The Military Order of the Cootie of the United States is a non-profit Veterans Service Organization. We are known as "The Honor Degree of the VFW" and our members are comprised of the officers and leadership of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Membership in the MOC is a recognition of outstanding service to the VFW and its programs.
Founded in New York City on September 17, 1920, the MOC is based on the principles of good humor and fun. Over the past ninety years, the Cooties have provided social and entertainment programs to members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. as an Ancillary unit within the organization. Since 1923, our first year as a part of the VFW, the Cooties have worked hard to further the aims of the VFW while adding to it the frivolity known as Military Humor to the serious work of our parent organization. What would ultimately become known as the VFW National Home for Children, a sprawling campus of homes located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, started out as the brainchild of the MOC. We firmly believe in caring for the widows and children of our Armed Forces. Literally millions of dollars have been raised and donated to help "our kids" over our history; starting with the library, the swimming pool, the Fire Department, and a host of other projects designed to make life fun and educational for the children during their stay at the National Home.
With the outbreak of World War II, the Cooties recognized a need to entertain hospitalized troops and veterans during their confinement and rehabilitation at Veterans Administration facilities throughout the country. Our service program is described as a directive to "Keep 'em Smiling in Beds of White." Each year the Cooties volunteer thousands of hours of time worth over ten million dollars to DVA Hospitals and domiciliary throughout the United States. This work, in addition to the hours of service donated as active members of the VFW, set the members of the MOC apart as Foreign Service and Combat Veterans who are fully engaged in their communities, and their fellow comrades in arms and their families. Our distinctive red hat and unusual uniform sets us apart and draw attention to the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves. We sacrifice a little of ourselves to bring a smile or a laugh during what is normally a difficult time for our heroes. We seek others like us to join and help us help them in their times of stress and anxiety.
After completing your 3rd-degree initiation, did you ever wonder where your "Honor
Degree" was? We are the "Honor Degree" of the VFW, right? Well, now there is an actual
"Honor Degree" for our Crummy Fraternity of Specie Pediculi; authorized by our Supreme
Commander, Olin Parks. A sample copy of the degree is in this issue. The actual PDF
fillable version can be found on the Forms page under the Pup Tent tab: https://www.lotcs.
org/forms.html. So, once you have completed your 3rd-degree initiation you now will have
proof of your journey from Atom to Nit to Grayback and finally a Cootie. What about if you've
already completed your 3rd-degree initiation? Not to worry, the degree is retroactive. So,
have the present Seam Squirrel (the issuing authority) print your degree.
Military Order of the Cooties
Maeng Das Pup Tent 6, Pacific Areas
All Posts in Thailand and Cambodia, except Australia are represented w/Members in PT 6
(Highlighted Post Below have a MOC Page)
POST 9951 BANGKOK
POST 10249 UDORN
POST 11575 PHNOM PENH
POST 12163 AUSTRALIA
Scratches are held quarterly with the District V Meetings.
PAST SCRATCH MINUTES:
Maintained by the Keeper of the Lousy Records
Pup Tent Admin Info Links:
Next Scheduled District V Pup Tent 6 Cootie Scratch
Feb 17, 2023, a Physical Meet and via Zoom
Time: 1230 hrs-1500hrs
Location: Perth, Australia Post 12163 Hosting
POC: Seam Squirrel Randy Riggs
Host Cdr McNamara
Zoom Link: Sent via member email list on 8 Feb at 14:26 hrs
Pup Tent 6 Officer List 2022-2023
Pup Tent 6 Photo Posted as Cootie Officers
NEW COMRADE COOTIES for 2022-2023
DEPARTED COMRADE COOTIES
Jim Oden 25 August 2020
Burt G. Nestle 7 March 2021
George Mayo
Barry Moshinsky 19 June 2022
PUBLICATIONS
Cootie Courier Archive Issues
Contact Us at:
"While the Military Order of the Cootie is
desirous of increasing its membership, it is particular as to who may become a
member. By invitation, persons making application for membership in the
Military Order of the Cootie shall have done much toward the promotion of a
greater VFW, through being active members for at least six months in a Veterans
of Foreign Wars Post and through completion of satisfactory service on a Post
committee or satisfactory performance of Post duties or participating actively
as a leader of post functions. The applicant’s Post Commander and Post Adjutant
certify eligibility by signing the MOC Application."
Any Cooties activities sponsored in the Post local area shall be informed to the Post Commander.
