It didn’t make a whole lot of difference with Colin Powell. You just immediately developed a rapport with Colin Powell. Powell inspired people, White told News 3. When Wetzel retired, Powell took over his command. Later, Wetzel would command the Army Fifth Corps in Germany. “And Powell impressed me as articulate, knowledgeable. “I was a lieutenant colonel and I was in charge of the pacification program for the Americal Division after I had commanded an infantry battalion in the mountains,” Wetzel said. Who was briefing Americal Division commanders on a daily basis. Wetzel remembers his first encounter with Powell. He had a way about him that if Colin Powell said it, you believed it. “But he never changed a lot from being a second lieutenant out of New York to being the Secretary of State and the chairman. “It is hard to take somebody like Colin Powell and put it into perspective really,” White said. Then again in the late 1980s when Powell had four stars, was Forces commander, and had universal respect, White worked for Powell. The first time was in 1969 in Vietnam when Powell was a major. White served twice directly under Colin Powell’s command. “I don’t think there is any question about that.” “Probably across the board the most stable, bright leader I ever served with was Colin Powell,” White said. All three were with the famed Americal Division. Sam Wetzel remember the first time they met Powell. Two retired generals living here in Columbus crossed paths with Powell several times during that distinguished career. ( WRBL) - Colin Powell’s 35-year Army career started at Fort Benning in 1958.