NICK Swisher loves the stars and stripes of the United States even more than he adored playing in Yankees pinstripes.

Swisher, 44, described winning the World Series with the New York Yankees in 2009 as "life changing."

But his eyes were really opened after that when he took a trip to Afghanistan.

Swisher and his wife JoAnna Garcia visited the US military on the front line in what he described to The Sun as "the trip of a lifetime."

"It was absolutely amazing. I just remember we were in the locker room, everybody was getting dressed for the game.

"And this gentleman walks in with what looked like four Navy SEALs standing right behind him.

"These dudes were yoked - they were just absolutely just in shape, guys."

Swisher was one of the Yankees team members who was offered the chan

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