Content note: Grinning, caricatured enemy soldiers with knives and a pistol lurk in the trees at night. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Joe Dope takes a constant vacation from checking his tires' inflation
Folded two-panel cartoon for soldiers: at night a soldier kneels to change a jeep tire under a lamp while grinning enemy soldiers with knives, a pistol and a tank wait in the dark trees. The threat of an ambush during a roadside delay is a fear-appeal, with 'Don't be a dope' as name-calling. The enemy soldiers are drawn as caricatures.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ordnance Department, U.S. Army (Will Eisner) and H. G. Miner
- 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
- Themes
- War and the military, Science and technology
- 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-1143AA (NAID 514688).
Text on the object
Joe Dope takes a constant vacation From checking his tires' inflation- But with pressure way low Soon the tires may go At a time that involves complication! Don't be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT! [signature:] w/o Will Eisner and H. G. Miner, Ordnance [imprint:] ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U S ARMY PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
