THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE COOTIE

The Cooties are an organization within the VFW that does most of the hospital work for the VFW. We are known as “The Honor Degree of the VFW“. We invite Comrades to join our organization if we believe they have a strong interest in helping hospitalized veterans and are willing to work to earn the donations that are needed. Post 9400 has a Cootie organization, called a “Pup Tent,” that has provided a very significant amount of entertainment and made large donations throughout Arizona and, in particular, the Phoenix VA Medical Center and the Arizona State Veteran Home (the photo is our VA shuttle, 5 days a week).

Founded in 1920, the MOC is based on the principals of good humor and fun. For over 100 years, the Cooties have provided social and entertainment programs for veterans. 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, located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, started out as the brainchild of the MOC. Families find a healing calm in a tranquil, rural, small-town community. Tree-lined streets connect 42 single-family homes with facilities like the gym, library, computer and science labs, daycare center, playgrounds, fishing pond, hiking trails and more. Over the years, the National Home has evolved to meet the changing needs of America’s military and veterans’ families.


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.” Nationally, each year the Cooties and its Auxiliary volunteer thousands of hours which are worth over ten million dollars to VA Hospitals and Veteran Homes throughout the United States. This work, in addition to the hours of service donated as active members of the VFW, establish the members of the MOC and its MOCA as patriots who are fully engaged in their communities.

Our distinctive red hat and unusual uniform 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. For information concerning Pup Tent 11 at Post 9400, email wtalcott@cox.net. For national information go to www.lotcs.org. Check out the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/arizonacooties.

Seam Squirrels/Presidents

2006-07 Bill Talcott

2007-08 Bill Talcott

2008-09 Bill Talcott/Norees Rutter

2009-10 Eric Gagomiros/ Marilyn Moscheck

2010-11 James “Doc” Nealand/Tippy Weiner

2011-12 James “Doc” Nealand/Marge Bell

2012-13 James “Doc” Nealand/Louise “Weezie” Burrell

2013-14 Richard Real/Louise “Weezie” Burrell

2014-15 Joe Terrian/Marge Bell

2015-16 Scott Stray/Janie Garza

2016-17 Vince Smith/Stephanie Gregory

2017-18 Manny/Stephanie Gregory

2018-19 Amanda Hall/Sherry Nealand

2019-20 Dan Muller/Sherry Nealand

2020-21 Jody Lauer/Sherry Nealand

2021-22 Tim McKenney/ Jenette Wilson

2022-23 Tim McKenney/Stephanie Gregory

2023-24 Joe Loggia/Sherry Nealand

2024-25 Joe Loggia/Sherry Nealand