Clay Hunt Remembered
Clay Warren Hunt, a war hero and giant-hearted humanitarian, died in Houston, Texas on Thursday, the 31st of March 2011, at the age of 28. He was an adventurer who experienced more, and gave back more to his country and his fellow man, than most men accomplish in a full lifetime.
Clay grew up in Houston attending Spring Branch Schools – Rummel Creek Elementary, Memorial Middle School, and was a proud graduate of Stratford High School. He was a solid second baseman from Tee-ball to Pony League, and an accomplished junior golfer. However, his real passion was football and his fifth grade team’s win of the Tully Bowl gave him great joy. He also enjoyed playing for Stratford and “just being a part of a great group of guys” on the team during his senior season of 2001.
Clay received an Associate degree from Blinn College in College Station, and attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Following his heart, Clay joined the United States Marine Corps in May of 2005, completed the School of Infantry in 2006, and shipped out to Iraq in January of 2007 as part of the Second Battalion, Seventh Regiment of the U.S.M.C. While on patrol in Anbar Province, near Fallujah, he was wounded in a sniper attack, earning a Purple Heart. Clay recuperated in 2007, and applied for and graduated from the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School in February of 2008.
His scout sniper teams shipped out to an area near Sangin, Afghanistan in March of 2008 as part of NATO’s multi-national force deployed against the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. Clay’s unit returned to the states in October of 2008, and he was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in April of 2009. Clay cherished his time in the Marine Corps and the unconditional and absolute bonds of camaraderie that he built with his band of brothers in Iraq and Afghanistan. He often wondered why he survived when so many close friends and others paid the ultimate price for our nation’s freedom.
Clay continued to give back to ease the suffering of others in January of 2010, when he and Marine brother Jake Wood and others founded Team Rubicon, an early response team for natural disaster relief. Clay and Team Rubicon entered Port-Au Prince, Haiti one week after that country’s devastating earthquake, and immediately established field medical facilities, and secured transportation to those facilities for thousands of injured Haitians during a month-long stay in that ravaged country. Team Rubicon was on the ground saving lives long before the Red Cross and other institutional organizations were up and running. Clay found his true calling for service in the chaos of Haiti, and his warrior mentality along with his compassion for others were the perfect combination to deliver “hands-on” medical and other humanitarian aid to those so desparately in need.
Clay also went to Chile in 2010 with Team Rubicon to aid earthquake victims in that nation, and returned to Haiti in June of 2010 on a follow-up mission. He also “felt the pain and did something about it” of his fellow veterans by participating in four Ride2Recovery challenges to raise money for struggling wounded veterans across the U.S. Additionally, he helped lobby Congress on behalf of Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans of America for better and more timely delivery of benefits for our veterans of these two conflicts.
Clay had a smile that would light up a room, and his boundless energy was his greatest asset. No family could have had a better son.
Clay is survived by his mother, Susan Selke and her husband Richard, and father, Stacy Hunt and his wife Dianne, all of Houston; his maternal grandparents, Bill and Muriel Knotts of Huntsville; his sister, Allison Hamilton and her husband David of Houston; his beloved niece, Annabelle; his four step-sisters, Lindsay Akhtar and her husband Jehan of Dallas, Erin Moses and her husband Bobby of Houston, Amy Stephens and her husband David of Denver, and Lauren Hendrix of Austin; his step-brother, Stephen Hendrix and his wife Ricki of Houston. Clay was loved by his aunts, uncles and cousins, Cindy and Bill Knotts and their sons Brian, Brad and Blake of Colleyville, Marilyn and Rick Terrell, their son Ryan Terrell and his wife Brooke, and their daughter Meredith Bell and her husband Lance, all of Houston, and John and Janice Knots of Huntsville. Clay was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Warren and Merlyne Hunt of Houston.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to Steve Cragg, Youth Minister of Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, Jake Wood and the other Marine brothers, all of whom remained steadfast in their efforts to help Clay overcome the grip of depression that finally overtook our beloved son. Clay knew Christ and is in a better place.
A memorial service celebrating Clay’s life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 4th of April, at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial Drive in Houston. Immediately following the Service, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Clay’s name be directed to Team Rubicon, Inc., P.O. Box 7476, Santa Monica, CA, 90406 (www.teamrubiconusa.org); or to Ride2Recovery, 23679 Calabasas Rd., #420, Calabasas, CA, 91302, (www.ride2recovery.com).
My sincere condolences to the Marine brothers, friends and family of this great American.
Thank you to Clay and his family for his unselfish service and sacrifice for our country. Our deepest sympathies are with Clay’s family and friends. May God Bless you and watch over your family.
My sons were in school with Clay, and we lived in the same neighborhood. Clay grew up to be a fine Marine, by all accounts, and a fine young man any family would be proud of. My sincerest sympathy to Susan and the rest of the family.
My deepest sympathy to all of Clay’s friends and family.
My deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and his friends. I do not know Clay personally but everything I read about him on your site makes me respect him a lot. I hope he finds the peace he did not find in life.
May God watch over his family and friends and help them pass this turmoil.
RIP, Clay!
My thoughts and prayers are with Clay’s family. I know they were trying to get him to the PTSD Foundation of America and get him help. It is a great organization for soldiers and vets suffering like Clay was. I pray that that veterans who are struggling, like Clay was, are able to get the help they need so that Clay’s passing is not in vain. I also pray that our government starts to realize problems like this and seek out the soldiers to get them help early on.
I had the great honor to attend Clay’s funeral as an invited guest of the family as a member of the Patriot Guard. It is with great reverence and honor that I bid farewell to an outstanding Marine and a true gentle man.
God Bless, God’s rest and God’s speed Marine.
RIP Clay Hunt. I didn’t know you but I thank you for your bravery and for being you.
To Clay’s family, my deep sympathy to all of you. Dear Clay, I did not know you but I am thankful for your service. Rest in peace my fellow American.
With deep gratitude,
Nancy
I read an article in the Daily Breeze and decided to visit this website. My sincere condolences to the family he leaves behind. I thank his parents for him, as he protected our country, and kept us safe. My heart goes out to all who knew him.
I did not know him at all, but am so grateful for his accomplishments at a young age,
Thanks to one who served in so many ways. Blessings to those who carry the memory and continue the work.
Hi, my name is Amanda, I find myself crying because I could not have been there for Clay. I had told some friends that I felt like with the situations in Japan and Hawaii, I felt like maybe God was calling me to go and help because I had just gotten off of active duty with the Marine Corps and was finally able to go about where ever I pleased. A friend sent me the link to Team Rubicon today because she knew I had inquired to the Peace Corps and so I took a look at the website and was sidetracked about God being busy because he keeps takin the Good Marines away. I read the article and instantly felt empty. I myself have struggled with depression and other issues and I felt like meeting clay would have been something I wished I could have done. I don’t know why I am crying so much, but I feel it’s too late and he is gone and I could have gotten to meet this great person but I am too late. I am sorry if I sound like a crazy person, I just feel like God brought me here for a reason, and I don’t know what kind of reason it could be. I don’t even know this person but I would have liked to have shared with him the struggles and demons of depression. I wrote a poem, inspired by Clay. Any who, if there is someone real reading this email please respond back to me. Amanda
Amanda thank you for your service! and like you i also feel empty, please share the poem with us!
Hey does anyone mind sharing with me the place he was put to rest? I am from San Antonio and would like to make a trip to Houston to pay my respects. Thank you.
First of all my heart goes out to Clay and his family – such a great loss!
This should not have happened to someone so loving, compassionate, driven, intelligent, serving, and respected by many. Such a horrible loss to the WORLD.
If only the president of the US of America could read this, and learn about all of the wonderful events that Clay made happen for so many around the world. The many service men and women in the United States should be honored with top notch health care immediatly and respectfully.
So sorry, So ashamed. Sorry that I did not have the opportunity to meet him personally, only heard about him through my daughter.
Thank you to Clay for all that you did for this world and now on to your new job in Heaven.
It is taking all the power of understanding I can muster to make sense of this exceptional tragedy. Clay’s biography illustrates the very finest human qualities that we prize, and he will be missed by so many people. Humanity has lost a true treasure with Clay’s passing; prayerfully, God has drawn Clay closer to His presence for Divine purpose, indeed.
Semper Fi Brother. My prayers and thoughts go to Clay’s family and friends. Will look for you guarding Heaven’s Gates Clay.
With deepest condolences,
Earl Arrowood
Former SSgt/USMC
Condolences to the family of Clay Hunt, you truly gave the most!
Rest in Peace.
Max McCammond
What a great american, great person and truly one that everyone can look up to.
My condolences go out to the family and friends of this Truly Great Man in all aspects!!
God Bless,
Semper Fi,
R.I.P.
Rest easy brother…..
Maj Steven Bartley
We ask so much of these soldiers, yet do so little to help them cope with all they’ve witnessed. It’s viewed as an honor to protect and serve your country. So young men and women go to violent places, see devastating, life altering events, and then go home to live a life as if this trauma never happened. We need to do more for these soliders.
My condolences to the family for this terrible loss.
Through the eyes of a solidier is a life and experience many of us will never have. The pain and meories of that life through the eyes of a soldier change most forever and for some take them away forever.
To the Hunt family and to his soldier family, I offer my sincere condolences and the hope that during your darkest days you smile knowing that Clay lived his life selflessly helping others.
His legacy will live on. An excerpt from a poem I wrote for my husband when his mother died…”God chose him to be with HIm, to be by his side, he’s watching you closely from the heaven’s above, by God his side, and with all his love”…..Blessings to you all !!
Clay we are thankful for all that you have done in this life, the sacrifices that you have made in helping others. I am sorry for the unbearable pain you suffered in making those sacrifices. Your life has meant something to many people and while God has taken you early, you have made a difference in this world. Peace to you Brother. Your loved ones will miss you for now but will see you again someday…
My condolences to Clay’s Family & Friends
i was deeply moved by clay’s story! altruistic.selfless.always wanting to help. such a great loss to all of society & his family! i know god will bless him & give him peace. my condolences to his family & friends. wish i woould have had the honor & pleasure to have known him
What a story, my thoughts and prayers go out to the Selke family, thank you Susan for coming in and sharing your story with me.
I was close with Clay in College Station just as he was learning and developing his passion with bikes. We spoke a few times after he became a Marine and I will miss him dearly. He was always there when I needed a friend. His love for mankind has definitely shown through his works and I am so proud to have been a part of his life.
To my brother clay hunt u will be always be a Marine, i never met you but beleive me my brother you name will live on i promise you this….Semper Fi brother…I’ll meet you when I GET THEIR…I WISH I COULD REENLIST BUT I WENT UA IN 2006 FROM 2/25 I HAVE OTH RE 4 FOR USAT PARTICIPATION ETC BUT BELWIVE ME IF I COULD REENLIST I WOULD N HAVE TRIED.. BROTHER U ARE A HERO TO ALL…
Rest in peace Clay. Your dedication and service are honored.
We are so sorry to hear this news. God comfort Clay’s family.
People who sign up to help people don’t get”PTSD”. People who volunteer to go murder people do.Maybe people with PTSD could first acknowledge that PTSD is a euyphimism for anger at the fact you wern’t given a green light to kill and torture even more people then you already did After the media fed narrative of “good versus evil “where we’re good and they’re evil and the media propagan[ never stated but implied] that if you sign up you’ll go “turn the place into a parking lot”,and when you get their you’re told you’re here because we care about Muslims so much we can’t bear to see them oppressed [by regimes we supported?],and that you’re here to build schools win hearts and minds. .The disconnect where you’re not allowed to commit even more torure and murder than you alreadhave leads to anger and that in fact is PTSD [anger that they didn't give you a green light to commit genocide after they fed yopu that fantasy through the pro war propaganda] That those people you are targeting are flesh and blood human beings who dare defend themselves with whatever methods they can goes againt your hubris that your military might should or would be enough to make people submit to you.Human beings don’t take kindly to shock and awe and will fight back when attacked.You can demonize them all you want but your PTSD speaks to your hubris in believing your had the right to go murder them and to your gullibility [the media fed fantasy of genocide-never stated but implied- with the reality that you were not going to be allowed to turn the place into a parking lot.You were manipulatedby the media driven war machine. You are all war criminals for having signed up and commited the mass murder and tortures that you committed.If there were true justice you would all be tried for war crimes.TPSD is the least that you deserve for being mass murderers.My empathy is with the millions of Afghans,pakistani’s Iraqi’ men women and children who had their arms and legs blown off by you people.When they label people heroes, the chances are good theyy’re talking about mass murderers.The only way to accept mass murder and torture is to invert ethics;to label what is evil good and those who do it heroesThe American military is as much a terrorist organization as any other we label as such..
Rose-Ellen Caminer,
Thank you. Your well thought out opinion adds tremendous value to the discussion surrounding our dear friend’s suicide.
William
I hope Clay finds the peace and comfort that eluded him here with us. Whether he realized it or not, he did much to help others and he will not be forgotten.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Jinny
William,
I think your restraint is admirable. But after a respectful length of time — say a couple of more minutes — I’d take Ms. Caminer’s ill-conceived and illiterate screed down.
I am sorry for Clay.I wouldn’t wish suicide on him or anyone [or depression].I am sorry for his suffering and that of his family and friends.May Christ’s peace be on him and them.The other stuff I said I still stand by.It needs to be said in this narrative of ongoing wars and growing genocidal hatred of the “other”,namely Muslims.
Frankly, no it didn’t need to be said. You can find many, many hate websites that will gladly read your pitiful diatribe. This site is a place of people helping people when disasters strike.
If you knew anything about what TeamRubicon does or how it began you would be ashamed of what you wrote.
While rose-ellen is most certainly entitled to her opinions, she has chosen the incorrect place and time to express them. We are here to pay respect to, and reflect upon, a great human being. And while we all accumulate sins over a lifetime, I am most comfortable to allow God to judge me for mine. Perhaps rose-ellen can channel her opinions into action. I’m sure there are groups and causes that would welcome her talents; the Westboro Baptist Church being one that comes to mind.
Now folks. How can rose-ellen be hateful? I’m sure she was showing her love of the people of the world when she went down to Haiti after the earthquake – on her own dime – and immediately started working long hours helping several hundreds each day. No? Maybe it was the trip to Chile after their earthquake, traveling to the remote areas, walking over at least one bridge Indiana Jones wouldn’t have gone near…no? Hmm… maybe it was going back to Haiti to set up and staff Cholera treatment centers across the country. Or South Sudan giving medical aide and surgeries needed by indigenous tribesmen. Or Burma to train medics at the refugee camp. Or was she in Pakistan helping those dying from Cholera? No….well. I mean, surely someone with such knowledgeable view of the world and events, wouldn’t have been just sitting on her duff watching tv and saying ‘oh, poor people’. Hmmm…maybe she is just a misinformed leftover from the of the ’70s counter culture who really belongs in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury druging her brain out. Or wishes she were. Even the Haight isn’t the Haight of the ’70s anymore. Maybe she just needs to get a clue and grow up!
Diane,
I could not have said it any better myself. If it were not for people like Clay or the many other members of the military, past or present, then Ms. Caminer would not be able to voice her opinions in this public forum.
Rest in Peace Brother, your watch is now over.
Semper Fi
Doc
I didn’t know Clay Hunt, Doc, but from reading posts by those that did, I don’t think Mr. Hunt is resting in peace, and by no way is his watch over. Is he in peace? No doubt he is, its heaven. But resting, no way! This man sounds like the type that would roll up his sleeves and say, “Where am I needed now, God?” Clay Hunt doesn’t come across as the type of being that is going to stop helping just because he’s in heaven. As long as there’s work to be done here on earth, I think Mr. Hunt will be lending a hand. How do I know? Because Clay Hunt is getting good things accomplished even now, weeks after his passing. Example, my donation to Team Rubicon is in the mail.
Clay, you must be rejoicing in heaven. Ding Dong, the witch is dead. I’m sure you won’t see him where you are. No way HE’s going to heaven. You are among the world’s finest. He, the lowest of the low!
Warrior Down
I did not personally know Clayton Hunt – Warrior Down. I wish I could have walked with him for a time. I learned about him from reading Team Rubicon and “God must be in one hell of a fight because he keeps taking the best Marines”. And while reading his biography, and memorial and the many comments, I realized that Warrior, Best Marine, Son, Friend, Clayton Warren Hunt will not be forgotten because he at a young age initiated The Butterfly Effect as he moved through life and continues to do so today.
On November 1, 2010, while I walked at Cottonwood Campground in remote northeast Arizona like I do most days, a Monarch Butterfly came to me and flew along side of me for almost a minute. Of course it was past time by months when any Monarch Butterflies are here at Chinle and the temperature was 34 degrees. It had been 21 degrees just a couple of hours earlier and I wondered how that old butterfly had made it through the night. As we walked together I wondered out loud to him, what he was doing here and why he would be with me. I told him that he was beautiful and flew with much powerful wings.
I told him that he better get going and try to catch up with the others that had passed here months earlier. I told him it was alright to leave now and as I said that to him he gained altitude and flew off to the south.
The event stunned me as it was so odd for him to even be here, let alone stay with me for that long. I have no way to know the “why” of any of this but I can tell you that he was most beautiful and carried a message with him of hope for the future.
I suspect we are all connected and perhaps as Clay Warren Hunt passes from this life on to the next that his family will marvel at his beauty, his powerful grace, his loving kindness and allow him the peace of knowing that it is alright for him to leave now. Once they do that, we will then begin to fully appreciate The Butterfly Effect that Clayton Hunt had and will continue to have on his Unit, his friends, his family and the world — Forever!. And, he will take along with himself the peace and gratitude of the loving community of people who cared so deeply about him.
What Clayton did in life is the essence of The Butterfly Effect. Knowing that every single thing he did created movement and motion that will go on forever; like the waves radiating out from a pebble dropped into quiet pond or a powerful gust of wind that passes through Chinle, Arizona on its way to who knows where but never ending.
I remember back when I was in high school many years ago, a book that had been assigned in my English class called The Bridge of San Louis Rey written by Thorton Wilder. He tells the story of several un-related people who die together in the collapse of an Inca rope-fiber suspension bridge in Peru, and the events that led up to their being on the bridge. A friar who had witnessed the tragic accident then goes about inquiring into the lives of the victims, seeking some sort of cosmic answer to the question of why each had to die. Philosophically, Thornton Wilder said that he was posing a question: “Is there a direction and meaning in lives beyond the individual’s own will?” The novel won the Pulitzer Prize in 1928. And, because he thought that it is impossible to fully answer the question, he leaves us to our own beliefs and reality.
The answer to Wilder’s questions is simple as evidenced in the life of Clayton. The answer is, Yes, there is direction and meaning in lives beyond the individual’s own will and that answer is the power of The Butterfly Effect that all of us have as we move through life. It is a life altering power and knowing about it is God’s Gift to Us and how we live our lives is our gift back to God. The Butterfly Effect is the essence of spirituality.
I know my life has changed and is better because of Clayton Hunt and I didn’t know him personally. In my mind’s eye I see him as beautiful and he flies with much powerful wings. He is a Warrior Down but will not ever be forgotten and because he is the essence of the The Butterfly Effect he has changed all of us forever. May God Bless Clayton Hunt – Warrior Down!