Task Force works to protect Oklahoma bases

<br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State officials are working to make sure the five major military installations in the state are protected. <br><br>US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has sent memos to the

Monday, December 16th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- State officials are working to make sure the five major military installations in the state are protected.

US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has sent memos to the secretaries of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines outlining how he wants the next round of base closures to proceed. The closings could begin in 2005.

The Oklahoma Military Base Closure Prevention Task Force is to find ways to keep Oklahoma bases off the list of those to be closed or downsized.

Task force member Gilbert Gibson says the group is trying to make the state's military installations so important the government won't close any of them.

In Oklahoma, the military has Altus Air Force Base; Tinker Air Force Base; Vance Air Force Base; Fort Sill and the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant.