FIRST MISSION, LIFETIME OF VALOR: ROOKIE COAST GUARD SWIMMER SAVES DOZENS IN TEXAS CAMP FLOODS
When catastrophic flooding hit Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, and over 200 campers and staff were left stranded, a 26-year-old Coast Guard rescue swimmer on his first mission went to save dozens of lives on the banks of Texas's Guadalupe River.
By sunrise on July 4, hundreds were brought to safety—because of Scott Ruskan. Hailed as an “American hero,” Scott Ruskan, saved the lives of 165 Texas flash flood victims.
From Rescue Swimmer School to Real-World Hero
Ruskan had just completed the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer School, one of the military’s most elite and punishing training pipelines. A New Jersey native previously working in the private sector, embarked on a journey to military service—which would soon prove to be extraordinary.
When record rainfall overwhelmed the Guadalupe River, aircrews from Air Station Corpus Christi were scrambled. Their destination: a remote, hill country summer camp now transformed into an island of panic.
Alone, But Not Unprepared: Ruskan Steps In
Landing on scene via MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter, Ruskan was the only trained first responder on the ground. No backup. No hesitation. Immediately, he began triaging the situation.
With floodwaters climbing and power cut off, he created makeshift landing zones on an archery field and soccer pitch. Groups of 10 to 15 campers—some barefoot, others sobbing—were extracted via helicopter under his calm guidance.
“In that moment, there’s no time to be afraid,” Ruskan said. “You just focus on the job.” This was not a drill. This was the moment every rescue swimmer trains for but hopes never arrives.
Every rep, every underwater evolution, every scenario he faced during training in Elizabeth City, NC, was now translating into real-time survival. Ruskan coordinated the safe evacuation of 165 campers and staff, maintaining composure, order, and compassion throughout.
In an interview Ruskan explained, “This is why we take those risks all time. This is why like Coast Guard men and women are risking their lives every day,” said Petty Officer Ruskan, who was in charge of triage at Camp Mystic, the Christian girls’ summer camp that saw some of the worst of the flooding.
“The real heroes were the kids,” Ruskan later told reporters. “They were so strong.”
Who is Scott Ruskan?
Raised in Oxford, NJ, Scott Ruskan enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2021. After basic training, he went to Aviation survival technician school in Petaluma, Calif. He was then stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas.
He had been on call since November after completing all his training, enrolling in rescue swimming classes as he waited to be called into action.
Legacy Begins with the First Mission
The U.S. Coast Guard often performs lifesaving missions without the recognition of its larger military counterparts. Yet in the crucible of disaster, they are among the first to respond, and the last to leave.
Ruskan’s story elevates the quiet professionalism of Coast Guard personnel—and reminds the world that military service means answering every call, foreign or domestic.
He didn’t pull a trigger. He didn’t carry a rifle. He carried out 165 acts of valor—and did so with his voice, his strength, and his resolve.
For Veterans and active-duty military alike, the first mission is unforgettable. For Ruskan, it defined the rest of his career before it even truly began.
And while he may brush off the “hero” title, those he rescued—and the nation that witnessed it—won’t forget. “He’s a true American hero,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
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