Excerpts from a few of the many soldiers who have written to confirm receipt of socks, letters of support, toiletries and other items, and to thank Operation U.S. Troop Support, Inc.:

• “…When I read the article about you collecting wool socks for us over here I was overwhelmed with emotions. It makes me feel proud to know that Americans as young as yourself appreciate our sacrifices and try to ease our deployments as we are far away from our families. Please keep doing what you are doing because I want YOU to know YOUR efforts are appreciated…”

  --SSG Donna Mack

• “…I do want you to know that every Trooper received a pair of socks. You sent so many and they are needed—thank you! Of course the Army issues us socks and cold weather gear, but the thick wool socks are great for the men and women to sleep in; especially at some of the more remote fire bases…I have had some of my Troopers wounded and killed here; we have a difficult mission here and knowing that young Americans like you support us further deepens our resolve.”

  --LTC, AD Commanding James P. Leary

• “I wanted to say thank you and what you are doing is amazing. The socks couldn’t have come at a better time. I have a platoon of soldiers that are located in northern Nuristan which is one of the highest points in Afghanistan. We had a helicopter flying to drop off supplies the same day I received the socks, so I put (the) entire box on the flight. I’m very sure the soldiers appreciate them…”

  --SFL Davis

• “Thank you for sending the box containing socks for the winter. The socks were greatly appreciated by my soldiers. This winter was one of the coldest winters on record. We also received a record amount of snow…Take care and keep up the good work!”

  --Eric Barricklou

• “…I will have you know, Miss Mansfield, the letters you have sent will be posted on the walls of my shop’s break room, while the socks you have sent will adorn the feet located within. The timing could not have been more appropriate, either. The winter weather just took hold within the last week. Ice stayed on the ground all day, despite sitting in direct sunlight…”

  --SSG David H. Kerr

• “Let me take this opportunity to say how much excitement and joy you caused to spring to life in my heart by sending your gift with such wonderful and inspirational support. The box took us all by complete surprise…Thank you so much! In this environment we forget that there are even weekends and holidays. We forget that there are OFF times…and we sometimes lose focus of life in general back home…So again, thank you for bringing me back to reality and making me smile if even for a sec!...”

  --CW3, AV Charles R. Burkett

• “Thanks so much for the great box. It arrived today. My soldiers and I appreciate very much your thoughtfulness and the hard work it took to gather the socks, organize and send them. They are great. My Soldiers are young and always ready to eat, so the snacks you sent were a hit as well. We gave some of the stuffed animals away this morning to children we saw in the clinic…”

  --Patricia A. Fortner LTC, AN Commanding

• …Alison, you certainly brought a lot of smiles with your care packages that you sent here. I truly want to thank you on behalf of myself and my unit for going out of your way the way you did to support all of the troops in Afghanistan. I know it took a lot of time and energy to organize what you did and to get things packaged, addressed and mailed out. Believe me, it’s not going unnoticed. Troops went super crazy when they got the socks because it is cold here and they needed some extra foot protection. The socks really did it for them…”

  --Linda M. Hinton

• “…Thanks again for taking the time to help America’s military personnel do their job so far from home. It means a great deal to us to know that our country is behind us and is concerned with making our lives a little more comfortable and safe.”

  --W.C. Ashby LCDR MSC USN Executive Officer

• “…The snacks and socks you sent were distributed amongst my men, and were all very well received…Thank you again for your support and kindness. It means the world to us and helps improve morale more than you know. You are a great American and have an incredibly bright future ahead of you. I wish you the best.”

  --CPT Benham S. Roberts

• “Thank you so much for your kind and generous gifts. Your package arrived yesterday and everyone was appreciative of your kindness. It’s a wonderful thing to have a bit of comfort when living under deployed conditions. And, the socks are such a good idea. My team just arrived in country a couple of months ago. The old timers here keep telling us about the harsh Afghanistan winters and how much we’re going to appreciate every piece of cold weather gear we have. Your thoughtfulness has gone a long way to making our stay much less arduous.”

  --Donella Adams

• “You should have seen half of my platoon nearly attack me when I came out with a bag of socks. Many thanks…Excellent project, quite unique. Best wishes from eastern Afghanistan.”

  --2LT David Houston

• “I just wanted to say thank you so very much for all the boxes you had sent. We have been serving in Afghanistan for only a few months now, but it seems like forever. We missed the holidays with our families. When we got a few boxes with socks it was pretty cool. The next day came and four more boxes came. After that two more came. They just keep coming. The socks are GREAT by the way. They couldn’t have come at a better time. The weather over here is up and down here daily. I sent you a Company photo for your website. Again, thank you so very much for everything you sent. We appreciate all the support from home.”

  --SGT Skeens, Jimmy

• “Thank you so much for the box. I took it to the hospital here. All the soldiers there really enjoyed and needed the supplies in the box. Thank you for your support of the troops…”

  --SFC Richard R. Manley

• “The soldiers that are proudly serving our country here at Bagram Afghanistan would like to first and foremost say thank you for your packages. We received one today, full of much appreciated items. The socks are especially welcomed, as we tend to wear out the ones that we have. We appreciate knowing that Americans still support us in our efforts and time spent here…”

  --Spc. Lloyd J. Meredith Sr. and the soldiers of Delta 7-101 Dragons *Air Assault*

• “We received five boxes in the past few days and I must say they couldn’t have come at a better time. Thank you so much for everything you sent, it is all being put to good use. We are surrounded by mountains all of them snow capped and as soon as the sun goes down so does the temperature. The socks are great it doesn’t take much to make these soldiers days and you would be surprised by how many smiles the socks received…The morale of the company keeps us going…your packages have raised the morale to new heights…”

  --1SG Dave Conklin

• “We just received your package and we want to take the time and say thank you. Your generosity makes a difference down here. There is nothing (more) beautiful than a SMILE on a depressed face. When my unit saw the box, everybody was just asking “Who sent this package?” It was just great. Our words are not enough to say thank you, but the Lord knows how to say thank(s)…”

  --SPC Malame Soule

• “Thank you and all the students of the 3rd grade class for the kind letters and prayers…We loved the socks…”

  --SFC Williams and all of my soldiers

• “Thank you from all the soldiers at FOB Kutschbach. We always look forward to getting mail about once a week when the resupply comes in. Everything we get here is meaningful…when care packages come from groups, churches, our own families we all share because now here we all realize for the months and some of us years here we are our families…”

  --Eric

• “Good day. I would like to thank you and Operation Support US Troops. I received your items and passed them out throughout the unit. Our unit is assigned out of Alaska, Ft. Richardson AK to be exact…Have a blessed day and thanks for the support. I serve because I wouldn’t do anything else!! I love it!!”

  --SSG Douglas J.C. Hopper

• “I’d like to take a minute to say thanks for sending us that package-it was very helpful and thoughtful of you. I admire your ambition and willingness to support the soldiers. It really means a lot. As this war draws out it’s something special to get support from folks like you and the public…And truly, truly thank you!”

  --Sergeant Brian Chilson, US Army

• “Hello all, it is getting hotter, already we have had a series of consecutive days over the 100 degree mark. The sandstorms and dust continue and we get an occasional rain but not as much as the last time I was here…I want to thank all of you who have helped and sent items for the children. It has been great getting the children the supplies and every time they smile, it makes it all worth it. Until next time…”

  --Cpt. Bruce S. Balvin

• “On behalf of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26 and its Patriots, I’d like to thank you for your unwavering and selfless support of your Marines here in Iraq. Your kindness and thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated and much wanted. Know that you touched many lives, not just one…”

  --Joe H. Adkins, Jr., Commanding Officer

• “…I am the Officer in Charge of the 42 Soldiers in my Platoon and I wanted to personally thank you for sending that wonderful care package. Your kindness and patriotism for supporting us during this 12 to 15 month deployment with your wonderful care packages is greatly appreciated. The Soldiers eyes widened and they had big smiles from ear to ear when I handed out the items you sent us…”

  --Michael S. Benthin, CW4, AV

• “My name is Spc. John Rahrer. First and foremost, I am a Christian…I am currently stationed with the US Army here in Bagram Afghanistan. I have a big responsibility to keep track of about 20 million in aircraft parts…I want to thank you for writing.”

  --Spc Raher, US Army

• “…I cannot begin to explain how much the care package meant to us. Mail call is like Christmas. Knowing that we have support and appreciation makes every day out here worth it. Sometimes, especially those who don’t get mail, feel forgotten. It can be lonely on deployments away from the rest of the world but your care package makes a difference. You are truly appreciated. Thank you from the bottom of my heart…”

  --Stephanie Haleem

• “…Please accept my deepest thanks and gratitude for your recent generous contribution and support given to the Indiana and Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers of Task Force CYCLONE serving in Afghanistan. Kind and sincere packages like yours help us get through the long months separated from our families and homes we love and miss so dearly…”

  --Russell L. Dewell, Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel

• “…I want to personally thank you so much for you (sic) letter and wonderful boxes of goodies for me and my Soldiers! We always appreciate when someone takes the time out of their busy schedule to think of us over here…”

  --SGT Gaelen Lowers

• “…I received your care package by way of another soldier in my unit, and automatically thought what a very selfless young lady this is. You are 15 and very concerned about others! You could be out spending your parents (sic) money at the mall but instead you are making everyone aware of a great call! Many of us soldiers are separated from our family and loved ones, and yes the world moves on when we deploy, but your thoughtfullness (sic) is a breath of fresh air!...”

  --SFC Tami Jones

• “…It is with great pleasure that i (sic) speak on behalf of all the Soldiers in our battalion. We would like to extend a very large “THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us in a variety of ways (Care Packages, Letters to Soldiers, Cards to send home to loved ones, etc.). It is because of great caring people like you, that we are able to accomplish our mission in a much higher morale…”

  --Specialist Frank Toms

• “I received 3 boxes from you yesterday, each one filled with the donations you collected. Thank you very much for your generosity. The whole team appreciates what you’re doing for soldiers and they all send their thanks...You’re making a difference.”

  --LTC Richard Graham