The tank crew is sore as a boil
Tank-maintenance cartoon: a smoking tank stands in fire while its angry crew shouts, and a mechanic with a wrench looks on with his hand on his chin. The verse says Joe Dope checked everything but the oil; the tag 'Don't be a dope!' is name-calling softened by humour.
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-1143JJ (NAID 514704).
Text on the object
The tank crew is sore as a boil For it just ain't according to Hoyle To get caught in a spot So exceedingly hot _ Joe Dope had checked all_but the oil! [sound words:] ZING PING PONG Don't be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT ! [signature: PVT. Will Eisner, ABERDEEN PVG. GDS.] [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942 O 478620 [imprint:] ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY
