In this recurring special feature, Nonahood News recognizes and honors those everyday heroes who have served or are currently serving our country and making a difference in our community. Those who reside in the Lake Nona and surrounding area are our Nona Heroes.
Our hero of the month was born and raised in Maryland but moved to the area after getting out of the military. He has lived in the Lake Nona area for about two years and served four years active duty in the Marine Corps. After speaking with Billy Ogilvie and hearing his deployment story, you can tell just how proud he is about serving our country.
“I chose to serve with the Marines based on our reputation. We are the world’s most elite fighting force, and being a part of something with that much history and the constant strive to be better was always something I admired,” Ogilvie continued. “I joined the military because it became a desire of mine. Seeing the recruiters in uniform while I was in high school and being a part of something that meant a lot to our country. I had family who had also served. My grandfather served in the Army in Korea and an uncle also served as a Marine. I had signed my contract at 17 years old and was shipped off to boot camp four weeks after I turned 18.”
In his four years of active duty, Ogilvie started off at boot camp on MCRD Parris Island, S.C. ,and then found himself at Combat Training at Camp Geiger, N.C. Next thing he knew, he was at MOS school (job school) at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., as a 3531 Motor Transport Operator, and was stationed in the fleet at Camp Lejeune, N.C. “I served with 3rd battalion 2nd marines and 2ND MARDIV as a Motor Transport Instructor.”
He begins to reminisce on some of his favorite memories from serving in the Marine Corps and found himself describing an experience that sounded like it came straight out of a Fast and Furious movie.
“All-time favorite memory from me serving was while deployed with the 26th MEU (marine expeditionary unit). We were in Jordan for two weeks doing a training exercise. Being a truck driver, my friend Evan and I were coming back from dropping off fresh water to one of the companies who were training. On the way back driving through the desert in a seven-ton, as we called them (it was a long bed 6×6 truck). On the way back, I managed to jump this huge truck and get it airborne for about 10 feet. Very exciting,” Ogilvie describes a bit mischievously. “Second would have to be actually graduating boot camp. Having accomplished something that was the most challenging I’ve ever had to do in my life even today and seeing how proud my family was meant a lot. My mother, father, two of my aunts, my grandfather and great grandmother all showed up to see the day I had ‘officially’ become a Marine was one of the proudest moments of my family’s and my life.”
At the time of Ogilvie’s discharge, he was an E-4 Corporal. He described that it took him four years to get to that rank. He spent six months as a Private and Private First Class, a year as a Lance Corporal, and then he achieved his final ranking of Corporal.
Outside of his time spent serving in the Marines, Ogilvie is also a father of three, two girls and one boy. He’s a laborer with Momentum and sets up booths and events at convention centers, event centers, and hotels. He’s also a member of the IATSE union 835 and has a huge passion for hunting and fishing and can be found at lakes and ponds all throughout Orlando.
If you would like to nominate someone for our next Nona Heroes feature, please send an email to nicole@nonahoodnews.com or complete the form here: nonahood.to/nonaheroes.
