Lance Corporal Ongiyo

Douglas O. Ongiyo (BS '08, Aeronautical Engineering) had the ability to pursue a career in engineering when he graduated, but instead, he chose to enlist with the U.S. Marine Corps. While his choice may not have been unusual, his reason for doing it was rather unique.

Ongiyo, a Kenyan native, was only 15 years old when the plane he was on was shot down over the Somalian desert. Sadly, his father, who served in a diplomatic position as a brigadier and defense attaché in the Kenyan Army, did not survive the attack that followed.

When Ongiyo regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was a name tag that said 'U.S. Marines'. During the following days, the Marines helped with funeral preparations including a return flight to Kenya.

Ongiyo later began college in Nakuru, Kenya and enrolled in a program that allowed him to transfer to WMU to complete his degree. Upon graduating, Ongiyo decided he wanted to pay back the organization that had done so much for him during a time of tragedy—he also wanted to carry on a family tradition of military service. He is now a lance corporal in the Marine Corps.

Recently, Ongiyo was featured on Dvidshub.net (defense video & imagery distribution system), please follow the link below to read the full story:

DVIDSHUB.NET —  KENYAN IMMIGRANT JOINED MARINE CORPS AFTER BEING SAVED FROM PLANE CRASH