Fly Over State? No. Weapons of Mass Destruction State!

During Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration, substantial investment and construction of highways and the interstate system skyrocketed. I-90, a familiar road for many South Dakotans who ventured across the state in search of tourist stops, also served another significant purpose: it provided an “efficient means of moving large numbers of military personnel and huge quantities of military equipment and supplies” (Heefner). Much of that equipment was “deposited on the plains of western South Dakota” (Heefner). South Dakota, a so-called flyover state, was the perfect place to host over “three thousands times the destructive power of ‘Little Boy’” as the geographical location (rural, far to the north, in-land, but still in striking distance of the Soviet Union) and the pre-existing military bases (Ellsworth Air Force Base) made deployment more efficient (Heefner). The Minutemen Missiles exemplified the Cold War economy as massive amounts of money were spent on defense weapons—all in the name of national security. The construction of interstates, highways, underground storage, military personnel, and the continuous progression of “faster, leaner, and better” weapons all had a hefty price tag attached to them; however, it was a price tag that was deemed to be necessary for the survival of the nation. Additionally, the close relationship between the federal government and private contractors in constructing nuclear weapons and facilities in South Dakota are another example of the “military-industrial complex.” Boeing, a private aircraft industry company, assembled, tested, and produced the Minuteman missile system (Heefner). Additionally, for a community with “little organic job creation and economic opportunity,” the creation of new facilities and thus jobs increased the public’s focus on defense spending (Heefner).

As the article mentions, the preservation of the Minuteman missile silo was an effort to commemorate and educate future generations of the Cold War story. Initiated by the National Park Service and Air Force, the Minuteman LCF Delta-1 and LF Delta-9 were both located on public lands and thus not susceptible to the outrage voiced by farmers and private landowners over silo demolition (Heefner). The purpose of the historic site, as detailed in the NPS-AF Special Resources Study, is to “preserve, protect, and interpret” the Minuteman II system, its historical role as part of “America’s strategic commitment to preserve world peace” and place this story within the “broader context of the Cold War” (Heefner). I would concur with Heefner’s argument that Americans have a “preoccupation with battlefields” and the “martial landscape”; there is a sense of patriotism in remembering and honoring the “fallen soldier” (Heefner). The difficulty with the Cold War is that there is no “fallen soldier” or no Battle of Bunker Hill or Midway; instead, the cold war tribute is for the “silent and invisible” military personnel that monitored the launch stations. I think there is also an urge to commemorate just how destructive nuclear weapons are, and how we lived thirty minutes away from total annihilation (I suppose that time frame is probably shorter today). It is a reminder that we may not exist in the Cold War era anymore, but remnants of that era are still very much alive and present today—stored in submarines, air force bases (both domestic and international), and missile silos of the Great Plains.