Don't be a dope - Handle equipment right!
Army Ordnance maintenance poster in cartoon style: a military truck with a burst radiator, flying bolts and steam, and two wide-eyed soldiers in the cab, with a four-line verse about the character Joe Dope. The label 'dope' is applied to the careless soldier (name-calling) and the wreck shows the consequence of skipped upkeep (fear-appeal).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Preventive Maintenance Program, 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
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- 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-1143K (NAID 514705).
Text on the object
[signature:] Will Eisner, Ordnance Dept. Joe Dope has a vague premonition That he's in for some quick demolition... He recalls that he oughter Replenish the water To keep the old bus in condition. Don't be a dope - HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT ! [imprint:] U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942-O-498371 [imprint:] PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U.S. ARMY
