D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 5
6
Fall
TA B L E O F
C O N T E N T S C O N T E N T S
TOM
RATH
2025
ISSUE
8 A NOTE FROM OUR PUBLISHER
10 OUR CONTRIBUTORS
12 MONTANA HOSPITALITY
HOSPITALITY AT THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK
16 ISLE OF BOOKS PRESENTS LAST BEST BOOKS
17 CLEMENTINE
18 THE OLD BROKE RANCHER CATCHES A COLD!
22 2025 BEST OF MONTANA SECTION
46 FULL STEAM AHEAD
by Justin Franz
52 SANANANDA: MONTANA'S 163RD INFANTRY
IN THE JUNGLE HELL OF NEW GUINEA
by Colonel (Retired) John B. Driscoll
61 THE DEER HUNTER'S LAST STAND, OR, HOW A MOVIE
FILMED IN MONTANA ALMOST DESTROYED HOLLYWOOD
by Russell Rowland
70 THE SAGE WALL GOES VIRAL
by Joseph Shelton
74 THE FIRST SIGNAL
by Cab Tran
82 A SUMMER IN THE TAYLOR-HILGARD
words and photography by Hallie Zolynski
90 THE ICE BUSTERS
"AERIAL BOMBARDMENT OF THE MILES CITY ICE JAM ON MARCH 21, 1944:
THE ONLY SORTIE FLOWN BY AMERICAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT
AGAINST A TARGET ON AMERICAN SOIL DURING WORLD WAR II"
by Douglas A. Schmittou
96 A WORLD OF MINIATURE MAGIC AT THE
WESTERN MONTANA RAILROAD HISTORICAL ASSOCATION
by Nick Mitchell
102 GET TO KNOW A COUNTY: GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY
photos and words by Bryan Spellman
110 CROSSWORDS
111 AD INDEX
112 DOWN THE TRAIL
