One of many ships produced was the Coast Guard cutter Sundew, built by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding, which went on to become a familiar sight in the Duluth harbor.

One of the first civilian actions to support the war effort was creation of the Duluth Civilian Defense Council on Oct. 3, 1941, about two months before America formally entered the war. The council had an intensive training program for medical, utility and fire and rescue operations.

It was also involved in material salvage operations, war bond drives, health education, war history and even glider-building. The council even remained active after the war in a more limited role.

One of the most-spectacular home-front contributions was the July 23, 1942, "Buy a Bomber" show at Wade Stadium. The event featured many local entertainers and an appearance by Jinx Falkenburg, described as the most-photographed model of the war. Sponsored by labor unions in St. Louis, Lake and Carlton counties, the show drew thousands to the baseball stadium to raise money for airplane production. The unusual event was nationally broadcast on radio.

Though no sabotage or enemy attacks occurred here during the war, Duluth was seen as a prime target for such actions. By the summer of 1942 a program to train and assign air raid warders was in place.

An ambulance corps, made up mostly of men who had served in such a role in World War I, was created under the Duluth Office of Civilian Defense. The members were trained to handle gas attacks and bombs as well as more-common first aid and patient-transfer duties. Like the air raid wardens, these men were stationed in districts across the city.

The U.S. Steel plant in Duluth played a major war-production role and its dedication of a new blast furnace in February 1943 was attended by state and national officials.