Emerging from the Great Depression, Pennsylvania began to grow into an industrial center of the east coast.  As the state became and "Arsenal of America", a term created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it became on of the major suppliers of coal and steel used in the production of equipment and vehicles.  During the World War II, Pennsylvania provided 31% of America's steel and 20% of the world's steel production.

One of the major steel manufacturing companies in Pennsylvania during the war was Bethlehem Steel. (Depicted right)  Bethlehem Steel produced a total of 73.4 million tons of steel used in the war effort, and the steel was used to create various vessels similar to the one the John L. Maguire was assigned to.

(Depicted Left) The Philadelphia Navy Yard played a major role in maritime production.  Many ships were produced here and many soldiers in the US Navy were trained here.  One such ship was the USS Gherardi, which participated in the Normandy Invasion on Utah beach, the same beach John L. Maguire was assigned to.

Many Pennsylvanians were encouraged to buy war bonds to support the war effort.  The money spent on these war bonds went toward paying businesses to manufacture equipment as well as food that soldiers would use.  On the right is a war bond.