharmacy on King St. and was known as a community leader in the town. He was a member of the Thomson Lodge, No. 340 F. & A. M. (Free and Accepted Masons), the Paoli-Malvern-Berwyn Chamber of Commerce and the Malvern Fire Company.

Richard attended the Malvern Junior High School which is today the Malvern Borough Hall at Warren and 1st St. He was a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 7 of Malvern, and a member of the Church of the Good Samaritan in Paoli, where he sang in the choir.

Richard attended the Tredyffrin-Easttown High School (today, the Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle school on Conestoga Rd. in Berwyn) Class of 1936. Following his father's example, he became a leader in the school community. Richard was elected Sophomore Class President, Vice President his Junior year, and President his Senior year of the Athletic Association. He sung in the school chorus as a junior and senior, the Glee Club as a senior, and starred as the "Captain" in the school's production of H. M. S. Pinafore. He had a fine scholastic standing, and was known as a friend to all. The yearbook comments that Richard "...always bears a great deal of responsibility willingly" and "..likes to be of service to everyone", - foreshadowing his heroic service to his country.

After completion of his high school education, Richard attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where he became the class historian. He graduated in 1940 and obtained employment at De Haven's Drug Store in West Chester, at the corner of Gay and Church St.

Richard enlisted in the Navy Reserve in 1940 and received the rating of Pharmacist Mate First Class. Navy Pharmacist Mates (sometimes called Corpsmen) served in both on ship and shore with the Navy and Marines and with Army troops when they were embarked on Navy ships. They were trained to treat normal medical problems, as well as trauma, and were the similar Physician's Assistants today.

Richard was called to active duty in November 1941. He received training at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital for three months, with additional medical training at the New London Naval Base hospital in Connecticut. He was then sent to Norfolk, Virginia for intensive training with amphibious landing forces. In September 1942, before leaving for overseas, he announced his engagement to Miss Laura Moore of Glenside.

Richard was assigned to the USS Joseph Hewes, AP-50. The ship, formally the merchant Excalibur, was acquired by the Navy and converted as a troop transport. (The ship was named after a signer of the Declaration of Independence from North Carolina, who was instrumental in securing a commission in the Continental Navy for John Paul Jones.) The ship left in October for the amphibious landings in Nazi occupied North Africa.

Richard went ashore under intense fire to treat wounded and to transport them to his ship, but then the USS Joseph Hewes was torpedoed - by U-boat 173 on November 11th, Armistice Day. While the ship was slowly sinking, he evacuated the wounded into the water. The SS Bliss rescued Richard and the wounded. After 72 hours of constant work saving others, he was ordered to eat and to rest. While he was in the mess hall, the SS Bliss was torpedoed and the mess hall was demolished in the explosion. Richard LaRue died on November 12, 1942.

Richard's name is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at North Africa American Cemetery Carthage, Tunisia.

Richard received the Purple Heart posthumously. His parents received the following citation for meritorious service as a member of the beach party signed by Admiral Jonas Ingram, the Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. Atlantic Fleet:

"When beached landing craft in the vicinity of Fedala, French Morocco, were subjected to continuous enemy artillery fire and intermittent bombing and strafing attacks by enemy aircraft, Richard Vanderlyn La Rue, unassisted, transferred casualties from the beach to medical evacuation center and returned immediately to the combat area to assist in the handling of other casualties, and in the administration of necessary first aid measures. During the remainder of the period spent in the landing zone, LaRue worked incessantly unloading vital medical stores and in treating casualties. The exceptionally praiseworthy performance of duty by Richard Vanderlyn LaRue under hazardous condition reflects great credit upon the U. S. Naval Service."