CACTUS FLATS - Growing up in Saratov, a city of almost 1 million on the Volga River in southern Russia, Egor Prokofiev never knew the edgy tension of the Cold War.

But he sensed the seriousness of that time in conversations with his grandfather.

"My grandfather remembers it pretty good," Prokofiev said. "He is retired Navy and had to deal with the Cold War."

Now, Prokofiev, a 20-year-old college student studying to be a professional journalist, is working in one of he historic symbols of that dangerous period of hostility between the United States and the old Soviet Union. He is a volunteer with the National Park Service at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site near Badlands National Park.

And each day, Prokofiev learns more about the era that his grandfather and millions of others of his generation recall from personal experience.

"My father and grandfather still talk about it," Prokofiev said.

They'll have more to talk about next month, when Prokofiev returns to Russia after a summer in the United States, most of it working at the Minuteman historic site. As part of a Rotary sponsored international VIP program, Prokofiev spends some of his work day hosting visitors to the site headquarters, or helping with tours at a preserved missile silo and underground launch center. But he is particularly valuable in bringing a Russian perspective to Cold War interpretive exhibits being developed by the park service.

"He doesn't remember the Cold War himself, obviously, because of his age. But he's very good with computers and researching," chief ranger Pam Griswold said. "And he provides insights into the Russian mindset that we wouldn't otherwise have. I think he's been very valuable to our whole staff."

The historic site is actually at several locations and includes a well-preserved underground launch control at one spot and a missile silo a few miles away. Prokofiev travels to each location when he isn't helping visitors or continuing research and interpretation work at the site headquarters.

He stays in a National Park Service room near the town of Interior in the Badlands National Park. And he admits that it was somewhat of a cultural and geographic shock to a young man accustomed to a grand river, many trees and a city of almost 1 million.

"What I've got here is the rocks and the pool," Prokofiev said, referring to the Badlands down the road and a campground swimming pool across the highway. "I grew up on the river. It's kind of hard, missing the river."

Prokofiev said he enjoyed swimming in the Volga River and also rowed competitively until college studies forced him to give that up. His eyes brighten when a reporter describes the Missouri River 100 miles away. And he admits that he was inspired by a visit to the Black Hills, with its thick forests, deep-blue lakes, the Crazy Horse Memorial and, of course, Mount Rushmore.

Such trips are welcome diversions from the isolation of Interior, Prokofiev said.

"I didn't expect to be so lonely over here," he said. "I come to the Badlands with the town of Interior, with 67 people, and the town of Cottonwood, with 12 people. What am I going to do?"

Well, when not working at the historic site or making a quick trip to the Hills, options are limited, Prokofiev said.

"I lay on the sofa and watch movies."

His days at the historic site, however, are becoming a "very significant experience for me personally and for my work as a journalist in Russia." He said that viewing the Cold War from the U.S. perspective, especially at the Minuteman sites, will help deepen his understanding of this nation and its past conflicts with the former Soviet Union, which broke up officially almost 16 years ago.

It will also expand the summary of South Dakota he brought with him weeks ago, which was: "Mount Rushmore, lots of Indians, and the middle of nowhere."

Prokofiev is expanding that base of knowledge every day. As he learns, he is also teaching others, Griswold said.

"To have someone from a country that used to be our enemy, and now he's our co-worker, it's very interesting," she said. "I think we'll probably continue to have a Russian volunteer. I think it's very valuable."

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com