Joseph Raymond “Ray” Schiflett, IV of Wimberley and Driftwood, Texas, was born on June 10, 1989 and passed away on October 22, 2021, but what a life! Although only 32 years old when he passed from this mortal coil, he had done more in his short and wonderful life than most people do in 75 years.
He had visited all 50 states and 10 countries. He was in the top 10% of his 2007 San Marcos HS class and had an IQ of 152. He attended The University of Texas at Austin but decided after one semester that he was very opposed to the views of many of his university contemporaries who constantly expressed disdain for the USA, so he disenrolled to serve his country by enlisting in the US Navy. He served four years and became BU (Seabees) Petty Officer Third Class (SCW) based in Gulfport, MS. He was the Top of his Class at the Expeditionary Combat School, a Firearms Range Master, a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Instructor, a certified Combat Life Saver, an IED Identification Specialist and EOD Training, a U.N. Personnel Search Expert, a Combat Fire Team Leader, a Radio Communications Certified Operator and a Company Fitness Leader, among other positions. He served overseas, primarily in Liberia for over 2 years. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, the Seabee Combat Warfare Pin, the Battle Efficiency Battalion Medal, the Expert M9 and M16 Marksmanship Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. Many people would not be alive today if Ray had not entered the US Navy; he saved many American and African lives. He was a hero.
He noted that he could speak three languages- English, Spanish, and Texan. He was invited to try out for the US Olympic pistol team. He placed in the top 5 of all contestants at several state-wide shooting contests even though he used only a store bought Kimber 45 ACP whereas most others had $5,000+ “raceguns.” He flew into the eye of Hurricane Harvey as a news photographer with his dad in August, 2017 aboard the Hurricane Hunter C-3 Orion plane “Kermit” based out of Lakeland, Florida. His photos were used in most of the local papers and presented nationally. Earlier he had driven into the eye of Hurricane Claudia with his dad in 2003 at Port Lavaca.
