My American Journey - The story of Colin Powell is the classic American story, or at least, it's what we like to think the classic American story should be. The son of hard-working Jamaican immigrants, Powell was born in Harlem, grew up in the racially integrated South Bronx, attended the City College of New York, joined the R.O.T.C. and discovered his passion for things military. After stints in Korea, Vietnam and Germany he made his most important marks in the Pentagon bureaucracy, cultivating civilian and military contacts and advancing above his colleagues on an express ride through the ranks. As the ultimate insider, Powell is coveted by both political parties, but questions his own ability to switch from military hero to politician.
Sacred Honor : Colin Powell the Inside Account of His Life and Triumphs - The extraordinary man behind the larger-than-life legend is examined here--a public and private four-star hero for all Americans.
Colin Powell : A Man of Quality - He was a child of a black immigrant family from the South Bronx. Yet Colin Powell rose to become National Security Adviser to the President of the United States, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The biography goes on to explore his personal philosophy and future.
Colin Powell : Soldier and Patriot - A chronicle of the life of the soldier, general, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, through his decision in the fall of 1995 not to run for president. Although this is an entry in the African-American Biographies series, the subject of Powell's race is relegated to a minor role in his story. Schraff focuses on Powell's career climb, at the expense of details about his personal life and personality; the emphasis is on his hard work, honesty, and charisma.
Colin Powell's Speech at the Republican National Convention
General Colin L. Powell served as the twelfth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense, from October 1, 1989 to September 30, 1993, under both President George Bush and President Bill Clinton. In this capacity, he served as the principal military adviser to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.
General Powell was born in New York City on April 5, 1937, and was raised in the South Bronx. His parents, Luther and Maud Powell, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica. General Powell was educated in the New York City Public Schools, graduating from Morris High School and the City College of New York (CCNY), where he earned a bachelor's degree in geology. He also participated in ROTC at CCNY and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant upon graduation in June 1958. His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration Degree from George Washington University.
After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger Course, and Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, General Powell was stationed as a lieutenant in Germany. Subsequent operational assignment took him to Fort Denvens, Massachusetts; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Fort Carson, Colorado. General Powell served two tours in Vietnam from 1962 to 1963 and1968 to 1969. He was also a battalion commander in Korea from 1973 to 1974. He later commanded the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and the U.S. Army's V Corps in Germany. Prior to being named Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he served as the Commander in Chief, Forces Command headquartered at Fort McPherson, Georgia.
In addition to his selection as a White House Fellow in 1972, General Powell's assignments in Washington, D.C. included duty as Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and as Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He served as Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Energy for a brief period. In December1987, President Ronald Reagan named General Powell as the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, a post in which he served until January 1989.
General Powell has been the recipient of numerous U.S. military awards and decorations including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Distinguished Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. He has also been decorated by the governments of Argentina, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
Among General Powell's civilian awards honoring his public service are two awards of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the President's Citizens Medal, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, and the Secretary of Energy Distinguished Service Medal. Additionally, he received an honorary knighthood (Knight of the Bath) form the Queen of England in December of 1993.
Upon retiring from the U.S. Army on September 30, 1993, General Powell spent the next two years writing his autobiography, titled My American Journey, which was published in September 1995. Currently he is lecturing to diverse audiences in the United States and abroad, while serving on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Howard University and a member of the Board of Directors of the United Negro College Fund. The General also serves on the Board of Governors of The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Children's Health Fund. In January of 1997, President Clinton named him to be the General Chairman of The Presidents' Summit for America's Future, to be held in Philadelphia on April 27-29, 1997.
General Powell is married to the former Alma Vivian Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama. The Powell family included son Michael; daughters, Linda and Annmarie, daughter-in-law Jane, and grandsons Jeffery and Bryan.