Soldiers Thank Finning UK
January 13, 2010
Two British soldiers have credited Finning staff with saving their lives while they were on duty in Afghanistan.
Daniel Boden and Craig Cook were completing engineering work, Daniel in a 434E backhoe loader and Craig in a 938 wheel loader, when their machines were hit by improvised explosive devices (IED).
But thanks to the required protection and modifications added to the machines by Finning staff at the Finning UK defence facility in Cannock, both soldiers were able to walk away from the equipment without injury.
In a letter to Finning UK staff from Craig’s wife, Michele, she thanked the staff for keeping an important member of her family safe. “If it wasn’t for you, me and my unborn baby would have lost a husband/dad,” she wrote.
Craig echoed his wife’s gratitude. “People like yourselves… are the unsung heroes making our lives out here that much safer.”
Chris Key, customer solutions manager at the factory where the wheel loader was manufactured, said the incident has touched each staff member and caused them to realize the importance of their jobs. “If you can have these moments like this in your life where the significance of the ‘day job’ is really brought home, I think you can be very proud,” he said.
Click here for more information and to see a special video of Daniel and Craig’s visit to Finning UK.