Sobel was good at producing a company of fighting men, but poor as a combat commander. His proficiency in skills critical for combat officers was somewhat lacking - for example, Sobel had difficulties in map reading (as depicted in the Band of Brothers miniseries episode "Currahee") and his grasp of military tactics was apparently poor.

"Camp Mackall "
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Camp Mackall is an active U.S. Army training facility located nearby Southern Pines, North Carolina. The facility is in close proximity to Fort Bragg, which is home to the XVIII Airborne Corps, the 82nd Airborne Division and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters. Camp Mackall is a sub-installation of the Fort Bragg. Camp Mackall is the setting of primary training to become a member of U.S. Army Special Forces.

On February 8, 1943, General Order Number 6 renamed the facility Camp Mackall in honor of Private John Thomas (Tommy) Mackall. He was born May 17, 1920 in Ohio and grew up in Wellsville, Ohio . He served in the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. During the Allied invasion of North Africa in the airborne segment called Operation Torch, he was mortally wounded in an attack by French Vichy aircraft on his aircraft as it landed near Oran. Seven paratroopers died at the scene and several were wounded, including Mackall. He was evacuated by air to a British hospital at Gibraltar where he died on November 12, 1942.