Colin Powell: Encyclopedia II - Colin Powell - Military career

Colin Powell - Military career

Colin Powell was born in The Bronx, New York City in 1937. His parents had immigrated from Jamaica. Powell always spoke warmly of his parents as loving and hard working. He wrote in his autobiography "Its the luck of the draw when you are given parents and I couldn't have been luckier". An indifferent student, Powell attended the City College of New York and obtained a degree in geology. He later spoke of how he "found himself" when he joined ROTC. He later described it as one of the happiest experiences of his life finding something he loved and could do well. Cadet Powell joined the Pershing Rifles. This was the elite ROTC drill team named after General of the Army John Pershing. Even after Powell became a four star general, he still kept on his desk a pen set that he won for a drill team competition.

Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years, during which time he held a variety of command and staff positions and rose to the rank of 4-star General. Powell obtained an MBA from George Washington University in 1971 and then served a White House fellowship under President Richard Nixon. In his autobiography My American Journey, Powell mentioned several officers he served under that inspired and mentored him.

As a young Lieutenant-Colonel serving in South Korea, for example, Powell was very close to General Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson. Powell said he regarded this man as one of the most caring officers he ever served under. Emerson was somewhat eccentric personally. For example, he insisted his troops train only at night and made them repeatedly watch the television film Brian's Song to promote racial harmony. Powell always professed, however, that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare.

Powell is connected with the My Lai Massacre. He was then a US Army Major, charged with investigating the massacre. Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent." Later, Powell's refutation would be called an act of "white-washing" the news of the Massacre, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public. On May 4, 2004, United States Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said to Larry King, "I mean, I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored." [1]. Ward Churchill is one of those who has accused Powell of being reponsible for the 'cover-up'.

In the early 1980s, Powell served at Fort Carson, Colorado. It was there that he had a major clash with General John Hudachek his commander. Hudachek said in an efficiency evaluation that Powell was a poor leader who should not be promoted. Many of Powell's supporters have said this was pettiness and spite on Hudachek's part.

Colin Powell - Dates of rank

• Second Lieutenant: 9 June 1957
• First Lieutenant: 30 December 1959
• Captain: 2 June 1962
• Major: 24 May 1966
• Lieutenant Colonel: 9 July 1970
• Colonel: 1 February 1976
• Brigadier General: 1 June 1979
• Major General: 1 August 1983
• Lieutenant General: 1 July 1986
• General: 4 April 1989

Colin Powell - Awards and decorations

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
• 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
• Purple Heart
• Air Medal
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
• National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
• Vietnam Service Medal with one silver service star
• Army Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3
• Army Service Ribbon
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Ranger Tab
• Air Assault Badge
• Parachutist Badge
• Presidential Service Badge
• Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
• Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
• Army Staff Identification Badge
• Vietnam Campaign Medal
• Vietnam Gallantry Cross Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Military career", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki