Editor’s note: President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem traveled to Corpus Christi on Friday to honor the crew’s courage and dedication. For his “actions, skill and heroism,” Ruskan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hopper received the Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his “exceptional aeronautical skill and heroism.” Ogujiofor and Reeves were awarded the Air Medal in recognition of their “actions and aeronautical skill.” For more information on these citations, please see the press release.
Coast Guard members are trained to be America’s first responders. That training was in full force on July 4, when Air Station Corpus Christi received a call to assist the State of Texas near the town of Kerrville. Rising waters from the Guadalupe River had caused a catastrophic flash flood, and resources from across the state were mobilizing to respond.
The request was 150 miles inland and not an area where the service normally operates, but four members from Air Station Corpus Christi, Rescue 6553, were ready.
Over the next seven hours, the crew – pilot Lt. Ian Hopper, co-pilot Lt. Blair Ogujiofor, rescue swimmer Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, and flight mechanic Petty Officer 3rd Class Seth Reeves – tried to punch through weather that tested the operating limits of their HC-65E Dolphin helicopter. During three attempts to navigate the weather, the helicopter experienced inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), a situation where a pilot must suddenly rely on instruments for navigations – one of the most dangerous situations a flight crew can experience. After three aborted attempts, the crew punched through using their weather radar capabilities. Army helicopters followed close behind, relying on the Coast Guard’s radar to plot a path through the storm.
After arriving on scene, Rescue 6553 assessed the increasingly complex airspace and proceeded to Camp Mystic along with several other aircraft in the area. After landing at the camp, the team left their rescue swimmer, Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, on scene. Over the next three hours, Rescue 6553 air-lifted campers and counselors from Camp Mystic to safety. While the HC-65E Dolphin was airlifting children to safety, Ruskan triaged campers on the ground, carefully counting the 165 people he loaded into helicopters to ensure accuracy and accountability in the ongoing response.
Camp Mystic, in the town of Kerrville, was one of the hardest hit areas in the catastrophic flooding, which has tragically claimed at least 120 lives. In partnership with state and local authorities and first responders, Coast Guard crews have assisted and rescued 230 people. As we mourn with the families and local community, we also honor the heroic efforts of the Rescue 6553 team and all the state and local responders.
“Our crew’s efforts in this response alongside our state and local partners were heroic,” said Lt. Cdr. Rachel Ault, Coast Guard Heartland District’s Public Affairs Officer. “As we commend them on their incredible efforts to bring Texans to safety, we also stand with the local community as they continue their response to this tragedy. As America’s first responders, our crews will always be ready to help those in need.”
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