Posted on 07/07/2025 11:25:30 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
It was U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskan's first mission as a member of the Coast Guard, and he led triage coordination for most of the operation.
A member of the U.S. Coast Guard is being hailed as a hero for rescuing over 160 people during the catastrophic flash floods in Central Texas on the Fourth of July.
U.S. Coast Guard Heartland, which is headquartered in New Orleans and serves multiple states, said on Facebook that U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskan assisted in the evacuation of 169 people.
It was Ruskan's first mission as a member of the Coast Guard, and he led triage coordination for most of the operation.
The Coast Guard said Ruskan also helped direct girls from Camp Mystic to rescue helicopters.
According to local weather officials, the heavy rains pushed the Guadalupe River to swell to 26 feet in just 45 minutes — its second-highest height on record.
The devastating floods resulted in over 90 deaths, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Dozens of those deaths were children. The number is expected to rise as recovery efforts continue in the region.
On Monday, Camp Mystic said it lost 27 counselors and campers when a wall of water slammed into its cabins built along the river.
(Excerpt) Read more at scrippsnews.com ...
Way to go young man, you made our Coast Guard proud. Salute from old Coastie whose ship assignments are now fishing reefs on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.(and whose Coasts are under water from the rising oceans caused by Glow Bull Warming/sarc)
Read A Perfect Storm for more rescue swimmer heroics in the face of utter peril. Sebastian Junger.
He did it himself? Or was he part of a team? Also the line about helped direct girls to the rescue helicopter. Where they counted in the total? The article is lacking on what exactly was done. Was he in the water? Was he lowered on a line and plucked them from the trees?
Great job Coast Guard but I doubt this was a one man operation.
Exactly.
Well, we got ours. Not only is he handsome he is fit, trained, and capable.
Win win win.
The MOH, Distinguished Service/Navy Crosses, Silver and Bronze Stars are awarded only for heroism in combat.
I see. Thanks for the explanation.
He specifically said, “Any team would have done the same. It was just our turn”. Humility and class.
Nice, but I wish there were more details. This is the definition of a short story.
It sounds to me like he was managing triage efforts - not single-handedly going down from the chopper and plucking 169 people from the water and trees.
But all of the folks that responded and helped in the effort are heroes in a fashion. I would think that doing triage properly saves many lives as well. Like the rescue crew that saved the 22-year old woman from the water and deemed her “okay” and left her with the people in the house nearby to provide a hot shower and dry clothes and a phone to call relatives.
“Take care of her - we have to rescue more people!”
“It sounds to me like he was managing triage efforts - not single-handedly going down from the chopper and plucking 169 people from the water and trees.”
That was what he described. A team effort. He is to be commended for his interview session.
He described the difficulty of flying into the storm. The pilots should also get credit but no mention of them or the other cre members.
“Like the rescue crew that saved the 22-year old woman from the water “
Lots of unrecognized heros. Many just ordinary folks risking life and limb.
I was talking with a Rescue Swimmer while on a cub scout field trip. I asked him if he had any cool rescue stories to tell the boys. (Yea, that’s back when Scouts was for actual boys)
He asked if any of us saw The Perfect Storm movie. He did some rescues during that storm and was featured in the film. Said he got a 10% bump in his pension for that, which I assume meant a healthy promotion.
See post 34. Might be the same guy,
The CMH is for combat, the medal of freedom is the domestic top honors. He certainly deserves the medal of freedom.
Snd he did it all by himself, even glapped his arms to fly, made his own flotation gear, drew his own drinking water from a well he dug himself. Amazing.
Why do people insult 99.9% of the team?
Sometimes getting promoted one has to beat around the bush to deflect jealousy for being promoted.
bttt
Whole unit will get the Presidential Unit Citation and he’ll get at least the USCG Achievement Medal. Not sure they will get higher awards since the attitude is very much like the lad was saying. They were up and did the job.
You gotta go out, coming back is optional.
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