Military Order of the Carabao
Encyclopedia
Background
The organization was founded in 1900 by U.S. officers stationed in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during the Philippine Insurrection
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
that occurred after the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. 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
Military Order of the Dragon
The Military Order of the Dragon. The purpose was to record the history and conserve the memory of the military campaign in China in the year 1900...
, founded by other Americans who fought in the short-lived Boxer
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
uprising in China. Only the Carabao survives today.
The carabao
Carabao
The carabao or Bubalus bubalis carabanesis is a subspecies of the domesticated water buffalo found in the Philippines, Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and various parts of Southeast Asia...
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."
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 KragKrągKrąg may refer to the following places:*Krąg, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Krąg, Pomeranian Voivodeship *Krąg, West Pomeranian Voivodeship...
, - And return us to our own beloved homes.
Membership
Members and guests at the Wallow in recent years have included former Secretary of State Colin PowellColin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
, 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
Ike Skelton
Isaac Newton "Ike" Skelton IV is the former U.S. Representative for . During his tenure, he has served as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a member for the Democratic Party...
, Air Force Secretary Pete Aldridge, NASA director Sean O'Keefe
Sean O'Keefe
Sean O'Keefe is the CEO of EADS North America, a subsidiary of the European aerospace firm EADS, a former Administrator of NASA, and former chancellor of Louisiana State University . O'Keefe is also a former member of the board of directors of DuPont...
, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Peter Pace
Peter Pace
Peter Pace is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first Marine appointed to the United States' highest-ranking military office. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Pace succeeded U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers on...
, General P. X. Kelley
Paul X. Kelley
General Paul Xavier Kelley was the twenty-eighth Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, from July 1, 1983 to June 30, 1987....
, General Alfred M. Gray, Jr.
Alfred M. Gray, Jr.
Alfred M. Gray, Jr. , is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the twenty-ninth Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1987-91. He retired from the Corps in 1991 after 41 years of service.-Personal:Alfred M. Gray, Jr...
, former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Admiral James M. Loy, General Jack N. Merritt
Jack N. Merritt
Jack Neil Merritt is a retired United States Army four star general who served as U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee from 1985 to 1987.-Military career:...
and General Carl Mundy.
Criticism
Some, such as the Village Voice newspaper, have criticized the Carabao as a "good ol' boys"Good ol' boy network
Good ol' boy network, or "Good old boys", describes a system of social networking/cronyism perceived to exist among communities and social strata. These networks are perceived to be located throughout the world...
club whose military-industrial complex
Military-industrial complex
Military–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
membership displays imperialistic, racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, and homophobic
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
overtones. The nature of the event is that of a "roast" similar to the Gridiron in which all current news topics are considered subject to well-intentioned caricature.
Sources
- "Historical sketch, constitution, and register of the Military order of the Carabao together with songs that have been sung at "wallows" in various places," Military Order of the Carabao, W.F. Roberts Co., 1913.
- "Military order of the Carabao," by the Military Order of the Carabao, 1931.
- Ian Urbina, “The Empire Strikes Back: The Tribal Rites of America's Military Leaders,” The Village Voice, 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," The New York Times 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," The New York Times 26 December 1913, n.p.