The nation held its breath in July of 2025 as relentless floodwaters ravaged the Texas Hill Country, leaving a trail of devastation and claiming 135 lives. Among the most heartbreaking losses were 27 young girls and counselors at Camp Mystic, swept away by the unforgiving current.
Amidst the chaos and despair, a beacon of hope emerged from the skies: Scott Ruskan, a 26-year-old Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey. It was his very first rescue mission, a baptism by fire unlike any other.
Ruskan didn’t just participate in the rescue effort; he *became* the rescue effort. Serving as the sole triage coordinator on the ground, he tirelessly battled the raging waters, pulling 165 people from the brink of disaster.
Eleven-year-old Milly Cate McClymond was certain she would die. Surrounded by the terrifying force of the flood, she closed her eyes and prayed. The water surged, threatening to pull her under, when a figure descended from above – a rescuer appearing almost out of nowhere.
That rescuer was Scott Ruskan. Witnesses described watching in disbelief as he moved through the torrent, a seemingly impossible feat of strength and courage. He lifted Milly Cate, and 164 others, to safety, defying the odds with each life saved.
Months later, during a national address, the President brought Milly Cate and Scott Ruskan together for the first time since that harrowing day. The reunion was a powerful symbol of resilience and the unwavering spirit of those who risk everything to save others.
The President announced that Ruskan would be awarded the Legion of Merit, a prestigious military decoration recognizing his extraordinary heroism. It was a fitting tribute to a young man who, in his first mission, demonstrated a level of bravery rarely seen.
The floodwaters had been described as unlike anything anyone had ever witnessed – ferocious winds, torrential rain, and a relentless current. Yet, Ruskan’s selfless actions shone through the darkness, a testament to the power of courage and the unwavering dedication of the United States Coast Guard.
His actions resonated far beyond the rescue site. A Department of Homeland Security official hailed Ruskan as an “American hero,” recognizing that his courage embodied the very essence of service and sacrifice.
Scott Ruskan’s story isn’t just about a rescue; it’s about the extraordinary potential within ordinary individuals, and the profound impact one person can have in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
