West Virginia Medal of Honor Recipient Dismayed at Pentagon's Decision to Buy French Air Tankers

ONA, W.Va., Feb. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Hershel "Woody" Williams, West Virginia's only living Medal of Honor recipient, has expressed his disappointment at the Defense Department's decision today to choose a European company instead of the Boeing Company for a contract to build the next generation of air tankers.

In a letter to the secretary of the Air Force, Williams expressed his belief that it is a mistake for the American government to choose the European company that makes Airbus planes over an American company to meet the nation's military needs.

"As a Marine who served on Iwo Jima during World War II, it boils my blood every time I see an American flag labeled 'Made in China,'" he said. "So I am even more dismayed that the Pentagon has chosen a foreign company to make military planes over a good American company."

The Pentagon announced today that it has chosen a bid from Northrop Grumman and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, which is based in France, instead of the KC-767 Advanced Tanker from Boeing, which is based in Chicago. A contract with Boeing would have supported more than 44,000 U.S. jobs with 300 suppliers in more than 40 states.

The Air Force plans to replace more than 500 KC-135 aerial refueling tankers that are more than 45 years old.

Source: TSG Consulting

CONTACT: Randy Coleman, +1-304-419-0167

2008-02-29 18:18:17 0302103 PRNEWSWIRE