Colin Powell

Powell, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Genpowell.jpg)

This man placed second in a class of more than 1,200 officers. From the very beginning of his career, it was obvious how bright his future would be. As of now, the war hero, former four-star general, former secretary of state, and former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, is leading a foundation with his wife, Alma Powell, whose purpose is to guide the youth of America to prosperity. He was never an "above and beyond" student throughout the school years until he discovered his true calling in the military while at the City College of New York (Abbot). A hero must possess the mindset that puts others before their own well-being and the determination and persistence to push forward with maximum effort no matter the condition. Colin Powell risked his life for others in nightmarish situations and vigorously worked, which led to him becoming the first African American in powerful government ranks, and that is why he is a hero.

Powell is a selfless person because he risked his life for others. His purpose was not to gain attention or fame, but to better his country and its people. "During this tour in Vietnam, Powell was injured in a helicopter crash. Despite his injury, he managed to rescue his comrades from the burning helicopter, for which he was awarded the Soldier's Medal. In all, Powell has received 11 military decorations, including the Legion of Merit" ("Colin Powell." Biography.com). Colin Powell is a caring person that puts the lives of others above his. Although injured himself, he still came to the rescue of his fellow soldiers that were in the same incident. Rescuing lives or not, Powell still exhibited his humanitarian behavior.

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 users in jail," he recalled. "The rest, we ran four miles every morning, and by night they were too tired to get into trouble." Powell's prescription worked, and the tensions that had led to race riots before his arrival abated. ("Colin Powell." Encyclopedia)

Powell made the big decision to cut men from the army and give the true soldiers a chance at completing their task. In addition to the cut, he pushed himself and the remaining soldiers in the battalion to the point of exhaustion to aid the men in staying on the morally correct path. The altruistic behavior he displayed was necessary for the lives of good men to continue and blossom into success.

Colin Powell being Awarded the Medal of Freedom (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Pkec-7Ijezs/hqdefault.jpg ())

Powell is a hard worker, as shown by the positions he had previously held. He is a man dedicated to his country. He'd push himself to go above and beyond others. "In 1989, President Bush rewarded Powell for the knowledge and skills he had acquired in the military and political arenas by naming him to the military's top post, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the youngest man and first African American to hold that position" ("Colin Powell." American). Powell's hard work led to him becoming what was regarded as the highest possible ranking in the military. Although he was young and his skin color was frowned upon, he fought through it all and displayed the traits of a man with a purpose. Even outside the military, Powell displayed his commitment to his country.

The army then provided Powell the time to study for a master's degree in business administration at the 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 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. ("Colin Powell." Encyclopedia)

The military was Powell's expertise, but when he reached outside of his comfort zone, he gave it all of his effort and became positively noticed by men of powerful status. There were many others heading down similar paths as him, but none stood out as much as he did. He possessed an obvious devotion to his profession, so much that he achieved what many others could not. Despite his young age and his battle against racism, Powell managed to rise above the ranks and outshine his peers.

Colin Powell Supporting Former-President Obama (https://nigelfarndale.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/ ())

Colin Powell's selflessness on and off of the battlefield and over-achiever working habits are what make him an inspiration. Although not lacking self-respect, he put the value of other lives before his and pushed himself towards success more than others do. Without Colin Powell, the lives of many soldiers would be devastated or ended.

When Desert Shield turned into Desert Storm on January 16, 1991, Powell again demonstrated his successful leadership. Six weeks later, the Iraqi army was crushed; the multinational forces stood completely victorious. For his part in the Persian Gulf War, Powell, as well as field commander General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, was awarded a congressional gold medal. ("Colin Powell." Encyclopedia)

He is an inspiration to me and others because although there is only one of him, he puts his life on the line and still manages to achieve success through blood, sweat, and tears. Colin Powell is a hero to many for the bravery and grit that he displayed while serving in the army and influencing political matters.

Works Cited

Abbott, Randy L. Great Lives from History: African Americans; 2010, p74-74, 2p,

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=55597795&site=brc-live. Accessed 27 April 2017.

"Colin Powell." Biography.com, A&E Television Networks,

https://www.biography.com/people/colin-powell-9445708. Accessed May 2, 2017.

"Colin Powell." American Decades, edited by Judith S. Baughman, et al., Gale, 1998. Student

Resources in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1602000810/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=ae620b8d. Accessed 1 May 2017.

"Colin Powell." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale, 1998. Biography in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631005321/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=8bbbecaa. Accessed 28 April 2017.