Colin Powell, a former secretary of state and retired four-star general, has died of COVID-19 related complications, his family said in a statement on Facebook.
Powell, 84, was born in New York City and joined the Army after graduating from the City University of New York.
Powell died Monday at Walter Reed National Medical Center. His family said he was fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” Powell’s family said in its statement.
My condolences to his widow, Mrs. Alma Powell, and the rest of loved ones.
I was shocked when I received the notification. I am getting over it because I know that for many this will cause fear and worry. For those who are reading this blog post, do not let fear and worry consume you. I am sure they did not tell us he was sick because they expected him to pull through. Mr. Powell was a very private man and a private citizen until the George W. Bush Administration. When President Barack Obama took the reins, Mr. Powell receded back into his private life. I am certain that the family did not want to report anything at all but had no choice after he passed this morning.
For believers we know that death is not the end for us. For the scientists we know that energy does not blink off like a light switch, energy continues to exist. For those who have passed but were brought back we know that it is the ultimate “letting go and letting GOD”. That moment is a release and a relief. You have no further responsibility, no choice. The choices are made for you in that moment. Even the action of returning, it is in GOD’S will and not your own.
I don’t know what will happen now today as we go into a new week. I do know that Mr. Powell will likely receive a full honorable military funeral service and will likely lie in state.
Bless his soul.
Colin Powell by Gregg Lewis, Deborah Shaw Lewis states that Mr. Powell was a well known Christian. You may purchase your eBook copy here: https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/9780310865902/colin-powell/
Four Star General Colin Luther Powell’s statistics per Wikipedia
| 65th United States Secretary of State | |
|---|---|
| In office January 20, 2001 – January 26, 2005 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Deputy | Richard Armitage |
| Preceded by | Madeleine Albright |
| Succeeded by | Condoleezza Rice |
| 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | |
| In office October 1, 1989 – September 30, 1993 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Deputy | Robert T. Herres David E. Jeremiah |
| Preceded by | William J. Crowe |
| Succeeded by | John Shalikashvili |
| 16th United States National Security Advisor | |
| In office November 23, 1987 – January 20, 1989 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Deputy | John Negroponte |
| Preceded by | Frank Carlucci |
| Succeeded by | Brent Scowcroft |
| United States Deputy National Security Advisor | |
| In office December 1986 – November 23, 1987 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Peter Rodman |
| Succeeded by | John Negroponte |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Colin Luther Powell April 5, 1937 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 18, 2021 (aged 84) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Cause of death | COVID-19 |
| Political party | Republican (1995–2021) Independent (before 1995, 2021) |
| Spouse(s) | Alma Johnson (m. 1962) |
| Education | City College of New York (BS) George Washington University (MBA) |
Dates of rank
| Rank | Date |
|---|---|
| General | April 4, 1989 |
| Lieutenant general | March 26, 1986 |
| Major general | August 1, 1983 |
| Brigadier general | June 1, 1979 |
| Colonel | February 1, 1976 |
| Lieutenant colonel | July 9, 1970 |
| Major | May 24, 1966 |
| Captain | June 2, 1962 |
| First lieutenant | December 30, 1959 |
| Second lieutenant | June 9, 1958 |
Awards and decorations
Badges
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Expert Infantryman Badge
- Ranger Tab
- Parachutist Badge
- Pathfinder Badge
- Air Assault Badge
- Presidential Service Badge
- Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
- Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
- Army Staff Identification Badge
Medals and ribbons
| Defense Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters[38] | |
| Army Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster[38] | |
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal[38] | |
| Air Force Distinguished Service Medal[38] | |
| Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal[38] | |
| Defense Superior Service Medal[38] | |
| Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster[38] | |
| Soldier’s Medal[38] | |
| Bronze Star Medal | |
| Purple Heart | |
| Air Medal | |
| Joint Service Commendation Medal | |
| Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters | |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction (1993)[39] | |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom (1991) | |
| Presidential Citizens Medal | |
| Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award | |
| National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | |
| Vietnam Service Medal with silver service star | |
| Army Service Ribbon | |
| Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 4 |
Foreign decorations
| Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) (United Kingdom) | |
| Légion d’honneur, Grand Cross (France) | |
| Meritorious Service Cross (M.S.C.) (Canada) | |
| Skanderbeg’s Order (Albania) | |
| Order of Stara Planina in the First Order (Bulgaria)[40][41] | |
| Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | |
| Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal |
13 Rules of Leadership
First printed in the August 13, 1989, issue of Parade magazine,[42] these are Colin Powell’s 13 Rules of Leadership.[43][44]
- It ain’t as bad as you think.
- Get mad, then get over it.
- Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
- It can be done.
- Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
- Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
- You can’t make someone else’s choices.
- Check small things.
- Share credit.
- Remain calm. Be kind.
- Have a vision.
- Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
- Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
The Army Song
“The Army Goes Rolling Along”
Verse:
March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free.
Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory.
We’re the Army and proud of our name!
We’re the Army and proudly proclaim:
First Chorus:
First to fight for the right,
And to build the Nation’s might,
And the Army goes rolling along.
Proud of all we have done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army goes rolling along.
Refrain:
Then it’s hi! hi! hey!
The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong;
For where’er we go,
You will always know
That the Army goes rolling along.
Second Chorus:
Valley Forge, Custer’s ranks,
San Juan Hill and Patton’s tanks,
And the Army went rolling along.
Minute men, from the start,
Always fighting from the heart,
And the Army keeps rolling along.
Refrain:
(same as above)
Third Chorus:
(slower, more freely)
Men in rags, men who froze,
Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we’re right,
And we’ll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.
Refrain:
Then it’s hi! hi! hey!
The Army’s on its way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong; (two! three!)
For where’er we go,
You will always know
That the Army goes rolling along! (keep it rolling!)
And the Army goes rolling along!
History
The song was originally written by Field Artillery First Lieutenant [later Brigadier General] Edmund L. Gruber, while stationed in the Philippines in 1908 as the “Caisson Song.” The original lyrics reflect routine activities in a horse-drawn Field Artillery battery. The song was transformed into a march by John Philip Sousa in 1917 and renamed “The Field Artillery Song.”
It was adopted in 1952 as the official song of the Army and re-titled, “The Army Goes Rolling Along.” The current lyrics tell the story of our past, our present, and our future.
The “Army Goes Rolling Along” is played at the conclusion of every U.S. Army ceremony and all Soldiers are expected to stand and sing.
Soldier’s Creed
I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.
The Army Flag
The 190 streamers attached to the Army Flag staff denote campaigns fought by the Army throughout our nation’s history. Each streamer (2 3⁄4 inches wide and 4 feet long) is embroidered with the designation of a campaign and the year(s) in which it occurred. The colors derive from the campaign ribbon authorized for service in that particular war.
The concept of campaign streamers came to prominence in the Civil War when Army organizations embroidered the names of battles on their organizational colors. This was discontinued in 1890, when units were authorized to place silver bands, engraved with the names of battles, around the staffs of their organizational colors. When AEF units in World War I were unable to obtain silver bands, General Pershing authorized the use of small ribbons bearing the names of the World War I operations. In 1921 all color-bearing Army organizations were authorized to use the large campaign streamers currently displayed.
“The Army Flag and Its Streamers” was originally prepared in August 1964 by the Office of the Chief of Military History, in cooperation with the Office of the Chief of Information, and the U.S. Army Exhibit Unit, to provide general summaries of each of the campaigns displayed on the Army flag.
I imagine the flags at The Pentagon will be lowered to half mast in respect for one of their MOST Finest Soldiers whom ever lived. Selah.
An Old Soldier’s Prayer
I have fought when others feared to serve.
I have gone where others failed to go.
I’ve lost friends in war and strife,
Who valued Duty more than love of life.
I have shared the comradeship of pain.
I have searched the lands for men that we have lost.
I have sons who served this land of liberty,
Who would fight to see that other stricken lands are free.
I have seen the weak forsake humanity.
I have heard the traitors praise our enemy.
I’ve seen challenged men become even bolder,
I’ve seen the Duty, Honor, Sacrifice of the Soldier.
Now I understand the meaning of our lives,
The loss of comrades not so very long ago.
So to you who have answered duties siren call,
May God bless you my son, may God bless you all.
Lewis Millett
Amen.
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