---
title: Charles Henry Fletcher - Soldier of Production
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-alston-charles-henry-fletcher-1943/
description: A pencil panel sheet profiles a Black welder, with a large portrait, scenes of him as a schoolboy and at work, and a sailor-brother waving from a ship
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Charles Henry Fletcher - Soldier of Production

[![Charles Henry Fletcher - Soldier of Production, 1943 US cartoon: A pencil panel sheet profiles a Black welder, with a large](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/us-owi-alston-charles-henry-fletcher-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/us-owi-alston-charles-henry-fletcher-1943.jpg)

# Charles Henry Fletcher - Soldier of Production

A pencil panel sheet profiles a Black welder, with a large portrait, scenes of him as a schoolboy and at work, and a sailor-brother waving from a ship under the words 'You build 'em, brother - I'll float 'em!!'. The tell is plain-folks: an ordinary worker's biography is offered as a model for war-production effort.

## 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

```
CHARLES HENRY
FLETCHER
SOLDIER
OF
PRODUCTION

AS A
YOUNGSTER IN
HIGH SCHOOL,
FLETCHER, WHEN
NOT PLAYING
FOOTBALL, COULD
ALWAYS BE
FOUND "PUTTERING
AROUND" WITH
MECHANICAL DEVICES.

ILLINOIS
STATE NORMAL H.S.

FLETCHER'S
DEVICE FOR WELDING INSULATION CLIPS INCREASED
PRODUCTION BY 400 PER CENT! FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENT,
HE WAS AWARDED THE CERTIFICATE OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTION,
HIGHEST HONOR GIVEN TO A WORKER BY WPB!

YOU BUILD 'EM,
BROTHER-- I'LL
FLOAT 'EM!!

THE FLETCHERS
ARE ALL OUT
FOR UNCLE SAM!--
CHARLIE'S BROTHER
IS IN THE
NAVY!

A fine name--
Charles Henry!

Alston
OWI
```

[← Carter G. Woodson - Teacher, Historian, Publisher](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-alston-carter-g-woodson-teacher-historian-publisher-1943/) [Col. Charles Young - West Point graduate, military attache to Haiti, Liberia →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/us-owi-alston-col-charles-young-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)