Life, 1920-01-15 · page 9 of 36
Life — January 15, 1920 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical cartoon critiques the U.S. military's decoration and promotion system following World War I. Three caricatured military officers—likely representing different branches or ranks—are depicted in exaggerated poses, seemingly celebrating or posturing. The accompanying article discusses Admiral Sims's complaint that Secretary Daniels denied him a decoration. The text criticizes the inconsistent rewarding of war service: officers who worked abroad received fewer honors than those who remained home, while some decorated soldiers received recognition for minor contributions. The satire suggests the military's honors system is arbitrary and unfair, rewarding connections or luck rather than actual merit or sacrifice. The cartoon visually reinforces this critique through the officers' theatrical, somewhat undignified poses.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Rewards of Service DMIRAL SIMS has declined a decoration that came to him ‘rough Secretary Daniels because he trongly disapproved of the Secre- tary’s selection of officers to be deco- rated. General Pershing has scolded lard because too many army officers who had home service in the war now hold higher rank than demoted officers sho proved themselves very valuable fighting men. Secretary Daniels is to AGAINST submit to revision the lists that Ad- miral Sims disapproves. Secretary Baker says the complaints about the present low rank of fine officers are well founded, but that he cannot help it, and that the relative rank of of- ficers who went abroad and those who worked at home will be more satis- factory when the home workers have finished their jobs and been demoted Very well; but anyone who repines because his work in the war did not get the recognition it deserved makes a mistake. As to London decorations, the Standard quotes a much-decorated British soldier as say- ing that all his ribbons are worth six- pence, ing Sometimes ribbons stand for merit; sometimes for luck. In Eng- land the Victoria Cross is said to he the only decoration that is above the suspicion of being a mark of favor. The great reward for having done one’s duty in the Great War is to have done No board or secretary can give that reward, nor take it away. comicbooks.com