“Semper Paratus” is the famous motto and marching song of the US Coast Guard. While little is known about the reason why it was chosen, it is well known that Captain Francis Saltus Van Boskerck wrote the lyrics on the cutter Yamacraw in 1922. The music to accompany those famous verses was composed five years later in Unalaska in Alaska, with the help of Alf E. Nannestad and Koseph O. Fournier. Mrs. Albert C. Clara Goss, the wife of a local fur trader, lent her old piano to the men to compose the new melody and to finish the song.
Interesting note: While Van Boskerck wrote the song in the 1920s, the phrase „Semper Paratus“ had been appearing on Coast Guard (and Revenue Cutter Service) ensigns and seals since at least the mid-19th century. But Van Boskerck gave the motto its musical soul.
The hope for the motto was to become at least as important to the USCG as the motto “Semper Fidelis” is for the Marines and the song “Anchors Away” is for the Navy. “Semper Paratus” is unique insofar that it is the motto AND the marching song of the USCG.
Here you can see the different versions of the song as well as its evolution over time:
Semper Paratus
Words and Music by Captain Francis Saltus Van Boskerck, USCG
Words and Music Copyright by Same Fox Publishing Co, Inc.
First Verse:
From Aztec Shore to Arctic Zone,
To Europe and Far East,
The Flag is carried by our ships
In times of war and peace;
And never have we struck it yet
In spite of foemen’s might,
Who cheered our crews and cheered again
For showing how to fight.
Chorus:
We’re always ready for the call,
We place our trust in Thee.
Through surf and storm and howling gale,
High shall our purpose be.
„Semper Paratus“ is our guide,
Our fame, our glory too.
To fight to save or fight and die,
Aye! Coast Guard we are for you!
Second Verse:
SURVEYOR and NARCISSUS,
The EAGLE and DISPATCH,
The HUDSON and TAMPA,
These names are hard to match;
From Barrow’s shores to Paraguay,
Great Lakes or ocean’s wave,
The Coast Guard fights through storms and winds,
To punish or to save.
Third Verse:
Aye! We’ve been always ready!
To do, to fight, or die
Write glory to the shield we wear
In letters to the sky.
To sink the foe or save the maimed,
Our mission and our pride.
We’ll carry on ‚til Kingdom Come,
Ideals for which we’ve died.
Original Version (circa 1927):
First Verse:
From Aztec Shore to Arctic Zone,
To Europe and Far East,
The Flag is carried by our ships
In times of war and peace;
And never have we struck it yet,
In spite of foemen’s might,
Who cheered our crews and cheered again,
For showing how to fight.
Chorus:
So here’s the Coast Guard marching song,
We sing on land or sea.
Through surf and storm and howling glae,
High shall our purpose be.
„Semper Paratus“ is our guide,
Our fame, our glory, too,
To fight to save or fight and die!
Aye! Coast Guard, we’re for you.
Second Verse:
SURVEYOR and NARCISSUS,
The EAGLE and DISPATCH,
The HUDSON and TAMPA,
These names are hard to match;
From Barrow’s shores to Paraguay,
Great Lakes or ocean’s wave,
The Coast Guard fights through storms and winds,
To punish or to save.
Third Verse:
Aye! We’ve been „Always Ready“
To do, to fight, or die
Write glory to the shield we wear
In letters to the sky.
To sink the foe or save the maimed,
Our mission and our pride.
We’ll carry on ‚til Kingdom Come,
Ideals for which we’ve died.
Second Version (circa 1943):
First Verse:
From North and South and East and West
The Coast Guard’s in the fight.
Busting subs and landing troops
The Axis feels our might.
For we’re the first invaders
On every fighting field.
From Arctic zone to tropic shore
You’ll find our Silver Shield.
Chorus:
So here’s the Coast Guard battle song,
We fight on land or sea.
Through howling gale and shot and shell
To win our victory.
Semper Paratus is our guide,
Our pledge, our motto, too.
We’re „always ready“, do or die
Aye, Coast Guard we fight for you!
Second Verse:
SURVEYOR and NARCISSUS,
The EAGLE and DISPATCH,
The HUDSON and TAMPA,
These names are hard to match;
From Barrow’s shores to Paraguay,
Great Lakes or ocean’s wave,
The Coast Guard fights through storms and winds,
To punish or to save.
Third Verse:
Aye! We’ve been „Always Ready“
To do, to fight, or die
Write glory to the shield we wear
In letters to the sky.
To sink the foe or save the maimed,
Our mission and our pride.
We’ll carry on ‚til Kingdom Come,
Ideals for which we’ve died.
Source: https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/History-Heritage-Traditions/Semper-Paratus/ (23.03.2026).
Semper Paratus: A Historian’s Log 