The Military Order of the Cootie of the United States (MOC, or simply Military Order of the Cootie) is a national honor degree membership association separately constituted as a subordinate and as an auxiliary order chartered by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW).The organization's services include supporting the VFW National Home for Children and veterans hospitals Founded in 1920, it became a subsidiary of the VFW in 1923.
The order (originally known as the Military Order of the Cootie, U.S.A.) was established on September 17, 1920, in Washington D.C., by Fred C. Madden and F. L. Gransbury. The organization was modeled after the Imperial Order of the Dragon, an auxiliary to the United Spanish American War Veterans. The name "cootie" is a reference to the lice that plagued soldiers in World War I. Cooties were credited with keeping soldiers' heads down in the trenches A meeting of cooties is called a "scratch", the local chapter a "Pup Tent", the state affiliate a "Grand", and the national headquarters at Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania "The Supreme."
