The U.S.S. Marblehead comes home!
Navy recruiting poster: the cruiser Marblehead at sea beneath a world map with a dotted route from the Pacific around Africa to the United States. A panel recounts the ship's damage after Macassar Strait and her voyage home, then asks readers who want 'the comradeship of men such as those on the Marblehead' to enlist. The ship's record is offered as the example to follow.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Navy
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Recruit
- Theme
- War and the military
- 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. Navy. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-9 (NAID 513505).
Text on the object
THE U.S.S. MARBLEHEAD COMES HOME! Whenever men gather to speak of heroic deeds the saga of the Marblehead will rank with the greatest. After the battle of Macassar Strait this gallant ship took her place in the line and accepted the challenge of a vastly superior foe. With guns blazing a torrent of steel she fought her way clear only to be bombed without quarter from the skies. The enemy reported her as sunk. With steering gear shattered, with great gaping holes in her sides, she started her epic thirteen thousand mile voyage to safety. Only the courage, stamina and resourcefulness of men who would not "give up the ship" brought her home. If good red fighting blood flows in your veins; if you want the comradeship of men such as those on the Marblehead--go to your nearest Navy Recruiting Station today! There's a billet in the U. S. Navy waiting for you.
