Hello! Magazine has a new story with soccer great David Beckham on his three day trip visiting US and British troops in Afghanistan in late May. As part of Hello!’s coverage, they have excerpts from Beckham’s diary, written while he was in Afghanistan. I was impressed by how humble and awed he was by the service men and women he met. It’s a very touching piece, and you can tell just how much Beckham was moved by his visit.

“Going to Afghanistan is up there as one of the most inspiring things I have done in my life,” David writes in his personal diary, revealed exclusively here in Hello!. “I must admit there was an element of nerves before the trip; Victoria was probably more worried than I was, but she was very supportive, as she knew it was something that I always wanted to do.”

However, his three sons – Brooklyn, 11, Romeo, seven and five-year-old Cruz – weren’t quite as concerned, he reveals. “My boys were showing no sign of nerves. Brooklyn wanted to come along but Victoria and I felt it was important that he stayed in school.”

David’s recent Achilles tendon injury may have closed the door on his World Cup dreams, but it did open a window of opportunity and a gap in his usually packed schedule, enabling to fly out of RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire for the three-day visit.

On women serving
“It’s only when you head to Afghanistan that you realise how many women are in the armed forces. We tend to forget there are a significant number across all units and battalions who do a fantastic job. These young women I met are an example of this. They had such a great attitude and they made me laugh so much. I was lucky to meet many people and nobody was afraid to char or joke with me, which I loved. I’m in awe of them; it shouldn’t be the other way around.”

On admiring the troops
“Whatever your political opinion, you have to admire the courage of these soldiers who leave home young and put their lives on the line for their country. I came back with even more respect for them.

“I have huge admiration for everything that you do, everything that you believe in and that you are doing for our country [sic]; it’s a real honour for me to be here.”

On the camaraderie and trust between soldiers
“I’ve represented my country on the field, and I’ve got great teammates and great friends, but every now and again I can let my teammates down on the field. Out here, you have to trust your friends, trust the people that you are next to, and your teammates. You don’t get another chance.”

[From Hello! Magazine, print edition, June 14, 2010]

Thanks to Beckham for helping remind us about our troops serving overseas. He wasn’t able to play in the World Cup this year, so he did something worthy with his time. It sounds like it really helped him change his outlook. Our service people deserve so much credit and respect for the sacrifices they make every day. As Beckham said so well, whether you agree with the wars or not (and I personally do not), the men and women in the armed forces need our support and well wishes. You can help out soldiers serving overseas by sending care packages and donations through AnySoldier.com.