Content note: Cartoon caricature of an Arab man on a camel, drawn as an ethnic stereotype. This object is shown as it was published. Why
The Sheik thinks it terribly strange these American Rangers don't range
Verse cartoon for soldiers: a half-track sits stalled in the desert while its crew tear their hair and read a manual, as a caricatured Arab on a camel shrugs. The lines blame sand in the air filter, and 'Don't be a dope' labels the careless soldier (name-calling). The onlooker is drawn as a stereotype.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Ordnance Department, U.S. Army (Will Eisner)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- War and the military, Science and technology
- 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)
Ordnance Department, U.S. Army. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1143A (NAID 514687).
Text on the object
The Sheik thinks it terribly strange These American Rangers don't range- But what's out of kilter Is sand in the filter Joe Dope ought to clean for a change! [book:] T.M. HALF-TRACKS Don't be a dope- HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT ! [signature:] CPL. Will Eisner, ORDNANCE DEPT [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942-O-498373 [imprint:] PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY
