Colin Powell, the four-star General of the U.S. Army and first black secretary of state passed away at the age of 84. The former secretary of state battled Covid-19 and succumbed to complications from the virus.
“General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19,” the Powell family wrote on Facebook.
Powell’s family mentioned that he was fully vaccinated. There is no clarification on whether Powell received a booster dose of the vaccine.
General Colin Luther Powell
Colin Luther Powell was born on Apr. 5, 1937, in Harlem, New York, to Jamaican immigrants. Powell attended school at the City College of New York and participated in ROTC. He was awarded the top rank of cadet Colonel.
“I liked the structure and the discipline of the military,” Powell said. “I felt somewhat distinctive wearing a uniform. I hadn’t been distinctive in much else.”
Powell is widely known for his leadership in several Republican administrations. Prior to his political endeavors, he helped guide the U.S. military to victory in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. During this campaign, he was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff–the youngest and noted first black man to hold the position.
In 2001, he served as Secretary of State under President George W. Bush. During this time, Iraq invaded the United States. In particular, these administrations helped shape American foreign policy in the latter years of the 20th century and into 21st.
Condolences to an American leader
Powell was known for his encouraging but stern nature. He encompassed a slew of knowledge and experience in his political views. As a Black American leader, he has been a pillar of change in a movement forward and famously said:
“Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position goes, your ego goes with it.”
Ultimately, President George W. Bush provided a statement for immediate release following the news of Powell’s passing.
STATEMENT BY
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
ON COLIN POWELL pic.twitter.com/VbCISAEIsx— CSPAN (@cspan) October 18, 2021
Powell is survived by his wife, Alma J. Powell, 83, and their three children.
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