When Petty Officer Scott Ruskan from Warren County, New Jersey, began his first-ever rescue mission as a Coast Guard swimmer, he had no idea he was about to become a national hero. The devastating Texas flooding in Kerr County had already claimed dozens of lives when the 23-year-old Rider University graduate arrived at the scene, where torrential rains had caused the Guadalupe River to rise an incredible 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Ruskan immediately spotted about 200 children at a flooded campsite and knew exactly where he needed to focus his efforts.
Working as the only triage coordinator at the scene, Ruskan single-handedly rescued an astonishing 165 people from the deadly floodwaters, including many of the stranded campers who might not have survived without his quick thinking and brave actions. Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem praised his “selfless courage” that “embodies the spirit and mission of the Coast Guard,” calling him an American hero. The former track and field athlete, whose uncle proudly shared the news on social media, proved that sometimes the most extraordinary acts of bravery happen when we least expect them. Ruskan’s incredible first mission not only saved countless lives but reminded everyone that heroes can emerge from anywhere, even a college campus in New Jersey.