06/02/2023
Congratulations to Cole Fleck who received the The Captain Sean M Ruane Foundation scholarship honoring Gold Star Service Member Sean Ruane.
Sean graduated from Montour High School in 2000 where he was an active student in high school participating in Soccer, Track, and Marching Band. After graduation, Sean went on to attend and graduate from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, participating in both the US Air Force and Army ROTC
programs.
Sean earned his 1st Fixed Wing Pilot Wings and went on to train on the UH-1H Huey Helicopter. Having loved everything about the aircraft, Sean set his eyes on the HH60-G Pave Hawk so that he could become a combat search and rescue pilot. Along with loving the aircraft, Sean felt a kinship with the rescue community, especially with their motto: “These things we do, that others may live.”
Sean chose to follow his heart & was determined to be a combat rescue pilot. Sean served three tours of duty in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. Sean was able to realize his dream and became a well-decorated combat pilot. He and his crews are credited with the rescue of 131 American lives and many more coalition member lives, giving more than 100 of our military an opportunity to go home again.
On January 7th, 2014 while on a low-level nighttime training mission out of RAF Lakenheath on the northeast coast of England. Sean and the three other “Jolly 22” airmen flying in their HH60-G Pave Hawk crashed, killing all on board.
We remember their sacrifice in service to our country as well as the sacrifices of the families they have left behind. The Captain Sean M. Ruane Memorial Foundation was formed in Sean’s memory and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to remembering Sean’s life by not only spreading the word about his life, but by doing something that Sean dedicated his life to, which is helping others. The foundation works to be active members of our community, doing so under the Combat Rescue motto: “These things we do, that others may live.”
Sean is survived by his wife, Rachel and his son, Liam, who live in New Jersey, his sister Katie and his parents Marcia and Michael Ruane.