Secretary of State Colin Luther Powell served as national security adviser to President Ronald Reagan, and under President George Bush became the first African American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-1993). In 2001 the U.S. Senate confirmed him as the Secretary of State.
Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem, New York City on April 5, 1937, the son of a shipping clerk and a seamstress, both of whom were immigrants from Jamaica. Powell spent most of his childhood in the South Bronx, then regarded as a step up from Harlem. Despite the urgings of his parents that he should "strive for a good education" in order to "make something" of his life, Powell remained an ordinary student throughout high school. At City College of New York, Powell discovered himself; his retentive mind and leadership abilities made him a conspicuous success in the Army's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). He graduated from the program in 1958 with the rank of cadet colonel, the highest awarded, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He was then assigned to duty in West Germany. In 1962, while stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, Powell met and married Alma Vivian Johnson. The couple had three children.
Powell's next overseas assignment was in South Vietnam, where he was wounded in action. He then studied at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, finishing second in a class of more than twelve hundred officers. During a second tour in Vietnam he received the Soldier's Medal for pulling several men from a burning helicopter.
The army then provided Powell the time to study for a Master's degree in business administration at George Washington University. He received the degree in 1971, after which he worked as an analyst at the Pentagon before securing what he called a "dream job": an appointment as a prestigious White House fellow in the Office of Management and Budget under the director, Caspar Weinberger, and his deputy, Frank Carlucci, two men of rising influence in Washington who perceived Powell's uncommon abilities and who would help shape his career. A man of commanding presence at six feet one inch and 200 pounds, Powell was assigned to South Korea in 1973 to command a battalion troubled by racial animosities. "I threw the bums out of the army and put the drug u...
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...gure in government. During the 1996 presidential race, it was announced that Powell would run. He declined, citing various reasons. The withdrawal was disappointing to many Americans. In April 1997 Powell chaired a Volunteer Summit in Philadelphia. Powell, President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, former presidents, and other big names, including Oprah Winfrey, proposed the advent of a new volunteerism that would include people from all walks of life, place, and age. Powell's next step was to chair America's Promise, the Alliance for Youth. This organization is "dedicated to mobilizing individuals, groups and organizations from every part of American life, to build and strengthen the character and competence of our youth." Although the organization experienced some difficulties initially, Powell's commitment did not waver. Evaluations conducted in the spring of 1999 indicate that the organization has touched the lives of over 10 million children since its inception.
On December 16, 2000, President-elect George W. Bush nominated Powell to become the 65th Secretary of State. Following a unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, he was sworn in on January 20, 2001.
The Carroll family then packed up and moved to Lexington Kentucky, where he worked at the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation office. In 1954, he earned a bachelor’s of arts in political science degree from the University of Kentucky. He then would attend the University of Kentucky’s school of law where he earned his law degree in 1956. For the next five years he practice law as a military lawyer at Carswell Air Force Base in Texas, as well as serving with the Paducah law firm of Reed, Scent, Reed, and Walton before beginning his political career in 1961.
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was born December 18, 1912 in Washington D.C. His father, Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. was one of the few African-American officers in the U.S. Army. Davis, Jr. was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy in 1932 by Rep. Oscar S. De Priest, the only black congressman at that time. At West Point he endured ostracism from both classmates and superiors who wanted to see him fail. He persevered and graduated 35th in a class of 276 in 1936. He was the fourth African-American graduate in the Academy’s history. Upon commissioning he and his father became the only two black officers in the army. His application to the Army Air Corps was refused because the Air Corps did not accept African-Americans.
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel grew up in Henderson, Kentucky as one of seven children, and graduated as valedictorian of his high school. Although it was originally his plan to attend West Point, he was not accepted, so he entered the United States Naval Academy in May 1900. Kimmel graduated from the Naval Academy on February 1, 1904 and was then sent to serve in the gunnery department on the battleship USS Kentucky. He continued to rise in rank in the years following, and then, in 1914, after being named lieutenant, he was named “the aide and fleet gunnery officer on the staff of the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet.” (pg 58, Betrayed). In World War I, Kimmel reached the rank of lieutenant commander, in addition to serving as a squadron gunnery officer, executive officer of the Arkansas, production officer of the Naval Gun Factory, and commander of the Destroyer Division 45. Kimmel was thought of very highly by his superiors, being described as “an all-around officer of great promise” and “a splendid officer of high character.” (Betrayed, 59). The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral William V. Pratt even said of Kimmel, “He is a driver and a worker most effici...
Military school opened the door to many opportunities for Wes as he joined the army, met influential people, and was accepted into Johns Hopkins University, despite his low
As a direct result of Carter’s studying around the world Carter was able to conclude that and realize that Black people were and their contribution to the world had been overlooked, ignored and forgotten about. The writers of history books who down played the great achievements of African Americans disturbed Carter. Carter was assured that if there was no type of recorded history that credit African Americans for their great achievements that they soon would forever be forgotten. Carter went on to write and create his own textbooks for schools to use. In addition he started the Journal Negro History, where he was an active editor for almost 40 years. He also established the Association For The Study of Negro Life. This association promoted black history.
Attended Oregon State University 1946 – 1950 and received a BS. Degree. Taught High School Science for eight months at Benson High School before being recalled to active duty for the Korean War on 1 April 1951. Assigned 816th TCS and flew C-119s out of Ashiya, Japan in support of the Korean War. Promoted to Captain 1 June 1952.
He was then drafted into the U.S. Army where he was refused admission to the Officer Candidate School. He fought this until he was finally accepted and graduated as a first lieutenant. He was in the Army from 1941 until 1944 and was stationed in Kansas and Fort Hood, Texas. While stationed in Kansas he worked with a boxer named Joe Louis in order to fight unfair treatment towards African-Americans in the military and when training in Fort Hood, Texas he refused to go to the back of the public bus and was court-martialed for insubordination. Because of this he never made it to Europe with his unit and in 1944 he received an honorable discharge.
Early in Colin¡¦s college career he joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). On June 9,1958 he graduated from CCNY...
His college years took place during the height of the Vietnam War, which he personally supported. Subsequently, he joined the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, but unfortunately his military career was short-lived due to his poor eyesight. After graduating in 1969 with a b...
served as a chief of staff in the Army of the Cumberland, saw action at
Powell chose a military path when he was in college. He was accepted at New York University where tuition was $750 a year, but City College of New York required only a $10 fee. CCNY it would be. Powell’s mother wanted him to study engineering, but difficulty with mechanical drawing convinced him to change his major to geology.
Vice President of the United States. He is for the Democratic party and is now
First, we will discuss General George Armstrong Custer who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York in the last of his class in 18613. To his benefit, the Civil War had just begun and the need for trained officers was paramount at the time. Custer was first commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the 2ND Cavalry Regiment where he performed duties as a runner during the first Battle...
In 1861 Powell enlisted in the Union Army and was elected captain of artillery under U. S. Grant. He was wounded at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862 and lost his right arm. Despite his debility, however, Powell returned to active duty and finished the war (Stegner 17).
University, and completed a Master’s degree in Journalism a year later. Due to his objection to the Vietnam War, Martin obtained a conscientious objector status. ...