Joe Dope has a way that's unique of toting a gun 'cross a creek
Equipment-care cartoon for soldiers in the Joe Dope series: a caricatured soldier wades underwater holding a rifle, with a pack and a helmet floating on the surface above him. The verse and the slogan 'Don't be a dope!' use name-calling aimed at the careless soldier, softened by humour.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- 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-1143L (NAID 514707).
Text on the object
Joe Dope has a way that's unique Of toting a gun 'cross a creek - Because the poor cluck Thinks a Browning's a duck It'll rust and then bust his physique ! Don't be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT [signature: Pvt. Will Eisner] [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942-O-481417 [imprint:] ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY
