Choctaw Nation benefiting from war buildup

(Undated-AP) -- A southeast Oklahoma Indian tribe is seeing booming business in the build-up for a possible war in Iraq. <br><br>Two plants run by the Choctaw Manufacturing Development Corporation are

Tuesday, March 11th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Undated-AP) -- A southeast Oklahoma Indian tribe is seeing booming business in the build-up for a possible war in Iraq.

Two plants run by the Choctaw Manufacturing Development Corporation are making missile parts and equipment for US troops and have seen defense orders rise about 50 percent in the last year.

The corporation contracts with the U-S Navy, Air Force and Army to build containers and parts for smart bombs, helicopter parts and a heater than can filter biological and chemical contaminants from the air.

Managing Officer Stephen Benefield says the tribe's assembly plants in McAlester and Hugo employ about 160 people. More than 80 percent are of Choctaw ancestry or are members of other American Indian tribes.

The Choctaw tribe has held the military contracts for about four years.