Founded in New York City on September 17, 1920, the MOC is based on the principals of good humor and fun. Over the last 125 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, (know now as the National Home) 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.

During the time of the Cooties; many soldiers, lying in their shell holes, were saved from death when the highly intelligent Cooties, knowing that a shell was coming in their direction, would bite the soldiers, causing such agony that they were forced to retreat to the trenches or other places of safety for "shirt reading” and "seam running” while the shell burst harmlessly in the places they had just vacated.

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 domiciliaries throughout the United States. This work, in addition to the hours of service donated as active members of the VFW, sets 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, also sets us apart and draws 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.

The Cooties Organization carries on in the same degree of usefulness.  The Military Order of the Cooties works for their parent organization, "the Veterans of Foreign Wars” and continuing to do good for all whom they come in contact with.  They are always ready to help their Comrades, the Comrades’ widows and orphans and contribute generously to the maintenance of the Orphanage at Eaton Rapids, Michigan. At this orphanage a swimming pool and playground known as "Cootie Field”, a complete and modern fire department has been built and financed by the Cooties.