United States. A Military Order of the Carabao Membership Badge

In bronze gilt, measuring 35 mm (w) x 31 mm (h), original ribbon suspended from a hanger with pinback, the hanger inscribed "MILITARY ORDER OF THE CARABAO" and maker marked "Dondero Inc", extremely fine.

Footnote: 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. 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 Americans who fought 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. Descendants of those eligible for membership are themselves eligible, regardless of military service.