“I’m proud of you folks too” Poster

One of the military’s goals during World War Two was the maintenance of civilian morale.  Without it, production would fall and the soldiers at the front would be deprived of necessary warfighting materials.  So, the government set out to remind those at home that their efforts were every bit as important to the war effort as were the sacrifices of the frontline fighters.

This poster, produced in 1944 by the U.S. Navy’s Industrial Incentive Division, was part of that effort.  It depicts a sailor shaking hands with two industrial workers – a man in coveralls and a woman with a white apron and hair covering.  The sailor is smiling and carries the message that "I’m proud of you folks too" – a clear effort on the part of the government to make those in the factories take an active, enthusiastic stake in the war effort.

The poster’s creator was Jon Whitcomb (1906-1988), a prominent American artist known for his prodigious drafting skills.  He frequently did cover work for publications as diverse as Good Housekeeping, Collier’s, McCall’s, and even Playboy.  His writing, done for children’s books as well as for a Cosmopolitan feature called "On Location with Jon Whitcomb," also achieved some notoriety.

During the early parts of the war, Whitcomb served as a Navy lieutenant on a minesweeper.  After this stint, he moved on to become a war artist – he drew sketches of the invasions of Tinian, Saipan, and Peleliu island.  The "I’m proud of you" poster was one of many done for the homefront effort.