Congressman To Honor U.S. Coast Guardsman Who Saved 165 People In Texas Flood Rescue Mission
on Jul 14, 2025
Texas Congressman Wants To Honor U.S. Coast Guard Following Incredible Rescue Mission In Floods
A Congressman from San Antonio, Texas, wants to honor U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan for saving 165 lives during the tragic flooding earlier this month in the Texas Hill Country.
House Committee on Homeland Security member Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) introduced a resolution recognizing Ruskan for his heroic acts.
“Today, I introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize Scott Ruskan for saving 165 during the tragic floods that struck the Lone Star State. Mr. Ruskan embodies what makes our servicemembers the best of the best,” Rep. Gonzales said.“Many lives were saved because of Mr. Ruskan’s bravery and selfless commitment to his mission, and I thank my colleagues for working with me to ensure we give this American hero the recognition he has earned.”
Cosponsors of the resolution include Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX), Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS), Representative Clay Higgins (R-LA), Representative Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO), and Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC).
“U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Petty Officer Scott Ruskan is a true American hero and patriot. He serves as a reminder to all Americans that we are a nation of the brave,” Chairman Guest said. “I am honored to co-sponsor this resolution to honor the rescue mission led by Ruskan’s team, during which he saved 165 lives. Thank you for your service, Petty Officer Ruskan.”
Scott Ruskan Saves Hundreds Of People On Very First Operation
Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, saved 165 people during his very first rescue mission amid the catastrophic flash flooding on the Guadalupe River.
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 Ruskan’s recovery efforts on X, calling him an “American Hero”.
United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas.
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) July 6, 2025
This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene.
Scott Ruskin is…
Ruskan’s Remarkable Journey With The U.S. Coast Guard
Ruskan 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.”
Since completing his training, Ruskan had been on call starting in November, 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.
