Don't be a dope! Handle equipment right! (Joe Dope closes a breech)
Equipment-care cartoon for soldiers: a scowling, buck-toothed soldier named Joe Dope jams a breech shut with his boot and a hammer-like tool while sparks and red stars fly from the gun. A four-line verse says he will be 'spread all over the beach' on the enemy's shore. The slogan 'Don't be a dope!' is name-calling aimed at the careless soldier.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ordnance Department, U.S. Army; artist Pvt. Will Eisner, Ordnance Training Division
- 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-1143T (NAID 514721).
Text on the object
[signature: PVT. Will Eisner, ORD. TNG. DIV.] Joe Dope is a guy you can't teach- Here's the way he closes a breech! When he gets through this chore On the enemy's shore They'll spread him all over the beach. Don't be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT ! [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942-O-481420 [imprint:] ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY
