Fighting Abroad

Military recruitment posters in World War II echoed World War I recruitment posters by focusing on heroism and patriotism, but also invited recruits to learn new technologies like radar.

"Selected for service"

Leslie Ragen, 1941

"Remember Pearl Harbor"

United States Coast Guard, undated

"Wings over America : Air Corps, U.S. Army"

Tom B. Woodburn, 1944

"Fight Join the Navy"

McClelland Barclay, The Naval Reservation Bureau

1942

"167th Anniversary - Always Advance with the U.S. Marines"

Unknown, 1942

"O'er the ramparts we watch"

Jes Wilhelm Schlaikjer, 1944

"Young Men Wanted by the Navy for Training in Radar"

U.S. Navy Reservation Bureau, 1944

Military service opened more broadly and more officially to women through the auxiliary services in World War II, and posters reflected the serious impact that women could have on the tide of the war in nursing, communications, transportation, and other fields.

"It's a woman's war too!"

John Falter, 1942

"Spars -- Serve with Women's reserve- U.S. Coast Guard"

Unknown, undated

"Nurses are needed now!"

Harry Steele Savage, 1944

"Have you got what it takes to fill an important job like this?"

John Falter, 1944

"You are needed now"

Ruzzie Green, 1943