“HE DROPPED FROM A HELICOPTER — AND 165 LIVES WERE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.”
“HE DROPPED FROM A HELICOPTER — AND 165 LIVES WERE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.” When catastrophic flash floods tore through Texas Hill Country on July 4th — sending the Guadalupe River surging more than eight meters in under an hour — panic swallowed roads, rooftops, and entire neighborhoods in minutes. But from the roar of the storm emerged a figure descending from the sky. Aboard a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, Scott Ruskan, a Warrant Officer on his very first mission, repeatedly lowered himself into the raging torrent, transforming chaos into coordination as he helped direct a 12-helicopter rescue operation that pulled more than 160 people from the deadly waters. Witnesses describe scenes of terror giving way to disbelief as survivors were lifted one by one to safety; among them was 11-year-old Milly Cate, who had just whispered a prayer when she saw what she later called a “miracle” descending through wind and rain. The operation would become one of the largest flood air rescues in the region’s history, and Ruskan — once an accountant in New Jersey before answering the call to serve — suddenly found himself at the center of a life-or-death mission that demanded split-second courage. Months later, at a congressional hearing on February 24th, the United States Congress chamber rose to its feet at the request of the President of the United States, honoring Ruskan with the prestigious Legion of Merit for extraordinary service. Yet beyond the medal and applause, his story resonates for a deeper reason: in the darkest surge of disaster, when waters climbed and hope seemed to vanish, one man kept dropping back into the storm — proving that sometimes heroes don’t arrive with fanfare, they descend straight into the flood and carry strangers back to the light.
President Trump Honors Heroic U.S. Coast Guardsman Who Saved 165 People In Texas Floods
U.S. Coast Guardsman Saves Over 160 People In Texas Flood Rescue Mission
On July 4, catastrophic flash flooding ripped through parts of Texas’ Hill Country, leaving at least 135 dead. Among those dead were 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a private Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River.
Extreme rainfall caused the river to rise more than 26 feet in roughly 45 minutes, ripping through the terrain and destroying residences, vehicles, vacation homes, and camp cabins, many of which were occupied.
Petty Officer Scott Ruskan saved over 160 people during his very first rescue mission amid the flooding. Ruskan was tasked with saving victims on the ground and coordinating evacuations alongside 12 rescue helicopters from multiple agencies.
United States Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, posted about Ruskan’s recovery efforts on X, calling him an “American Hero”.
Ruskan later told the New York Post that saving people in dangerous situations, to him, was why he got into doing this job.
Ruskin joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2021. After completing basic training, he advanced to the elite Aviation Survival Technician school in Petaluma, California, known for its intense physical and mental demands. Upon graduation, he was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he now serves as a rescue swimmer.
“This is what it’s all about, right? Like, this is why we do the job,” Ruskan, a New Jersey native and former KPMG accountant, said. “This is why we take those risks all the time. This is why like Coast Guard men and women, are risking their lives every day.”
Ruskan had been on call starting in November 2024, preparing for his first mission. During that time, he became familiar with the Coast Guard’s iconic MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and took additional rescue swimmer courses while awaiting deployment.
President Trump Recognizes Ruskan During His State Of The Union Address
On Tuesday (February 24), the House chamber gave a standing ovation to Ruskan after Trump praised him for what he called “extraordinary heroism.” Ruskan was reunited for the first time with 11-year-old Milly Cate, one of the young girls he saved.
“As the waters threatened to sweep her away, 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed to God, she thought she was going to die,” Trump said. “Those prayers were answered when Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above.”
Trump then awarded Ruskan with the Legion of Merit, a military decoration for outstanding services and achievements.
“It was Scott’s first ever rescue mission,” the president said. “He lifted not just Milly Cate, but 164 others to safety. People watched Scott from a distance and they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.”
You can watch Scott Ruskan honored during Trump’s State of the Union below.