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Lucien LaRue was in the Marine Corps only a year when one of the jets on a helicopter in which he was riding exploded, hurling shrapnel into his thigh. xLaRue, 19, of 721 Fernandez Ave , Arlington Heights, told his parents he was a little apprehensive about flying. But with their help, he overcame his fear and continued his avionics career in the Marines.Friday, LaRue was killed; one of five victims of the crash of two Marine helicopters on a cloud-shrouded mountain in North Carolina.Despite the tragedy, LaRue’s parents, Lucien and Aline, are not bitter about encouraging their son to continue his work with helicopters.WHEN LaRUE WAS wounded, his father said, “It scared the H out ofhim. But we told him you just can't be afraid.”“We told him that you can’t go through life being afraid of what could happen.” his mother said. “A person can get killed just by walking across the street.”The last time the family spoke with him was Tuesday, when he told them he was entering a civil engineering class at Mississippi State University, something he finally decided he wanted to do,” his mother said.Friday, LaRue and his crew began a long-range cruise in a CH53. the world’s largest cargo helicopter. They left New River Helicopter Base near Jacksonville, N. C., and headed toward the Glenview Naval Air Station, Glenview.AS THE CHOPPERS passed Sugar Loaf Mountain near Columbus, N. C.,the crew sent a radio message. The men had “run into a terrible storm with lightning, thunder and windblowing at tremendous forces.” Mrs. LaRue said. It was their last message.“We don’t know for sure if the winds slammed the helicopters into the mountain or if the pilot got disoriented.”LaRue’s brief military career was dotted with honors. The 1975 graduate of Arlington High School was promoted to full corporal in September meritoriously after making Private First Class at boot camp in San Diego with the same honor.He took two classes in electronics in his first year with the Marines and finished first in his class in both, which made his father, a former Marine, very proud.“IN SCHOOL HE WAS maybe a C or D student,” his father said. He had the ability to make A’s when he wanted, but he just decided he was not going to apply himself.Lucien always was a hard worker. While attending high school, he worked for more than four years as a news carrier for Paddock Publications.He also worked as an usher at the Arlington Theatre and later a grocery clerk in the Jewel Store, 122 N. VailSt., Arlington Heights.LaRuess parents said the military is handling the return of their son’s body to Arlington Heights.“The Marine Corps told us they will send a military escort when he is brought back,” Mrs. LaRue said. “But we still haven’t been told a day.”LUCIEN La RUE
Newspaper Details
Arlington Heights Herald
Arlington Heights, Illinois, US
Mon, Mar 14, 1977
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Council B.
IA, USA 04 Nov 2018
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