Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III: It is not possible to replace Colin Powell, the world lost one of the greatest leaders, he's been my mentor for a number of years

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said that It is not possible to replace Colin Powell, the world lost one of the greatest leaders.

I was informed earlier about the loss of Colin Powell, and I want to take just a second to express my deepest condolences to Alma, his wife, to his son Michael, and the entire Powell family. The world lost one of the greatest leaders that we have ever witnessed. Alma lost a great husband, and the family lost a tremendous father, and I lost a tremendous personal friend and mentor.

He's been my mentor for a number of years. He always made time for me, and I could always go to him with tough issues, and he always had great counsel. We will certainly miss him.

I feel as if I have a hole in my heart just learning this. The first African American Chairman of Joint Chiefs, the first African American Secretary of State, a man who was respected around the globe and quite frankly, it is not possible to replace Colin Powell. We will miss him. Again, my thoughts and prayers go out to the family ... I am deeply, deeply sad hearing this“, - Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin said.

Colin Powell, an accomplished and esteemed four-star general who became the first African American secretary of State, died Monday as a result of complications from Covid-19, according to his family. He was 84.