General Colin Powell, the first black US national security adviser and Secretary of State, has died from covid 19 complications, according to his family. Powel is a second generation Jamaican-American as both his parents are Jamaicans.
In a Facebook post they wrote: “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. “We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” they said.
CNN has reported that “A source familiar with the matter said Powell had multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells that suppresses the body’s immune response. Even if fully vaccinated against Covid-19, those who are immunocompromised are at greater risk from the virus.”
Powell was 84 and was the chief architect of the US led coalition victory in Iraq, as chief of staff under the George H.W. Bush administration. A powerful force in the Republican party, he was very adept at national security solutions, and was widely seen on national television giving advice and suggestions during American international crises and on election matters. At one point his popularity pushed him to the forefront of a presidential run, but he never acted on the urges of public opinion.
Powell is a graduate of City College of New York (CUNY) where he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). When he graduated in 1958 he was at the top of his ROTC class, with the rank of cadet colonel, the highest rank in the corps.
Colin did his first of two tours to Vietnam in 1962. He was wounded in 1963 and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was again injured on his second tour to Vietnam, when his helicopter crashed but still managed to rescue his fellow soldiers. He was then awarded the Soldier’s medal. In all he has received eleven decorations including the legion of merit.
In 1986 Colin Powell was appointed military commander in Frankfurt, Germany but was recalled to work as deputy national security adviser under Frank Carlucci. He was appointed Chairman of The Joint Chief of Staff in 1989 by Bush. He also served under President Bill Clinton.
Even though he was cautious about America’s attack on Iraq, he will be remembered as the person who stood at the United Nations and told the world about Iraq’s possession of chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. He later regretted the invasion.
Powell was born in Harlem, New York on April 5th, 1937 after his parents, Maud and Luther moved to New York City in the 1920s. Both parents immigrated separately. Luther was from Top Hill, St Elizabeth and Maud was from Western Jamaica.
At the invitation of then Prime Minister Michael Manley, Colin Powell went back to Jamaica in 1992 after the Gulf War, and was also there with popular tv personality Barbara Walters in 1994, for an interview.
He was also one of the specially invited guest for Jamaica’s Grand Gala, celebrating the 50th anniversary of independence. At a press conference just before the celebration, he told Jamaicans to, “Keep believing in yourself; keep believing in the strength of your society and your culture. Keep being proud of your heritage, but recognize that there are problems that we all have to deal with. The US is facing the same kind of problems, and those are infrastructure, the education system, and creating jobs for people.”
General Powell is on a long list of outstanding Caribbean-Americans who contributed significantly to their country of birth and heritage.
In October, 2005 the American government passed a special senate bill to renamed the Crowne Plaza, which hosted the US Embassy in Kingston, the Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza.
Colin Powell retired in 2004 and has written a best selling autobiography, ‘My American Journey.’ He was also a sought after public speaker and championed causes for the benefit and upliftment of youths.
He is survived by wife Alma and children Linda, Michael, and Annemarie.
