Ambassador of Peace- Illustration from 1948 Vintage Ad US Army and US Air Force Recruiting Service
“Your Army and Your Air Force Serve the Nation and Mankind in War and Peace

With our all-American can do-optimism, we have a long history of flexing our formidable global muscles, confident that our take charge performance would be gladly received wherever we went.

Victorious after WWII America saw itself as the model for the world and American Dreams were to become global ones.

Uncle Sam was a hands on uncle globetrotting around the post war world with assurance and grace as we assumed our rightful place as peacekeeper and policeman to the world. If the world was broken we could fix it and like Humpty Dumpty put it back together again.

Americans were riding a wave of post war confidence.

Peace is Americas Most Important Business

(L) Detail of Collage by Sally Edelstein (R) Vintage Ad Republic Steel 1951

With our sparkling Pepsodent smiles Americans would meet our obligations to the free world- spreading democracy and offering a helping hand to people all around the globe- a Coke in every refrigerator and a Chevy in every garage.

As the world’s policeman we would protect the underdog from the big bullies and keep them safe. Yes sir, when there is a wrong to right, like Mighty Mouse, Uncle Sam will join the fight!

We Like Ike

Vintage Post War Recruiting Posters Us Army
(L) 1946 Ad with General Eisenhower for the US Army “Guardian of Victory” (R) 1951 Vintage Ad Us Army and US air Force Recruiting Station “Wear the uniform known around the world as the mark of a Man”

But it was important to safeguard the hard-won victory of the war and that meant building up our peace keeping force of soldiers, and a massive campaign was launched to recruit  men to join the new army and US Air Force whose motto was “peace is Americas most important business!”

“By our victory we have won the respect of the world,” wrote General Dwight Eisenhower former supreme commander of the Army, hero of WWII in one recruiting ad. “We can lose that respect and with it our influence toward a just and peaceful world order, if we reduce our military forces  to the point where they become week or ineffective.”

Ambassador of Peace

Ambassador of Peace- 1948 Vintage Ad US Army and US Air Force Recruiting Service
“Your Army and Your Air Force Serve the Nation and Mankind in War and Peace

A popular ad that ran in 1948 appointed the American soldier as Ambassador of Peace , whose task simply put was to help the nations of the world in their efforts to balance the peace of the world at a time when too many people have despaired of peace. inviting the reader to be his companion in arms.

 “On his broad young shoulders rests a burden that few Americans in history have been called upon to bear.” the ad begins. “His task is to help the nations in their efforts to balance the peace of the world at a time when too many people have despaired of peace.”

“He accepts his mission soberly but with pride. To him, as to every young man who has courage love of country and a belief in Democratic ideals the present world situation is a challenge. And he has met it squarely by putting on a uniform.”

“American soldiers don’t have to swagger to command respect. Though their numbers may be few their friendly presence in key spots around the globe inspire confidence in millions of people who are troubled and uncertain.”

“Soldier or Airman he is a true Ambassador of Peace.”

© Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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