With an air of complete unconcern Joe Dope speeds his jeep 'round a turn
Equipment-care cartoon for soldiers: Joe Dope brakes a jeep so hard that the tyres smoke and a sergeant is flung down the road, while a startled woman with parcels watches. The verse and the tag 'Don't be a dope!' use name-calling against the careless driver, softened by humour.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- 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-1143G (NAID 514699).
Text on the object
With an air of complete unconcern Joe Dope speeds his Jeep 'round a turn And slams on his brakes At each stop that he makes - You'd think we had tires to burn! [sign:] BUCKET O' BLOOD REFRESHMENT SHOPPE GAMES OF CHANCE IN THE REAR LADIES INVITED [poster in background:] TRY YOUR MICKY LA FIN Don't be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT ! [signature: CWO Will Eisner] [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943 O 565904 [imprint:] ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY
