Content note: Verse uses the slur 'Jap' for Japanese soldiers, in a cartoon about rifle misuse; hosted as printed. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Don't be a dope! Handle equipment right! (rifle used to pry a rock)
Equipment-care cartoon for soldiers: a grimacing soldier pries a rock loose with his rifle, under a verse saying the rifle will explode when he later fires at the enemy. The tag 'Don't be a dope!' is name-calling aimed at the careless soldier, with a fear-appeal about the consequence.
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-1143FF (NAID 514698).
Text on the object
A rock to Joe Dope is a trifle That is promptly pried loose with his rifle_ But when later the sap Tries to shoot at a Jap The explosion will be quite an eyeful! Don't be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT ! [signature: PVT. Will Eisner, ABERDEEN PVG. GDS.] [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942 O 478618 [imprint:] ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY
