---
title: That was the day I joined the WAVES
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/that-was-the-day-i-joined-the-waves-1943/
description: 'Navy recruiting poster: a young woman in a WAVES uniform and U.S. Navy cap in front of a large Western Union telegram that tells of a man wounded'
section: Collection
---

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3. That was the day I joined the WAVES

[![That was the day I joined the WAVES, 1943 US poster: Navy recruiting poster](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/that-was-the-day-i-joined-the-waves-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/that-was-the-day-i-joined-the-waves-1943.jpg)

# That was the day I joined the WAVES

Navy recruiting poster: a young woman in a WAVES uniform and U.S. Navy cap in front of a large Western Union telegram that tells of a man wounded in hospital, with a dark stormy sea behind. The headline gives her own account, 'That was the day I joined the WAVES', and the footer directs readers to a Navy recruiting station. The telegram supplies the emotional prompt; the first-person line is testimonial.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Testimonial](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/testimonial/) [Fear appeal](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/fear-appeal/)

## Text on the object

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

```
[signature: JOHN FALTER USNR]
WESTERN UNION
A.N. WILLIAMS
PRESIDENT
LD241 INTL SANS ORIGINE 17 4
MISS NANCY HOLMES
IN HOSP[illegible]
WOUND[illegible] [illegible]HT
[illegible] CHEST
EVERYTH[illegible] WORRY
[illegible] O.K. LOVE
DAN

THAT WAS THE DAY
I JOINED THE WAVES

INQUIRE AT ANY
Navy Recruiting Station or Office of Naval Officer Procurement
ORDER NO. 92
[imprint: NAVPERS-NRB-[illegible]-26 May 43-[illegible]M.]
```

[← Thank You So Much, American Soldier, for Wasting Food (Help Tojo Win War)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/thank-you-for-wasting-food-help-tojo-1943/) [The Atlantic Charter →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/the-atlantic-charter-1943/)

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