Don't be a dope: Order equipment right!
Two-tier cartoon for soldiers about the Standard Nomenclature Lists: Joe Dope orders parts by the wrong names, and a wrecked jeep results. 'Don't be a dope' is name-calling aimed at the careless soldier, with blame placed on the depots in his own words.
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-1143Z (NAID 514729).
Text on the object
THE POET SAYS "WHAT'S IN A NAME?" AND JOE DOPE THINKS EXACTLY THE SAME PLEASE DESIGNATE PARTS BY proper NAME USE SNL 1. GUN BARREL COUPLA 2. TIRES 3. SMOKE TUBE HURRY UP!! Joe Dope HE IGNORES S.N.L.* AND THE THINGS HE GETS -- WELL, THE DEPOTS, HE SAYS, ARE TO BLAME *STANDARD NOMENCLATURE LISTS 25 Don't be a dope ORDER EQUIPMENT RIGHT ! [signature: Warrant Off. Will Eisner] [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943-O-562294
