Staff Sgt. Micheal Coleman, who is the inspiration to form the Sock Brigade, is currently back in the USA training for his next deployment!!

Award from Micheal's Army unit for the work Sock Brigade is doing.

Thanks from 121st Security Forces

This is how the Sock Brigade grew from the donation of the guitar from the band EXTREME!

The guitar has now been re-gifted twice....no, now three times, to be auctioned again and again, the auction in July 2009 and donation, of $3,500, was for herd evaluation services by Silver Penn Sales -Park View Alpacas ..... and then another auction on Oct 10, 2009 it sold to Flying Pony Alpacas for $4,500 and was re-gifted, AGAIN!! The final auction of the guitar was at the Futurity Event, May 2010, and purchased by MarathonAlpacas!!! Thank you one and all for a fantastic gift that kept on giving!!!!!

To date, our Sock Brigade has been responsible for shipping over 11,000 pair of alpaca
socks to our troops stationed overseas.

Know someone in the military, stationed in Afghan or Iraq that would like socks??? We need the contact name, email and APO address for the unit and we will send as funds allow, 3 pair per person in the unit!! email us at SockBrigade@BentStarProject.org

Below are thanks from the troops in Afghan & Iraq that have received alpaca socks from all the kind donations we have received and continue to receive!!!!

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Robin I want to thank you for the socks,everybody I gave them to snatched them out of my hand before I could ask them if they wanted them. I know when it cools off over here they"ll be  perfect. Hell the females said they will start wearing them to bed ASAP. Well I want to thank you again it means a lot to me and my unit that there are people who still support us and this ongoing war on terrorism.

The socks have arrived; about 2 weeks ago. We received two boxes. Thank you so much for the generosity and kindness. These socks will keep our feet warm when the cold weather hits these mountains. Thanks again. Here are some photos of us handing out some socks. Once again sorry for being prolonged on this; we've been busy. Thank you and your sponsors for the kind gesture.

"The team absolutely love the socks. All of the team members took one pair and then we donated the rest to the injured soldiers that we are taking care of. During their trauma evaluation, all of their clothes are cut off and then they have to get flown back to the states for recovery. The injured soldiers really need good socks and those Alpaca socks are fantastic. You guys should know that you really made a difference for many of the soldiers that we have treated."

"Socks are a great gift for servicemen overseas. I'll be in Afghanistan during the winter months so cold weather socks would be awesome. I don't have my overseas shipping address yet, but I should in another month or so. I got back from Iraq in March '09 and our mail stopped coming in Feb. If you sent them after that I didn't get them, but I'm sure someone is enjoying them. Things tend to not go to waste over there. Thanks for thinking of me and the Marines I'm proud to serve alongside."

"I have passed on your thanks to the Marines. The socks are the perfect way to express your gratitude. As we approach our departure date everyone is running around to gather needed last minute items. You would be surprised at how many credit cards are being maxed out. Socks are always on our list, so these help a great deal. Thank you very much."

"I certainly do know a bunch of guys that could use the socks. Especially with the cold months coming. The Company that took our place there could use them and I know some others that are going to be there. They are awesome for the cold weather months. Used them a lot when I first got there, as it got warmer most of us used a thinner cooler sock. All the guys loved them though and raved about them. Thanks again, you're the best."

I was one of the greatful recipients of your alpaca socks and I just wanted you guys to know how greatful I am.  We have been very blessed with amazing support from everyone back home, and it should not go without notice.  So even if some individuals do not thank you, let it be known that we are all very appreciative of the warm socks.  They will help a lot during the brutal winters we have here.  Once again, thanks a bunch and take care.