---
title: '"If you only knew what it meant!!"'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-if-you-only-knew-what-it-meant-1943/
description: A cartoon soldier in helmet, dancing amid shell bursts and aircraft, holds a rifle with fixed bayonet in one hand and a letter in the other.
section: Collection
---

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2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. "If you only knew what it meant!!"

[!["If you only knew what it meant!!", 1943 US cartoon: A cartoon soldier in helmet, dancing amid shell bursts and aircraft](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-if-you-only-knew-what-it-meant-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/owi-alston-if-you-only-knew-what-it-meant-1943.jpg)

# "If you only knew what it meant!!"

A cartoon soldier in helmet, dancing amid shell bursts and aircraft, holds a rifle with fixed bayonet in one hand and a letter in the other, shouting 'Yipee!! A letter!!!'. The caption addresses the writer at home. The technique is a weak fit for plain-folks: an ordinary soldier's delight in mail is used to urge people at home to write.

## Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

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

```
YIPEE!! A LETTER!!!

"IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT IT MEANT!!"

[signature] Alston
```

[← "He's willing, he's capable, and we need him - use him!!"](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-hes-willing-capable-need-him-1943/) ["It's the least you can do!!" →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/owi-alston-its-the-least-you-can-do-1943/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)