---
title: 'A Black Mark for the Squad: A.W.O.L.'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/a-black-mark-for-the-squad-awol-1918/
description: A squad of uniformed US soldiers stands at attention with a blank yellow panel marked 'A.W.O.L.' occupying the place of a missing man.
section: Collection
---

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3. A Black Mark for the Squad: A.W.O.L.

[![A Black Mark for the Squad: A.W.O.L., 1918 US poster: A squad of uniformed US soldiers stands at attention with a blank](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/a-black-mark-for-the-squad-awol-1918.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/a-black-mark-for-the-squad-awol-1918.jpg)

# A Black Mark for the Squad: A.W.O.L.

A squad of uniformed US soldiers stands at attention with a blank yellow panel marked 'A.W.O.L.' occupying the place of a missing man. The poster frames desertion or absence without leave as a collective stain on the whole unit, applying peer-group pressure to stay in the ranks.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Identity fusion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/identity-fusion/) [Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
SERVICE SERIES No. 10
A.W.O.L.
A BLACK MARK
FOR THE SQUAD
Gordon Grant
```

'Gordon Grant' is the artist's signature as read from the image.

[← 300 Million Hungry People Are Watching Your Plate: Eat Less, Waste Nothing](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/300-million-hungry-people-are-watching-your-plate-1918/) [Ain't It a Grand and Glorious Feelin'? The Men Know, Home Folks Know. Y.W.C.A. Hostess Houses in Seventy Camps →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/aint-it-a-grand-and-glorious-feelin-ywca-hostess-houses-1918/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [A Little American's Promise](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/a-little-americans-promise-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Transfer)
- [All Together! Enlist in the Navy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/all-together-enlist-in-the-navy-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [Members of U.S. Food Administration: America Has Promised to Feed the Hungry Millions of Europe, Waste Nothing](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-food-pledge-20-million-tons-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion)
- [Do Your Duty. Join the U.S. Marines. Help Them Defend America on Land and Sea](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/do-your-duty-join-the-us-marines-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Glittering generalities, Identity fusion)
- [50-50 (The Job of Beating Up the Hun)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fifty-fifty-service-series-11-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion)
- [Food Will Win the War: Member of United States Food Administration (Pledge Card)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/food-will-win-the-war-member-pledge-card-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Bandwagon)
- [Hit the Bull's Eye! Are You on This List? Get Your Name in the Circle: It's the Ring of Liberty](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hit-the-bulls-eye-ring-of-liberty-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [I Am a Soldier of the United States (Service Series No. 12)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-am-a-soldier-of-the-united-states-service-series-no-12-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)