The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1962-05-17
A MINUTE
WITH kI


the Minute Man missile base near
Great Falls. The scope of the
whole operation Is far too great
for US TO even attempt To de-
scribe, but we will comment
that after seeing some of the
many installations, and hearing
them explained. we feel much
better about the go million dol
lars involved, and we rest much
easier i'm the old arm chair while
watching TV.
Briefly: The project known as
SM-80 is headed by the 34lst
SMW under the command OF
Brig. Gen. Harry E. Goldswor-
thy. The complex system consists
of three missile squadrons cover
ing 5000 square miles in cen
trail Montana. Construction cost
runs at an estimated 20 million
dollars for each squadron In all,
there will be I65 sites missiles
and siIo laurfchers). The associat-
ed commands are numerous and
complicated. but the system en-
pIoyed for efficiency and cooper
alton are almost unbelievable
10 the average citizen
The missile is a three-Stage
solid propellent rocket-powered
weapon designed to travel
5000 miles an hour, plus.
II has an accurate range Of over
$500 miles and carries a nuclear
warhead with destruction capa-
bilities known only to the high
command. Overall length is 53.7
feet, width 81 feet, and the gross
weight is 5000 pounds.
The preponderance of the op-
Grafton Is far beyond our con-
ception, but certainly its use
fulness in causing any aggressor
nation TO think twice before
launching any attack is very
clear and appreciated once an
individual has been briefed and
viewed the actual site of opera
tons.
Interesting TO know is the fact
that sabotage is almost impos-
sible. Several communications
are used TO trigger the missiles,
single or in groups. In this re-
spect, once the decision has been
made 70 launch a missile, II takes
only a very few seconds to fire
IL. Two launching buttons are
pushed; one in Omaha, Neb.. and
one in the missile site control
center. The missiles are con-
stantly sighted on pre-designat-
ed targets but can be re-sighted
in a matter Of seconds should Il
become necessary.
In closing the briefing session,
General GoIdsworthy comment
ed, we do not plan on using
these missiles, and sincerely
hope we never have 10. but il
we do, We will not have TO worry
about a second attack from the
designated target area"
The world is again teetering
on the brink OF war as is being
provoked by the communists.
We have many times decried
the waste Of foreign aid going
10 the country of Laos, pointing
out that the country was COM
munist in leadership and being
used as a tool of the Chinese
leaders. II was not until about
three or four months ago that
our liberal foreign aid experts
got the picture and cut the aid
to almost nothing from its origi-
nal four 20 five million every
month
Now we find Laos being used,
after having been completely
ubdued by the communists
themselves. rs a springboard
and launching site for their at
tack on Thailand.
II was due only 10 the impress
siye show Of muscle flexing by
o the U. S. this week that the com
munists suddenly became aware
of the true picture. and were
finally convinced that we were
ready 10 carry or; cur commit
ment TO protect Thailand with all
forces necessary -. This we
failed to do in Laos. and we may
have learned that the commies
Rad a good laugh through our
failure 10 back up our words.
We will repeat ourselves; Now
that this situation has apparent
IL Gained down. If II has, we can
look 10 the other side of the
world for similar action. That is
the old communist pattern
and while we are locking. they
will quietly infiltrste Thailand
10 build up their final striking
force as they have done in so
many other places.