---
title: Col. Edward O. Gourdin, Commanding Officer 372nd Infantry
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-col-edward-gourdin-372nd-infantry-1943/
description: 'A large portrait of an officer in a service cap is surrounded by small scenes: a long jumper, a courtroom, and soldiers at a flag presentation.'
section: Collection
---

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3. Col. Edward O. Gourdin, Commanding Officer 372nd Infantry

[![Col. Edward O. Gourdin, Commanding Officer 372nd Infantry, 1943 US cartoon: A large portrait of an officer in a service cap](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-col-edward-gourdin-372nd-infantry-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-col-edward-gourdin-372nd-infantry-1943.jpg)

# Col. Edward O. Gourdin, Commanding Officer 372nd Infantry

A large portrait of an officer in a service cap is surrounded by small scenes: a long jumper, a courtroom, and soldiers at a flag presentation. Captions list his athletic record, legal career and his regiment's history. The profile selects favourable biographical facts to present one man as a model.

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Card stacking](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/card-stacking/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
Great all round athlete at Harvard, "Ned" Gourdin held the world's broad jump record in 1921. He was a member of the 1924 Olympic team, and national pentathlon champ in 1921 and 1922.

Col. Gourdin was Assistant U.S. District Attorney for the District of Massachusetts before being called to active service.

COL. EDWARD O. GOURDIN
COMMANDING OFFICER 372ND INFANTRY

Col. Gourdin's is a proud regiment, with a history dating back to 1864. It served with distinction in the Spanish American War, and World War I. For bravery in the battles of the Meuse-Argonne, Alsace, and Lorraine, the entire regiment was decorated with the Croix de Guerre with Palm!

Alston OWI
```

[← "Carry on!!" (S.S. Robert L. Vann rescue)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-carry-on-robert-l-vann-1943/) ["Democracy in action!!" (Booker T. Washington Liberty ship) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-booker-t-washington-1943/)

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