kˈɑːlɪn pˈaʊɛl, hˌuː wʊd lˈeɪɾɚ ɡˌoʊ ˌɔn tə bɪkˌʌm ɐ fˈoːɹstˈɑːɹ dʒˈɛnɚɹəl ænd ðə jˈuː.ˈɛs. sˈɛkɹətɹi ʌv stˈeɪt, hɐz stˈeɪɾᵻd ðæt hiː ænd ˈɛmɚsən wɜː vˈɛɹi klˈoʊs ænd ðæt wʌt sˈɛt ˈɛmɚsən ɐpˈɑːɹt wʌz hɪz ɡɹˈeɪt lˈʌv ʌv hɪz sˈoʊldʒɚz ænd kənsˈɜːn fɔːɹ ðɛɹ wˈɛlfɛɹ.
Colin Powell, who would later go on to become a four-star general and the U.S. Secretary of State, has stated that he and Emerson were very close and that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare.