Supply lines are life lines .. they depend on YOU!
U.S. Army poster of soldiers wading through surf with crates and drums under shellfire, a Black stevedore in the foreground, with 'Supply lines are life lines .. they depend on YOU!' on a red band. The direct address to the viewer and the beach under fire tie routine supply work to men in danger, a fear-appeal with a transfer of combat urgency.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army, Army Service Forces Depots (artist signature read as Rico Tomaso)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front
- 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)
U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1829 (NAID 515508).
Text on the object
U. S. ARMY OFFICIAL POSTER Supply lines are life lines .. they depend on YOU! ARMY SERVICE FORCES DEPOTS [signature: Rico Tomaso (reading uncertain)] [imprint: ISD No. 139] [imprint: U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944—O 57[illegible]]
