Photo Essay Colin Powell

Public officials and radio and television reporters have used Powell's preferred pronunciation.

In his autobiography, Powell said he is haunted by the nightmare of the Vietnam War and felt that the leadership was very ineffective.

Captain Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) advisor from 1962 to 1963.

Defense Distinguished Service Medal (4)Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (2)Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Medal Full list During his military career, Powell also served as National Security Advisor (1987–1989), as Commander of the U. Army Forces Command (1989) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the Persian Gulf War.

Powell was the first, and so far the only, Jamaican American to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Bush from 2001 to 2005, the first black person to serve in that position.

His further academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University.

Powell was a professional soldier for 35 years, during which time he held many command and staff positions and rose to the rank of 4-star General.And if you can put those two things together, then you're on the right track, and just drive on.Cadet Powell joined the Pershing Rifles, the ROTC fraternal organization and drill team begun by General John Pershing.As a lieutenant colonel serving in South Korea, Powell was very close to General Henry "Gunfighter" Emerson.Powell said he regarded Emerson as one of the most caring officers he ever met.Powell described joining the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) during college as one of the happiest experiences of his life; discovering something he loved and could do well, he felt he had "found himself".According to Powell: It was only once I was in college, about six months into college when I found something that I liked, and that was ROTC, Reserve Officer Training Corps in the military.Powell was educated in the New York City public schools, graduating from 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.Emerson insisted his troops train at night to fight a possible North Korean attack, and made them repeatedly watch the television film Brian's Song to promote racial harmony.Powell always professed that what set Emerson apart was his great love of his soldiers and concern for their welfare.