Batteries, sunscreen, tobacco, paperback books, and chocolate were among the items handed over to two members of an Army Special Forces unit, recently back from the war-torn country. Engineer Sergeant 1st class Bill McDonald and Master Sergeant Rich Benitez, recently rotated back to the States after seven months, collected the donations and thanked the police department for their generosity -- and especially for the ramen noodles.

    "The Top Ramen is something everybody knows out there. That won't last long," Benitez told the assembled group of officers.

    Sergeant Danny Lopez, head of San Francisco's marine patrol, helped to organize the donation drive. He said the internal drive -- donations came only from members of the police department -- was scheduled to start in February but because of a busy schedule had to be put off until recently.

    Lopez, a former member of the Army's special units, believed that the troops in Afghanistan have been all but forgotten.

    "Because of all the focus on the Middle East, there hasn't been any media coverage of the soldiers in Afghanistan," said Lopez. "The troops there are still in harm's way."

    Lopez regretted it took so long, but was pleased with the final result.

    Vic George, a former Team Sergeant in Benitez and McDonald's 19th Special Forces unit who now works cleaning up environmental waste in San Francisco, was involved in the drive, which also included gifts and school supplies for Afghan children.

    George was surprised at the generosity, especially towards the Afghan people.

    "One kid gave up his teddy bear, I guess because he knew the kids over there had less than him," George said of a 5-year-old son of a police officer.

    Sergeant McDonald was sure that the troops stationed now in Afghanistan would appreciate the donations, mentioning the lack of creature comforts so common here.

    "Yeah, you go out to eat over there and you can pretty much choose from beef and rice, or rice and beef," he said.