Lieutenant Ian Hopper: Coast Guard Pilot Who Led Heroic Texas Flood Rescue

When devastating flash floods struck Kerr County, Texas, in the early hours of July 4, 2025, Coast Guard Lieutenant Ian Hopper and his three-person crew embarked on one of the most harrowing rescue missions in recent Coast Guard history. For their extraordinary courage and life-saving efforts, the crew of Rescue 6553 received medals from Secretary Kristi Noem in a ceremony on July 11, 2025.

The mission began when the Guadalupe River rose rapidly, trapping hundreds of campers—including children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer retreat—in the path of rushing floodwaters. Flying an HC-65E Dolphin helicopter through a dense storm from Air Station Corpus Christi, Hopper and his crew relied solely on instruments to navigate 150 miles through dangerous conditions.

The crew attempted to reach the hardest-hit area three times over nearly seven hours, facing treacherous weather that would have grounded most aircraft. Finally, they "punched through using their weather radar capabilities," opening a critical lifeline for trapped survivors. Working alongside Army helicopters, Hopper's team coordinated the evacuation of 165 people, directly rescuing 18 themselves.

Aviation Survival Technician 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, in his first major Coast Guard operation, stayed on the ground to coordinate rescues, freeing up crucial space in the helicopter. The crew worked tirelessly through extreme conditions, with young girls and counselors among those they saved.

"In the face of devastating floods in Texas, this Coast Guard aircrew's courageous actions saved lives," said Admiral Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard's acting commandant. The mission exemplified the Coast Guard's motto—Semper Paratus, always ready—and showed that true heroism means flying into danger when others need help most.