Everyone is familiar with the Coast Guard Motto which is "Semper Paratus (English: Always ready)!

Very few of you know the "real Coast Guard Motto" which is: "We have done so much, with so little, for so long that we will continue to do everything, with nothing, forever."

Those of you that have been in the Coast Guard know exactly what I'm talking about. The only time the Coast Guard gets the money they need is in time of war (when placed under the Navy funding) and in a national emergency when all of a sudden there is extra money for the Coast Guard. Otherwise, we have to "procure" what we need from the nearest military facility and most of the time they are throwing away better stuff then we are operating with.

Just a passing thought from an old retired "Coastie".

Just a added note. Read the second motto and reminded me of a book. " Coast Guard Action in Vietnam". Talk about doing so much with so little, what they did was outstanding. Probably saved more lives than we will ever know.

x-coastie

Yes we did and I spent a one year all expense paid cruise to Nam on the 255' CGC Androscoggin.

while i was at CGAS BKLYN, the USCG Mortenthau was looking for a 18 month cruise with ya. At the time i had 17 months left and told them no thank you. Governor's Island is where the pulled them from.
From most of my airport talks/drinks with other vets, they all spoke highly of the Coast Guard over there. Half the people i knew did not know the coast guard was over there.

When people ask me about Viet Nam and how many Coasties served over there, I just tell them that there were more Coasties in Nam percentage wise than any other branch of service. During the entire Viet Nam conflict more than 25,000 Coasties had a tour over there. When you figure that the Coast Guard at that time was made up of approximately 35,000 officers and enlisted that means that close to 75% served time in Nam.

my comparison that i was told was with NYPD. They had more cops in nyc than in the Coast Guard.