Life — April 26, 1917 — page 49: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a WWI-era satirical revision of "Yankee Doodle" celebrating female military support workers. The poem describes women—called "Service Soldierettes"—performing various wartime duties: drilling in khaki uniforms, making bandages, cooking, operating wireless and signal equipment. The satire's point appears to be **patriotic mockery tinged with admiration**. The "Revised to Date" subtitle signals that this updates the famous Revolutionary War song for modern (WWI) circumstances. The repeated refrain "Yankee Doodle dandy" applies the historical male soldier's song to women now actively contributing to the war effort. The illustration shows women dancing around a maypole in jubilant celebration, reinforcing the lighthearted but earnest message that female volunteers are essential ("Uncle Sam" needs them) and enthusiastically enlisted. The satire gently mocks the newness of women in military roles while ultimately celebrating their patriotic participation—treating their service with humor rather than skepticism or dismissal.