Embracing Coexistence: A Montana Community’s Journey with the Bomb

WINIFRED, Montana—The scenery is stark and merciless, a hallmark of the harsh winter typical of rural Montana.

The snow-blanketed Judith Mountains stand tall in the background, while extensive fields of dormant wheat, hay, and barley lie under a dreary gray sky covered in white.

Ed Butcher, 81, looked through the chipped windshield of his red Honda all-wheel drive, recently hit by a bird.

After an eight-mile journey down a gravel road, two miles east of his family homestead in Winifred (population 174), he spotted his destination.

The one-acre site is enclosed by a chain-link fence, complete with surveillance cameras, motion detectors, and barbed wire.

A sign on the fence warns, “Restricted Area,” indicating that anyone who trespasses could be subject to the enforced use of lethal force.

“Here we are—the grand tour,” Butcher exclaimed as he parked the vehicle and stepped out into the biting cold wind and harsh terrain.

He gestured through the fence, saying, “That’s the missile.”

Beneath layers of reinforced steel and concrete inside the Hatch Launch E05 facility, the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has been ready for a nuclear strike for 60 years.

In 1964, while Butcher was still in high school, his father sold a one-acre plot to the Air Force for just $100, allowing the installation of this solitary missile, which sits thousands of miles away from potential targets.

This system was revolutionary at the time, merging speed, agility, and adaptability to achieve an almost 100 percent alert rate—two launch crew officers maintain constant readiness in the launch center, per the Air Force.

As a mass destruction weapon, it can deliver up to three Mk12A nuclear warheads, each with a yield of 300 to 350 kilotons of TNT.

Each warhead is over 20 times more powerful than the atomic bomb that devastated Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, which claimed the lives of 140,000 individuals.

Butcher, a former Montana legislator, reminisced about a time of nuclear tension founded on the principle of mutually assured destruction when the Minuteman missile was first placed on his family’s ranch.

This was during the height of the Cold War, after the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the U.S. and the Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear conflict.

“Everyone was worried about a possible nuclear conflict,” Butcher recalled, noting that “duck and cover” drills became a staple in schools.

Although the atmosphere was tense, Butcher adjusted to the reality of living near the missile, never feeling genuine fear of a nuclear strike on “Missile Country.”

Rational thinking told him that the Minuteman III would be launched far ahead of any Soviet missile reaching its objective.

Butcher, a fifth-generation rancher raising 400 to 500 cattle, stated: “They’d be emptying an empty hole.”

The Butcher family has owned the 12,000-acre cattle ranch since 1913, when Ed’s grandparents first established their home there.

Missile County

Fergus County, Montana, roughly the size of New Jersey, with a population of 11,772, is home to 52 operational nuclear missile silos, with Lewistown serving as the county seat.

Butcher mentioned that he had seen the Minuteman III missile outside the hatch at least once during maintenance operations.

“I was counting cattle out in the field,” stated Butcher, recalling an incident when the security gate to the missile silo was open, allowing one of the cows to wander inside near the missile.

Butcher entered the secure area to retrieve the cow and was met by an armed military guard.

“Sir, you can’t be here,” the soldier said.

“I own this place,” Butcher retorted. “These are my cows.”

The guard insisted Butcher leave, and he replied, “Then you can try to chase her out.”

The soldier’s eyes widened, according to Butcher’s recollection. “He looked at the cow. He looked at me.”

“Ultimately, he decided it was acceptable for me to ride in. He clearly didn’t want to chase after a cow.”

His father, a licensed pilot, would occasionally check on the cattle from the air.

“He always turned away before reaching the missile [silo],” Butcher shared, noting his father’s fear of being above it if they decided to launch. That was the closest thing his father had regarding concerns about nuclear missiles.

“Other than that, he didn’t fuss.”

Three Legs of Deterrence

The Minuteman III weapon system complements America’s nuclear “triad,” which includes submarine-launched ballistic missiles and strategic bombers.

The Sentinel ICBM program aims to replace the 400 missiles and 450 launch facilities of the aging Minuteman III weapon system by 2038, sustaining capabilities until 2075.

In September 2020, the Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a contract worth $13.3 billion to design and build the Sentinel program.

The Sentinel program’s cost is now projected at $140.9 billion, reflecting an 81 percent increase from the 2020 budget.

According to the Nunn-McCurdy review, most of this cost increase can be attributed to the command and launch sector.

The Air Force stated it is formulating a comprehensive plan to restructure the Sentinel program, concentrating on identifying the underlying causes of the breach and creating an appropriate management framework to control costs.

“Our U.S. nuclear forces are ready, as they have been for decades, to deter our adversaries and respond decisively should deterrence fail,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin in a statement made in January 2024.

“We are dealing with a changing and complex security scenario characterized by two major nuclear powers that stand as strategic rivals and possible adversaries,” Allvin asserted.

“While I trust our legacy systems today, it is vital that we modernize our nuclear Triad. Restructuring the Sentinel program is crucial for ensuring we remain optimally positioned to address prospective threats.”

Lewistown and Great Falls, situated 116 miles northwest, will be the primary areas impacted by the Sentinel project in Montana.

This will involve refurbishing all 450 current launch facilities to a “like-new” standard.

To facilitate this endeavor, temporary workforce hubs and staging areas will be created for as many as 3,000 employees in Great Falls, Lewistown, Kimball, Nebraska, and Minot, North Dakota, over a span of two to five years.

Lewistown City Manager Holly Phelps highlighted the necessity of transparent communication among the Air Force, Northrop Grumman, and the community during the planning stages, particularly given the project’s extensive nature.

“The Air Force has at least reached out to us and is open to collaborating to understand the community’s concerns,” Phelps shared with The Epoch Times.

“It’s been a bit challenging for locals to get accustomed—even for me. I doubt the contractors have all the answers, nor do the federal representatives,” she noted.

“There has been significant uncertainty surrounding timings and adjustments, which is part of the process. Patience and ongoing dialogue are essential.”

Phelps noted that timelines remain “very fluid,” and there’s much work left to do.

“There are many unanswered questions—especially with the upcoming transitions in the new Trump administration. We’re uncertain if we will see a notable increase in population or a surge in school enrollments.”

Phelps remarked that the previous modernizing effort of the Minuteman weapon system in the mid-1960s had a more substantial local impact.

“In the ‘60s, families relocated. Nowadays, on-site workers may follow a schedule of two weeks on and two weeks off.”

One of the primary challenges will be locating temporary housing for the influx of workers, Phelps added. “We are currently in a wait-and-see phase. Clearly, infrastructure needs to be established prior to any work commencing.”

Phelps remarked that federal funding for road construction and maintenance within the county has been and will continue to be a considerable asset.

“You can observe the missile roads—they’re among the best around in the county.”

Malmstrom Air Force Base is also a prominent employer in Montana, generating 1,262 indirect jobs in 2024. The base is home to 3,268 active-duty military personnel and 532 civilian employees from the Air Force.

In the fiscal year 2024, the local economic impact reached $435.8 million.

Air Force Col. Barry Little informed attendees that the Minuteman missile has been fundamental to America’s nuclear deterrence for over six decades.

“You have coexisted with us, transitioning through our community and yours for over 62 years,” Little stated, according to one meeting summary.

“Since October 27, 1962, until this day, the Minuteman has been foundational to the National Security Strategy.”

Common questions concerned the restrictions on wind turbines, upkeep of roads and bridges, the effects of work hubs on local communities, and budgetary issues.

However, the Air Force emphasizes that the extent and implications of the Sentinel project extend beyond modernization; further construction will also be undertaken.

“We’ve received some reassurances regarding workforce numbers, though until we obtain clarity on what type of influx and subsequent industries arrive with that, uncertainty remains,” Phelps noted.

She regards the installation of nuclear missiles as a boon for local infrastructure and “an unfortunate necessity” in a world filled with conflict and unpredictability.

“It’s unfortunate that we must be in a world where we feel the need to safeguard ourselves at this level,” Phelps remarked. “It’s gratifying that we can contribute our land for the sake of national security. It doesn’t cause me much concern.

“Our goal is to ensure that when this project is concluded, it leaves a positive impact on the community.”

Ross Butcher, Ed Butcher’s son and chairman of the Fergus County Commission, has attended several community meetings regarding the Sentinel project.

Regarding the project timeline, “It’s currently very uncertain,” he shared with The Epoch Times.

“It’s akin to a moving target. They have a blueprint, yet they are still in the process of developing and refining that concept,” he explained.

“Theoretically, all components need to be operational by 2038. I’m uncertain how this will play out. I previously believed this was a firm deadline,” Butcher added.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Air Force for a statement. In response, they indicated they are currently developing a comprehensive plan to restructure the Sentinel program. A new timeline and schedule for transition and deployment activities will be communicated once restructuring is finalized.

Meanwhile, the Air Force affirmed that its ICBM force “remains dedicated to its mission of providing continuous strategic deterrence and is prepared to react at any moment.”

“This capability is the most responsive aspect of the nuclear triad and maintaining a resilient nuclear deterrent is critical for safeguarding our country and our allies from potential nuclear assaults.”

Northrop Grumman did not respond to the Epoch Times’ request for comment.

My Neighbor, the Nuclear Missile

Growing up, Ross Butcher revealed that, just like his father, he never felt anxious about coexisting with a nuclear weapon.

“I was quite young, and I remember hearing the conversations,” he remarked.

“The world isn’t necessarily safer now,” Ross Butcher asserted. “There’s become a certain level of complacency regarding nuclear warfare. It’s partly because the idea of deterrence has been largely effective.”

Ed Butcher added, “I suppose we simply never considered it. There’s a point where one can become anxious about many things.”

“I harbor no grievances against the missiles whatsoever. They serve as a solid economic foundation. This community has no opposition to the missiles. We don’t have any zealots around here who are against them.”

At the Winifred Tavern & Cafe, employee Tara Mabury indicated that despite the presence of a nuclear threat, life continues in Missile Country.

“It is what it is,” she concluded.

While there are economic and national security advantages, feeling like a target for a nuclear strike remains unsettling according to Mabury.

“You wouldn’t really know” until it occurs, she shared.

Cafe manager Garrett Carr expressed he doesn’t lose sleep over residing close to nuclear arms.

“It hasn’t influenced my life thus far. I don’t believe it will. I don’t feel like I’m marked as a target,” he stated.

“When the topic comes up among my friends, we might joke about it. I don’t think anyone feels seriously” about the risks involved.

In Lewistown, a retired Minuteman III missile stands erect at the local veterans’ park, emblematic of national fortitude and patriotism.

As Vietnam veteran Rob Langford cleared snow, the missile loomed above him, serving as a stark reminder of the potential for nuclear conflict.

Concerns surrounding a nuclear assault on Montana are valid, Langford remarked. The reality is, “there’s no one here” to target in mass.

In the case of a nuclear conflict with Russia or China, Langford has his plan ready.

“We’ll be the first to hear about it, right? When that happens, I’m heading to the store to grab a case of beer. I’ll set my lawn chair out in the yard and watch the fireworks,” Langford declared.

“For those of us who have been here long-term, [living with the bomb is] simply life as usual. It’s every day.”