Honoring Courage: Trump Recognizes New Jersey Rescue Swimmer for Heroic Texas Flood Mission
President Donald Trump hailed a New Jersey Coast Guard rescue swimmer for his bravery during last year’s Texas floods at his State of the Union address on Tuesday. Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, who saved 165 lives in one of Texas’s deadliest flooding catastrophes, was honored nationally.
Ruskan, from Warren County, New Jersey, was conspicuously seated above the dais during the president’s speech. Ruskan, who now lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, became famous after risking his life in fast-moving floodwaters on July Fourth last year. Heavy rainfall in central Texas produced devastating floods and widespread death.
The president described how Ruskan was lowered from a Coast Guard aircraft into perilous waters in Kerr County, where floodwaters had engulfed Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp on the Guadalupe River. One of the worst natural disasters in the region, the unprecedented flooding killed at least 136 people statewide, including two dozen campers and staff.
The president said Ruskan’s first rescue operation was that day. Despite the risks, he rescued 165 people, including several youngsters stranded in the campgrounds as floodwaters rose. Ruskan said in interviews after the rescue that Coast Guard crews saw a big group of campers in need from the air and focused on Camp Mystic.
As conditions worsened, rescue swimmers pulled 10 to 15 children at a time from the treacherous seas. Under severe pressure, the operation requires coordination, training, and calm decision-making. Ruskan’s actions mirrored the Coast Guard’s goal to save lives in maritime and interior situations.
Ruskan received the Legion of Merit from President Trump for his extraordinary service. The honor demonstrated the federal government’s recognition of the life-saving mission’s valor.
The president also reunited Ruskan with Milly Cate McClymond, a flood-rescued camper, during the talk. The president narrated Ruskan’s rescue of the girl from a helicopter while they sat side by side. The poignant reunion underscored emergency response’s human cost.
Ruskan was unavailable for comment before publication. He said in national media interviews that the Coast Guard crew worked hard during the crisis to make the mission successful.
It emphasizes the importance of skilled emergency responders in natural disasters. Flooding is one of the most deadly and unexpected weather risks in the US, leaving little time for evacuation. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Coast Guard searches and rescues during hurricanes, storms, and inland flooding.
The president recognized Ruskan in a nationally televised address to Congress, highlighting one service member’s bravery and the contributions of first responders across. For many Americans, the event reminded them of the risks the Armed Forces and emergency services take daily to safeguard communities in distress.
As Texas recovers from the terrible floods, Scott Ruskan’s story shows fortitude under duress and the life-saving power of organized emergency response. His Legion of Merit award is a milestone in his career and symbolizes US Coast Guard ideals of dedication and duty.
Sources
The White House
United States Coast Guard
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Associated Press
