Soldiers During the Spanish-American War, 1898

Image courtesy: Johnson & Johnson Archives

During the Spanish-American War, the U.S. fought against Spain for control of Caribbean and Pacific islands, including Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Johnson & Johnson developed groundbreaking dressing packets for the unique need of soldiers, outfitted with a waterproof casing that was compact enough to fit in a uniform pocket. Though the conflict lasted only three months, demand for the company’s compressed dressings skyrocketed. To meet the urgent need, Johnson & Johnson took a loss on the product because its founders saw it as their duty—above all else—to aid soldiers. So, Johnson & Johnson sent additional lifesaving products to the military at no extra charge.