Military Order of the Carabao

The Military Order of the Carabao is a social club open to officers of the U.S. military 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. Descendants of those eligible for membership are themselves eligible, regardless of military service. As of 2016 the annual dues were US$50.[1]

Military Order of the Carabao
TypeSocial club
52-6046824
HeadquartersArmy and Navy Club
Location
  • Washington, D.C.
Websitecarabao.org

Background

The organization was founded in 1900 by U.S. officers stationed in the Philippines during the Philippine Insurrection that occurred after the Spanish–American War. 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 Military Order of the Dragon, founded by other American officers who served in the short-lived Boxer uprising in China. Only the Carabao survives today.

The carabao referred to in the organization's name is a domesticated water buffalo 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 Aztec Club of 1847, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the Military Order of the Stars and Bars, the Military Order of the Dragon, the Naval Order of the United States, the Military Order of Foreign Wars, the Order of Lafayette and the Military Order of the World Wars.

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. 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, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Richard B. Myers, former CIA director and defense secretary James Schlesinger, Congressman Ike Skelton, Air Force Secretary Pete Aldridge, NASA director Sean O'Keefe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace, General P. X. Kelley, General Alfred M. Gray, Jr., former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Admiral James M. Loy, General Jack N. Merritt, General Billy Mitchell 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.[1]

Other members of the Order have included:

In 2015 Gene Simmons of the rock band Kiss was inducted as an honorary member at the Order's annual wallow in Washington, D.C.[7]

See also

References
  1. "The Military Order of the Carabao – Membership". Carabao.org. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  2. Walsh, Thomas P. (4 April 2013). Tin Pan Alley and the Philippines: American Songs of War and Love, 1898-1946, A Resource Guide. ISBN 9780810886094.
  3. "Wilson's Ire Up, He Quits Carabao". The Washington Post. second page can be viewed at Newspapers.com/clip/106935374/carabao/. Washington, DC. 6 December 1913. pp. 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. "Razor-Edged Army Proposed for U.S." The Evening Star. Washington, DC. 7 February 1926. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "List of the Diners; The Carabaos present at the dinner". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. 8 January 1911. p. Section 3, Page 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Was Born in the Philippines: The Order of the Carabao Organized Among Military Officers Who Served in the Islands". The Menasha Record. Menasha, WI. 9 February 1906. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Emily Heil (2 December 2021) [2015-02-09]. "What was Kiss frontman Gene Simmons doing hanging out with Washington's military elite?". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.

Sources
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