The Military Order of the Carabao is a social club open to officers of the

U.S. military The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...

and war correspondents who served in the Philippines or on overseas official military campaigns. The order was initially created to satirize the pompous and pretentious

Military Order of the Dragon The Military Order of the Dragon was an exclusive fraternal order founded in 1900 by members of the China Relief Expedition, a U.S. military force that participated in the Boxer Rebellion in Imperial China. Background Following custom, the offi ...

. Descendants of those eligible for membership are themselves eligible, regardless of military service. the annual dues were

US$ The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...

50.

Background

The organization was founded in 1900 by U.S. officers stationed in the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

during the

Philippine Insurrection The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

that occurred after the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (clock ...

. The idea for a lampoon was conceived by several Army officers one night at the Army-Navy Club in Manila. This organization was founded to counter and satirize the

, founded by other American officers who served in the short-lived

Boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: * Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing *Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

uprising in China. Only the Carabao survives today. The

carabao The carabao ( es, Carabao; tgl, Kalabaw; ceb, Kabaw; ilo, Nuang) is a domestic swamp-type water buffalo (''Bubalus bubalis'') native to the Philippines. Carabaos were introduced to Guam from the Spanish Philippines in the 17th century. They ...

referred to in the organization's name is a domesticated

water buffalo The water buffalo (''Bubalus bubalis''), also called the domestic water buffalo or Asian water buffalo, is a large bovid originating in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Today, it is also found in Europe, Australia, North America, So ...

used as a beast of labor in the Philippines. The group's membership is referred to as "the herd" and individual members are called "bulls." At each annual Wallow, the incoming Grand Paramount Carabao promises to "keep the herd well-wetted down." The Military Order of the Carabao is one of several military orders in the United States composed of commissioned officers and their descendants. Other military orders include the

Society of the Cincinnati The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...

, the

Aztec Club of 1847 The Aztec Club of 1847 is a military society founded in 1847 by United States Army officers of the Mexican–American War. It exists as a hereditary organization including members who can trace a direct lineal connection to those originally eligib ...

, the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

, the

Military Order of the Stars and Bars The Military Order of the Stars and Bars (MOSB) is a 501(c)(3) organization, 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States based in Woodbridge, Virginia. It is a lineage society founded in 1938 for men who are descended from military com ...

, the Military Order of the Dragon, the Naval Order of the United States, the

Military Order of Foreign Wars The Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States (MOFW) is one of the oldest veterans' and hereditary associations in the nation with a membership that includes officers and their hereditary descendants from all of the Armed Services. Memb ...

, the

Order of Lafayette The Order of Lafayette is a patriotic, hereditary, nonpartisan, and fraternal organization established in New York City in 1958 by Colonel Hamilton Fish III (1888-1991), a former Congressman from New York and decorated veteran of the First World War ...

and the

Military Order of the World Wars The Military Order of the World War was created in 1919 at the suggestion of General of the Armies John J. Pershing as a fraternity for American military officers coming out of the Great War. Two decades later, when the USA became involved in WWI ...

Carabao Wallow

The organization sponsors an annual social event called the Carabao Wallow, a black-tie, military-dress affair attended by members of the U.S. military, the U.S. government, and corporations associated with the military, such as

defense contractors Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

. Members perform semi-professional musical skits at the Wallow that often poke fun at national and international issues as well as current events. It is not uncommon for the Carabao players to spoof the high-ranking guests seated at the Head Table. The group's anthem, sung at the Wallow, is "The Soldier's Song,” which refers to “''bolos''” (machetes used by Filipino insurgents) and “''ladrones''” (thieves) :''In the days of dopey dreams—happy, peaceful Philippines,'' :''When the bolomen were busy all night long.'' :''When ladrones would steal and lie, and Americanos die,'' :''Then you heard the soldiers sing this evening song:'' :''Damn, damn, damn the insurrectos!'' :''Cross-eyed kakiac ladrones!'' :''Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag,'' :''And return us to our own beloved homes.'' This is sung to " Tramp! Tramp!Tramp!"

Membership

Members and guests at the Wallow in recent years have included former Secretary of State

Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African ...

, Defense Secretary

Robert M. Gates Robert Michael Gates (born September 25, 1943) is an American intelligence analyst and university president who served as the 22nd United States secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. He was originally appointed by president George W. Bush an ...

, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Richard B. Myers, former CIA director and defense secretary

James Schlesinger James Rodney Schlesinger (February 15, 1929 – March 27, 2014) was an American economist and public servant who was best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Prior to ...

, Congressman

Ike Skelton Isaac Newton Skelton IV (December 20, 1931 – October 28, 2013) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. representative for from 1977 to 2011. During his tenure, he served as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committe ...

, Air Force Secretary Pete Aldridge, NASA director

Sean O'Keefe Sean Charles O'Keefe (born January 27, 1956) is a university professor at Syracuse University Maxwell School, former chairman of Airbus Group, Inc., former Secretary of the Navy, former Administrator of NASA, and former chancellor of Louisiana S ...

, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General

Peter Pace Peter Pace (born November 5, 1945) is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Pace was the first Marine officer appointed as chairman and the first Marine officer to be appointed ...

, General P. X. Kelley, General

Alfred M. Gray, Jr. Alfred Mason Gray Jr. (born June 22, 1928) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1 July 1987 until his retirement on 30 June 1991 after 41 years of service. Early li ...

, former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Admiral James M. Loy, General

Jack N. Merritt Jack Neil Merritt (October 23, 1930 – January 3, 2018) was a United States Army four-star general who served as U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP) from 1985 to 1987. Military career Merritt was born in Lawton, Okla ...

, General

Billy Mitchell William Lendrum Mitchell (December 29, 1879 – February 19, 1936) was a United States Army officer who is regarded as the father of the United States Air Force. Mitchell served in France during World War I and, by the conflict's end, command ...

and General Carl Mundy and Jeff Owad. Honorary membership is conferred upon the President of the United States and the Ambassador to the United States from the Republic of the Philippines. Other members of the Order have included: * President

William Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pr ...

(honorary) - he later resigned his membership after an act of public ridicule of his administration's Philippines policy. * President

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...

(honorary) * General of the Armies John J. Pershing * General of the Army

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...

(Installed as Supreme Paramount Carabao in February 1932.) * General

Walter Krueger Walter Krueger (26 January 1881 – 20 August 1967) was an American soldier and general officer in the first half of the 20th century. He commanded the Sixth United States Army in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. He rose fr ...

* Lieutenant General

John L. DeWitt John Lesesne DeWitt (January 9, 1880 – June 20, 1962) was a 4-star general officer in the United States Army, best known for leading the Japanese American internment, internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. After the attack on Pe ...

* Lieutenant General

Samuel B. M. Young Samuel Baldwin Marks Young (January 9, 1840 – September 1, 1924) was a United States Army general. He also served as the first president of Army War College between 1902 and 1903. He then served from 1903 until 1904 as the first Chief of Staf ...

* Vice Admiral

Albert P. Niblack Albert Parker Niblack (July 25, 1859 – August 20, 1929) was a United States admiral who served during the First World War. In 1940, the USS ''Niblack'' (DD-424), sponsored by his widow, was named in his honor. Biography Niblack was bor ...

* Major General James B. Aleshire * Major General Frederick D. Grant * Major General

Ulysses S. Grant III Ulysses Simpson Grant III (July 4, 1881August 29, 1968) was a United States Army officer and planner. He was the son of Frederick Dent Grant, and the grandson of General of the Army and American President Ulysses S. Grant. Early life and educat ...

* Major General

Mark L. Hersey Mark Leslie Hersey (December 1, 1863 – January 22, 1934) was a major general in the United States Army who commanded the 4th Division during World War I. Early life and education Hersey was born in Maine on December 1, 1863, the son of George ...

* Major General

Charles L. McCawley Charles Laurie McCawley (August 24, 1865 – April 29, 1935) was an American officer who served in the United States Marine Corps during the Spanish–American War and World War I. He who was one of only 23 Marine Corps officers awarded the Mari ...

, USMC * Major General Charles T. Menoher * Major General

William W. Wotherspoon William Wallace Wotherspoon (November 16, 1850 – October 21, 1921) was a United States Army general who served as Chief of Staff of the United States Army in 1914. Early life Wotherspoon was born in Washington, D.C., on November 16, 1850, the ...

* Brigadier General Daniel W. Hand * Brigadier General

John F. Madden John Fitz Madden (March 30, 1870 – May 19, 1946) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the U.S. response to the Garza Revolution, Spanish–American War, United States Military Government in Cuba, Philippine–American W ...

* Brigadier General

Walter McCaw Walter Drew McCaw (February 10, 1863 – July 7, 1939) was a career officer in the United States Army. A medical doctor, he served as an army surgeon and attained the rank of brigadier general. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine� ...

* Brigadier General

Jacob H. Smith General Jacob Hurd Smith (January 29, 1840 – March 1, 1918) was a U.S. Army officer notorious for ordering indiscriminate retaliation on the island of Samar in response to what is called the Balangiga massacre during the Philippine–Amer ...

* Rear Admiral Joseph K. Taussig * Rear Admiral

Nathan C. Twining Nathan Crook Twining (17 January 1869 – 4 July 1924) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy. Biography Twining was born in Boscobel, Wisconsin, on 17 January 1869, the son of Nathan Crook Twining Sr. (1834–1924) and his second wife, Ma ...

* Colonel Melville J. Shaw, USMC * Major Archibald Butt In 2015

Gene Simmons Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz; he, חיים ויץ, ; born August 25, 1949) is an Israeli-American musician. Also known by his stage persona The Demon, he is the bassist and co-lead singer of Kiss, the hard rock band he co-founded with Paul ...

of the rock band

Kiss A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...

was inducted as an honorary member at the Order's annual wallow in Washington, D.C.

References

Sources

Military Order of the Carabao

''"Historical sketch, constitution, and register of the Military order of the Carabao together with songs that have been sung at "wallows" in various places."''
edited by Military Order of the Carabao, Publisher: W.F. Roberts Co., Washington, D.C.,1914.
Officers of the Main Corral 1913
"Military order of the Carabao," by the Military Order of the Carabao *Ian Urbina, “The Empire Strikes Back: The Tribal Rites of America's Military Leaders,�

29 January-4 February 2003. *Edwards, E.J., "Men Who Head America's Exclusive Patriotic Societies; Descendant of Gov. Winslow Is President-General of the Cincinnati – The Warrior Who Heads the Loyal Legion – An Old Indian Fighter Commands the Military Order of the Carbao,

13 November 1910, n.p. *"Carabao Order Has High Standards; Formed in 1900 to Perpetuate Memories and Associations in Philippines. It Aim to Foster Duty,

26 December 1913, n.p.

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.carabao.org 1900 establishments in the United States Fraternal orders Philippine–American War Secret societies in the United States United States military support organizations

Background

Carabao Wallow

Membership

See also

References

Sources

External links