Gates thanks Oshkosh Corp. employees for safer military trucks

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The nation’s defense secretary visits Wisconsin today.

Robert Gates will meet with employees at the Oshkosh Corp., and thank them for making a more modern and safer truck for use in Afghanistan.

Oshkosh won a major contract earlier this year to build the MATV.

Sixty-two hundred of them have been ordered so far, at a total cost of $3.2 billion.

The first ones arrived in Afghanistan last month.

Officials say they’re easier to maneuver than heavy trucks and they do a better job of protecting troops than the old Humvees.

The military placed its fifth order with Oshkosh this week for the MATV’s.

It’s allowed the company to hire or recall about 1400 employees.

Oshkosh CEO Robert Bohn says employees are excited about Gates’ visit today.

Bohn says they often double-check their work because they know our troops’ lives depend on it.

Tags: oshkosh corp, wisconsin