Content note: A sketch of a dead American soldier lying beside a broken fence post, as issued. This object is shown as it was published. Why
Pvt. Treptow's Pledge: Fourth Liberty Loan
A sketch shows a soldier lying dead beside a broken fence post, with a quoted pledge found in his blouse pocket: he would fight cheerfully and do his utmost as if the whole issue of the struggle depended on him alone. The closing lines address the viewer: 'You who are not called upon to die, Subscribe to the Fourth Liberty Loan.' The tell is testimonial from the dead: the soldier's own words become the standard against which the civilian's purchase is measured.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1918
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- Liberty Loan Committee (U.S. Treasury); produced by members of the American Expeditionary Force
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Fundraise
- Themes
- War and the military, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
Liberty Loan Committee (U.S. Treasury); produced by members of the American Expeditionary Force. National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-193.
Text on the object
STRAIGHT FROM THE TRENCHES. ORIGINATED AND PRODUCED FOR THE LIBERTY LOAN COMMITTEE ENTIRELY BY MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. Pvt. TREPTOW'S PLEDGE He had almost reached his goal when a machine gun dropped him. In a pocket of his blouse they found his pledge "I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost as if the whole issue of the struggle depended on me alone." Sketch by C. LeRoy Baldridge [rank/unit line partly illegible] Story from Stars and Stripes Official Publication of the A.E.F. France Sept. 1918 You who are not called upon to die- Subscribe to the FOURTH LIBERTY LOAN PRINTED AND DONATED BY ROBERT GAIR COMPANY, BROOKLYN, N.Y. F-303
Small signature block at right: the artist credit reads as C. LeRoy Baldridge with a partly illegible rank/unit line; edition mark at lower left read as F-303.
