---
title: '"Democracy in Action" No. IV (Leonard Roy Harmon)'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-no-iv-harmon-1943/
description: A pencil drawing shows a sailor kneeling over a fallen shipmate amid smoke, with a ship named USS Harmon below.
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. "Democracy in Action" No. IV (Leonard Roy Harmon)

**Content note:** A drawing of a Navy sailor kneeling over a fallen shipmate amid smoke on a warship, captioned with the period term 'Negro' for the honoured sailor, as published. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[!["Democracy in Action" No. IV, 1943 US cartoon: A pencil drawing shows a sailor kneeling over a fallen shipmate amid smoke](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-no-iv-harmon-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-no-iv-harmon-1943.jpg)

# "Democracy in Action" No. IV (Leonard Roy Harmon)

A pencil drawing shows a sailor kneeling over a fallen shipmate amid smoke, with a ship named USS Harmon below. A news-item caption announces a Navy destroyer escort to be named for Leonard Roy Harmon, described as a Black hero of Guadalcanal. The heading 'Democracy in Action' attaches a national ideal to one individual's deed.

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/) [Glittering generalities](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/glittering-generalities/)

## Text on the object

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

```
NAVY TO NAME DESTROYER
ESCORT FOR LEONARD ROY HARMON,
NEGRO HERO IN THE BATTLE OF
GUADALCANAL ..... NEWS ITEM

"DEMOCRACY IN ACTION No. IV"

USS HARMON
Alston OWI
```

[← "Democracy in Action" No. II (George Washington Carver Liberty Ship)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-democracy-in-action-no-2-carver-1943/) ["Destination Berlin!!" →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-destination-berlin-99th-pursuit-squadron-1943/)

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