Meet The "John Paul Vann" Of Afghanistan

Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Hall retired from the Army after 32 years of working special operations on five continents. But he was called back to duty for one last tour — in Afghanistan — by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former top U.S. and NATO commander in the country. Now, as he prepares to end his tour, Hall says insurgents have lost momentum — while the U.S. has yet to gain it — but that the war in Afghanistan can still be won. Quil Lawrence/NPR

His Last War Unfinished, Top Sergeant Exits Afghanistan -- NPR

It's been nearly two months since Gen. Stanley McChrystal departed Afghanistan under a cloud of controversy. He left behind a hand-picked team of counterinsurgency specialists. Among them is the man McChrystal once called "the finest soldier I have ever known."

Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Hall joined the Army Rangers in 1976 and retired in 2008 — only to be called back to Afghanistan by McChrystal for one more tour of duty.

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My Comment: John Paul Vann was probably one of the finest soldiers that America ever produced, if Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Hall reminds senior soldiers of John Paul Vann .... sighhhh .... his departure will be a significant loss to the allied/Afghan war effort.

This is a must read post from NPR.