“WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR VERY FIRST DAY AT A NEW JOB MEANT SAVING 165 STRANGERS FROM DEATH?” It was July 4th in Texas Hill Country when the Guadalupe River became something unrecognizable — a violent, churning force that devoured homes and swept away everything people had built. Families clung to treetops. Children screamed from rooftops surrounded by rising water. Then, cutting through the chaos, a helicopter appeared. Scott Ruskan — a former accountant from New Jersey who’d traded spreadsheets for something far more dangerous — was about to face his very first rescue mission. He plunged into the floodwaters repeatedly, coordinating twelve helicopters, pulling person after person from the river’s grip. Among those rescued was eleven-year-old Milly Cate, who had just finished praying when she looked up and saw what she quietly called “a miracle” descending from the sky. Ruskan later received the Legion of Merit before a standing Congress. But it was something Milly Cate whispered that night — something small, something deeply human — that no one who heard it has ever quite forgotten.

Coast Guard Hero Scott Ruskan Honored After Saving 160+ Lives in Devastating Texas Floods

On July 4, catastrophic flash flooding tore through Texas’ Hill Country, claiming at least 135 lives. Among the victims were 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River.

In less than 45 minutes, extreme rainfall caused the river to surge more than 26 feet. The powerful current swept away homes, vehicles, vacation cabins, and camp buildings — many still occupied. What began as a holiday quickly turned into one of the region’s most devastating natural disasters in recent memory.

A First Mission Under Fire

Amid the chaos, Petty Officer Scott Ruskan stepped into history during his very first rescue mission.

Ruskan helped save more than 160 people, coordinating evacuations on the ground while working alongside 12 rescue helicopters from multiple agencies. As a Coast Guard rescue swimmer stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, he was tasked with descending into dangerous floodwaters and pulling stranded victims to safety.

“This is what it’s all about,” Ruskan later told the New York Post. “This is why we do the job. This is why Coast Guard men and women take those risks every day.”

A New Jersey native and former accountant at KPMG, Ruskan joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2021. After completing basic training, he advanced to the highly demanding Aviation Survival Technician school in Petaluma, California — an elite program known for its rigorous physical and mental standards.

Following graduation, he was stationed in Corpus Christi, where he trained extensively on the Coast Guard’s MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and completed advanced rescue swimmer courses while awaiting his first deployment.

“An American Hero”

United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem publicly praised Ruskan’s actions, calling him an “American Hero” in a post on X.

But the most emotional recognition came during a nationally televised address from President Donald Trump on February 24, when Ruskan was invited to the House chamber and received a standing ovation.

A Reunion That Moved the Nation

During the address, President Trump recounted the story of 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond, one of the children rescued from the raging floodwaters.

“As the waters threatened to sweep her away, 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed,” Trump said. “She thought she was going to die. Those prayers were answered when Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above.”

For the first time since the rescue, Ruskan and Milly Cate were reunited in person — a moment that drew tears and applause throughout the chamber.

A Rare Military Honor

President Trump presented Ruskan with the Legion of Merit, a prestigious military decoration awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct and outstanding service.

“It was Scott’s first ever rescue mission,” the president noted. “He lifted not just Milly Cate, but 164 others to safety. People watched from a distance and couldn’t believe what they were seeing.”

Service Beyond the Spotlight

Though the applause and recognition were powerful, Ruskan has remained focused on the mission itself. For him, the work is about duty — not headlines.

The Texas floodwaters left deep scars across the Hill Country. Families mourned, communities rebuilt, and the tragedy will not be forgotten. But within the devastation, acts of courage like Ruskan’s offered something else: hope.

On a day marked by unimaginable loss, one rescue swimmer’s first mission became a symbol of bravery, compassion, and the quiet resolve of those who risk their lives to save others.

Watch Scott Ruskan Honored During the Address