Colin Powell Biography | American Military General

General Colin Luther Powell

Born: April 5, 1937
Place of Birth: New York City, New York

Major Notes:

Colin Powell became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of State for United States.
His parents, Luther Theophilus and Maud Ariel Powell, immigrated from Jamaica and stressed the importance of education on Powell.
After high school graduation, he enrolled in the City College of New York where he was introduced to the R.O.T.C.
Colin Powell finished his training as Cadet Colonel, the highest rank in the class, and achieved a degree in Geology.
Powell was given an Army rank of Second Lieutenant in 1958 and assigned to Germany.
In 1962 he married Alma Vivian Johnson and the couple have had three children.
He next served in Viet Nam receiving a wound in action and in his second tour was credited for saving several men from a burning helicopter.
Over the year, Powell developed a reputation as a "dove" military person in that he preferred negotiations over battle if possible.
In 1991, he had wanted sanctions to be tried in Kuwait, however, the final decision was to attack Iraq's army.
With over 35 years in the military, Colin Powell rose to the rank of 4-star General in 1989.
President Bush appointed him as the US Secretary of State in 2001, the first African-American to have been given this position.
Powell became the chief spokesman for the Bush administration when it came to military matters.
He was the US spokesman at the United Nations in presenting the case for attacking Iraq in 2003.
Many have argued Powell should have been chosen to be Vice-President in the 2000 US election.
Colin Powell has served his country well and has always been an outspoken person on behalf of democracy.

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Major Notes:

Colin Powell became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of State for United States.

His parents, Luther Theophilus and Maud Ariel Powell, immigrated from Jamaica and stressed the importance of education on Powell.

After high school graduation, he enrolled in the City College of New York where he was introduced to the R.O.T.C.

Colin Powell finished his training as Cadet Colonel, the highest rank in the class, and achieved a degree in Geology.

Powell was given an Army rank of Second Lieutenant in 1958 and assigned to Germany.

In 1962 he married Alma Vivian Johnson and the couple have had three children.

He next served in Viet Nam receiving a wound in action and in his second tour was credited for saving several men from a burning helicopter.

Over the year, Powell developed a reputation as a "dove" military person in that he preferred negotiations over battle if possible.

In 1991, he had wanted sanctions to be tried in Kuwait, however, the final decision was to attack Iraq's army.

With over 35 years in the military, Colin Powell rose to the rank of 4-star General in 1989.

President Bush appointed him as the US Secretary of State in 2001, the first African-American to have been given this position.

Powell became the chief spokesman for the Bush administration when it came to military matters.

He was the US spokesman at the United Nations in presenting the case for attacking Iraq in 2003.

Many have argued Powell should have been chosen to be Vice-President in the 2000 US election.

Colin Powell has served his country well and has always been an outspoken person on behalf of democracy.