Don't be a dope! Handle equipment right! (Maintenance units comic)
Multi-panel comic for soldiers in the Joe Dope series: soldiers in foxholes find a rifle jammed, one hammers at it, and the last scene shows Joe Dope pounding a part inside a repair truck while another soldier lies injured. The slogan 'Don't be a dope!' is name-calling aimed at the careless soldier, with the closing instruction to give pieces to Maintenance units.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ordnance Department, U.S. Army; artist Will Eisner
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Theme
- War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Ordnance Department, U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1143P (NAID 514713).
Text on the object
"At fixing these things I'm a bear!" Is the boast of Joe Dope - and right there He boldly attacks it And pounds it and whacks it Which drives Maintenance men to despair! Give pieces needing repair to Maintenance units Don't be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT ! [signature: Will Eisner, ORDNANCE] [imprint:] ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY
