Latest news with #U.S.ArmyNationalGuard
Global News
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Coast guard swimmer saves 169 lives in Texas floods on first-ever rescue
A U.S. Coast Guard swimmer is being hailed a hero after rescuing 169 people from flash flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas during a natural disaster that has devastated communities across the state. At about 7 a.m. on Friday, Scott Ruskan, 26, was on duty at an air station in Corpus Christi, Texas, when his team was called in to respond to raging floods in central Texas. During an interview on Good Morning America on Monday, Ruskan said he 'just happened to be on the duty crew' when the call came in, and treacherous weather conditions turned what should have been a 60-minute flight from Corpus Christi to Hunt into an hours-long ordeal. After navigating a difficult journey, the team established a triage site at Camp Mystic, a century-old all-girls camp along the Guadalupe River, and stationed Ruskan there, while helicopters landed and took off to transport survivors to safety. Story continues below advertisement Camp Mystic was ravaged by the flooding, which claimed the lives of 27 campers, including children. View image in full screen A view of Camp Mystic, the site where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. RONALDO SCHEMIDT / RONALDO SCHEMIDT / Getty Images 'I kind of discovered I was the only person there as far as first responders go. So I had about 200, kids mostly. All scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their life. And I just kind of needed to triage them, get them to a higher level of care, and get them off the flood zone,' he told Good Morning America. Ruskan worked with members of the U.S. Army National Guard to execute the rescue. The young first responder said the team established two landing zones, one on an archery field and another on a football field. Ruskan would guide groups of mostly children and some adults to the helicopters, which would then fly them out to secondary safe zones with more resources. Story continues below advertisement Ruskan finished his training with the coast guard just six months ago; the Texas floods were his first rescue mission. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Coast guard rescue swimmers get some of the highest-level training in the world. So really just kind of relied on that, just knowing that any of the rescue swimmers in the coast guard would have done the exact same, if not better than me,' he said. View image in full screen Search and recovery workers dig through debris looking for any survivors or remains of people swept up in the flash flooding at Camp Mystic on July 6, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. Jim Vondruska / Getty Images Ruskan also said he felt motivated to do his job by the trust the children put in him. Story continues below advertisement 'They don't really know what my experience is or my rank or my age … they just know, 'Hey this guy is a professional, and he's here to help us.' And I kind of had to live up to that standard,' he said. While Ruskan has been praised for offering a glimpse of hope to affected Texans during an unprecedented natural disaster, he says 'the kids on the ground' are the real heroes. 'Those guys are heroic, and they were dealing with some of the worst times of their lives, and they were staying strong. That helped inspire me to get in there and help them out,' he added. View image in full screen A view inside a cabin at Camp Mystic, the site where at least 20 girls went missing after flash flooding in Hunt, Texas, on July 5, 2025. (Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFRONALDO SCHEMIDT / Getty Images Ruskan told the New York Post that rescuers were able to get the majority of people trapped in Camp Mystic out, but that there were still many missing and that the mission was far from over. Story continues below advertisement Texas Sen. Ted Cruz wrote on Facebook on Tuesday that he had met with Ruskan and he was 'eternally grateful' for his service. The death toll from the floods passed 100 on Monday, as search and rescue teams continued to search for survivors, including 10 Camp Mystic girls and one counsellor who are still unaccounted for. 'We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,' the camp said in a statement. Searchers have found the bodies of 84 people, including 28 children, in the county home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, officials said. Among the deceased is the camp's owner, Richard Eastland. — With files from The Associated Press
Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Trump Honors America's Fallen Heroes in Memorial Day Address
WASHINGTON—Standing before the rows of white marble headstones at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on May 26, President Donald Trump delivered his first Memorial Day address of his second term, honoring the sacrifice of fallen service members. 'We gather today to honor the incredible service members who rest in glory in this cemetery and burial grounds around the world and in a thousand lonely places known only to God,' he said. 'In every hour of peril and every moment of crisis, American warriors have left behind the blessings of home and family to answer their nation's call.' The 156th National Memorial Day ceremony began with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Trump was accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, who's a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former U.S. Army National Guard officer who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. 'Each of the service members who have made the supreme sacrifice for our nation has also left an unfillable void and an unbreakable sacrifice,' Trump said, honoring Gold Star families. 'We will never forget our debt to you,' Trump said in his remarks, which lasted nearly 17 minutes. Related Stories 5/26/2025 5/26/2025 More than a million men and women have died while serving in the military since the Civil War began in 1861. The Civil War had the highest number of U.S. casualties of any war, with at least 500,000 killed, according to the This Memorial Day holds special significance, Trump added, as it marks 250 years since the first American patriots gave their lives for independence. 'We're going to have a big, big celebration,' he said. Trump also joked that he was glad to have missed a second term in the 2020 election, saying that it allowed him to be president now to celebrate the 250th anniversary. 'In addition, we have the World Cup and we have the Olympics. Can you imagine? I missed that four years, and now look what I have. I have everything. Amazing, the way things work out. God did that,' Trump said, drawing laughter from the crowd. Speaking at the event, Vance said that the U.S. leaders should 'treat the lives of our troops as the most precious resource.' 'The very best way to honor the fallen is to only ask the next generation to make the ultimate sacrifice when they absolutely must,' he said. 'We must be cautious in sending our people to war.' Before heading to the Arlington Cemetery on a cloudy Washington day, Trump wrote a flurry of posts on his Truth Social platform. In a lengthy He wrote that President Joe Biden allowed 21 million people 'to illegally enter our country, many of them being criminals and the mentally insane.' He also took aim at those he called 'USA-hating judges,' accusing them of protecting illegal immigrants and undermining national security. He said, they 'are on a mission to keep murderers, drug dealers, rapists, gang members, and released prisoners from all over the world, in our country so they can rob, murder and rape again.' Meanwhile, he said he hoped the U.S. Supreme Court and 'other good and compassionate judges' across the country would protect the country from the harmful decisions. He expressed confidence in progress made over the past four months and said the country will 'soon be safe and great again.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Embattled Hegseth gets public show of support from Trump during his 100-days trip
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, under investigation for mishandling sensitive military information, traveled to Michigan on Tuesday alongside President Donald Trump in what appeared to be a show of support for the Pentagon chief whose rocky tenure has prompted calls by Democrats for his resignation. Speaking at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Trump introduced his secretary of defense to the Guard members, telling them Hegseth was doing "a really great job." In brief remarks following Trump, Hegseth praised the president. MORE: Hegseth shouted threat to 'polygraph' top military officials: Sources 'Only because the commander in chief invited me,' Hegseth said, gesturing to Trump. 'Mr. President, thank you for restoring the warrior ethos inside our formations, for rebuilding our military, reestablishing deterrence around the world and making Americans proud to wear the uniform.' Hegseth later added: 'All I ever wanted when I was in combat was to know that my commander had my back no matter what, and with Donald J Trump, that commander has your back.' Hegseth's office declined to answer questions about why he was added to Trump's entourage as part of the president's trip to celebrate his 100 days in office. Hegseth's involvement was not previously announced. Trump was to speak later to a rally crowd in Warren, Michigan, to tout his achievements during his first 100 days. He was joined at the base by Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as he announced that Selfridge would receive 21 F-15 fighters which will bolster its future. An infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard, Hegseth deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the service with the rank of major, according to military records. 'From Day One, our overriding objectives have been clear: restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence,' said Sean Parnell, a senior adviser to Hegseth. 'In 100 days, the Department of Defense and our warfighters have delivered historic victories for the American people.' Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate earlier this year following allegations of financial mismanagement at a veterans nonprofit, sexual assault and heavy drinking -- all allegations he denies and says were aimed at smearing his reputation. MORE: Hegseth blames 'anonymous smears,' Trump defends him after 2nd Signal chat revealed Two months after Hegseth took the helm at the Pentagon, The Atlantic reported he was using the commercial messaging app Signal to update other national security officials, including Vice President JD Vance, with detailed plans for a military attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Hegseth then used a second Signal chat to provide sensitive details to his wife, brother and personal lawyer, ABC News confirmed. MORE: 2nd Signal chat reveals Hegseth messaging about Yemen strikes with family members: Sources The Pentagon's independent watchdog, DOD acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins, said he would investigate the use of Signal by Hegseth and others. MORE: Pentagon watchdog launches probe into Hegseth use of Signal chat ahead of Houthi airstrike Trump later told The Atlantic that he spoke with Hegseth following the reports. "I think he's gonna get it together," Trump said of Hegseth. "I had a talk with him, a positive talk, but I had a talk with him." Adding to the tumult is the departure of several top aides to the secretary. Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, recently stepped down, moving into a part-time advisory role. Hegseth fired three other close aides for what he said was leaking, although the aides say they have not been approached by investigators and remain unclear what the allegations are. And a fifth adviser resigned, writing a scathing opinion article calling Hegseth's handling of the Pentagon "total chaos." MORE: Hegseth lashes out at alleged Pentagon leakers he claims want to 'sabotage' Trump's agenda For his part, Hegseth said he's fighting to enact the president's agenda. On Tuesday, shortly before leaving on his trip with the president, Hegseth said he 'proudly" ended a small Defense Department program aimed at bolstering the participation of women in helping to resolve overseas conflicts, calling the effort a 'woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative.' The program -- called 'Women, Peace and Security' -- was signed into law by Trump during his first term in 2017 after several Republicans, including current Trump Cabinet members Kristi Noem and Marco Rubio, who were lawmakers at the time, sponsored the bill. In 2019, the Trump administration outlined a strategy for implementing the program, including insisting upon female representation by other countries during peace talks. Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, was among its supporters. 'Peace processes and peacebuilding efforts are more successful when women have influential roles,' the Trump administration wrote at the time. But according to Hegseth, the program never worked. 'Politicians fawn over it; troops HATE it,' Hegseth insisted. Hegseth acknowledged in a subsequent post that the effort was indeed a Trump initiative with Republican support. He then accused the Biden administration of ruining it. In 2021, President Joe Biden and Congress put $5.5 million in DOD spending toward implementing the law, including hiring and training personnel. Embattled Hegseth gets public show of support from Trump during his 100-days trip originally appeared on
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Here's why 4 U.S. Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters are landing in Richland
A group of military helicopters will be flying into the Tri-Cities this weekend for a training exercise. About 100 U.S. Army National Guard soldiers from the Broadsword Company 1-161 Infantry Regiment will kick off a weekend training exercise on Friday at the National Guard Readiness Center in Richland on Friday. Then on Saturday, two Chinook and two Black Hawk helicopters will be making their way around the Tri-Cities before landing at the center to pick them up, said a news release from the National Guard. From there they'll be headed to the U.S. Army Yakima Training Center. The 327,000-acre Yakima facility is used for maneuver training, live fire exercises and more. The helicopters are expected to be in the air early Saturday morning, and land at the Richland center around 9 a.m. The Richland readiness center, at 2655 First Street, opened in late 2022. It sits on a 40-acre site in the Horn Rapids area and is used by National Guard soldiers fulfilling their commitment to train one weekend a month and two weeks each year.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dolly Parton's husband of nearly 60 years and US Army veteran, Carl Dean, dies at 82
Dolly Parton has sung for decades with her loyal husband Carl Dean by her side. The two met in the early 1960s and it was love at first sight. The two met on Dolly's first day in Nashville, Tennessee in 1964 at the Wishy-Washy Laundromat. Dean said, 'My first thought was 'I'm gonna marry that girl. My second thought was, 'Lord, she's good-looking.''Dolly had dated only a couple of men back in her hometown and was not quite sure yet about him. On her website, Dolly shared, 'I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face, a rare thing for me. He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.' She took him to meet her family and then they went on their first date. Dean had to keep his commitment to the U.S. Army National Guard, so he completed his enlistment, which was for two years, in the stateside U.S. The two were engaged once he completed his assignment and they still had to keep the wedding on the down low because of Dolly's record label. The label did not want her marriage to be public. They married on May 30, 1966, and it lasted nearly 60 years. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Parthiban Shanmugam (@hollywoodcurry) Dean supported Parton's singing career in all its aspects. Parton's 60-year career has included 49 studio albums, 100 million records sold worldwide, 25 singles reaching No. 1 on the Billboard country music charts, composing over 3,000 songs, an actress in top-level Hollywood films, and 11 Grammys from 50 nominations — just to name a few of her accomplishments. All through this time their marriage endured and was strengthened. Although his personal taste in music was more hard rock, he still supported Parton in her passion. He ran an asphalt paving company in Nashville while she traveled the world singing and entertaining. He kept out of the limelight, rarely walking on the red carpet or being seen out in public with Parton. Parton called him 'romantic' as he did spontaneous things to surprise her and wrote her poems. Parton wrote songs for him, such as Jolene, Just Because I'm a Woman, From Here to the Moon and Back, Forever Love, Say Forever You'll Be Mine and Tomorrow is Forever. He even showed up on the album cover for Parton's My Blue Ridge Mountain Boy. When leaving their estate in Nashville, he would supposedly tell paparazzi that he was the 'gardener.' Parton said, 'Not everyone is lucky enough to be with someone for 50 years, but I have been. He has been the love of my life and the life of my love.' Their commitment included a renewal of their vows on May 6, 2016, for their 50th wedding anniversary. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton) Dean passed on Monday, March 3rd, 2025, at the age of 82. His funeral will be a private ceremony with the close family in attendance. We Are The Mighty provides our sincerest condolences to the Parton and Dean families.
