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From the New York Post: A Coast Guard rescue swimmer is already being hailed as an “American hero” after his very first mission — helping to save the lives of 165 Texas flash flood victims.
“This is what it’s all about, right? Like, this is why we do the job,” said Scott Ruskan, 26, a New Jersey native and former KPMG accountant, to The Post after his work in central Texas.
“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.
Raised in Oxford, NJ, Ruskan enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2021, and after completing basic training, went to Aviation survival technician school in Petaluma, Calif., before being stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The report explains that Ruskan, after completing all his training, has been on call with the U.S. Coast Guard since November. Very early on July 4, he was called into service after the deadly flooding in Texas, and by 7 a.m., Ruskan was on his way to Camp Mystic with other Coast Guard crews.
The report explains that Ruskan tended to terrified campers, some of them injured, and many who were shoeless and still wearing their pajamas. He directed the helicopters to the survivors so they could be brought to safety,
“So we basically got the majority of the people out of Camp Mystic, which is awesome. And I feel like we did a lot of good that day, but obviously it’s still super sad,” Ruskan recalled, adding, “There’s still a lot of people missing and unaccounted for, so the mission’s not over yet. It’s not over for us.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X, “United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas. This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene. Scott Ruskin is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG.”
United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas.
This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene.
Scott Ruskin is…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) July 6, 2025
AMERICAN HERO 🇺🇸
As catastrophic floods swept through Central Texas, Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskan and his Coast Guard aircrew answered the call of duty without hesitation—saving 165 lives during his first rescue mission.
The extraordinary bravery and selfless service of Ruskan… pic.twitter.com/oDoOCjF6sN
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 7, 2025
Below is a Fox News interview with Ruskan:
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