Ray Vissotzky was born on July 12, 1929, in Stoughton, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve on August 23, 1951, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force on May 26, 1952. He was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Laredo AFB, Texas, on June 16, 1953, and then completed Advanced Flying School in October 1953. Lt Vissotzky held various flying assignments between October 1953, and serving as an F-89J Scorpion pilot with the 449th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Ladd AFB, Alaska, from September 1957 to June 1959. He attended Instructor Pilot training at Moody AFB, Georgia, from June to December 1959, and then served as an Instructor Pilot with the 3552nd Flying Training Squadron at Moody AFB, Georgia, from December 1959 to January 1961. Capt Vissotzky's next assignment was as an Instructor Pilot and Academic Instructor with the 3501st Pilot Training Squadron at Reese AFB, Texas, from January 1961 to July 1963, followed by service as Assistant Physiological Training Officer and then Chief of Physiological Training with the 3640th Air Force Hospital at Laredo AFB, Texas, from July 1963 to November 1966. Major Vissotzky attended F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training at McConnell AFB, Kansas, from November 1966 to June 1967, and then served as an F-105 pilot with the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from August 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on November 19, 1967. After spending 1,943 days in captivity, Col Vissotzky was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at David Grant USAF Medical Center at Travis AFB, California, and he then served as Director of Studies and Analysis with the 3636th Combat Crew Training Wing at Fairchild AFB, Washington, from September 1973 until his retirement from the Air Force on September 1, 1974.

His 1st (of 2) Silver Star Citation reads:

Major Raymond W. Vissotzky distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force over North Vietnam on 19 November 1967. On that date, Major Visotzky, after sustaining a direct hit by hostile aircrafts, continued on to his assigned target and released his ordnance with unerring accuracy. In so doing, Major Vissotzky willingly sacrificed his safe escape to a neutral area for ejection in favor of completing his assigned mission. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Major Vissotzky has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.