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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE

COLIN L. POWELL, FORMER UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE AND UNITED

STATES ARMY FOUR STAR GENERAL

     Introduced By: Representatives Abney, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Hull, Biah, Newberry,
Filippi, Kennedy, Ruggiero, and Carson

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, In 1937, the Honorable Colin Powell was born in Harlem, New York City,

and raised in the South Bronx by his parents Luther and Maud Powell, who had immigrated to the

United States from Jamaica. He attended New York City public schools and graduated from the

City College of New York, attaining a Bachelor's degree in geology. He took part in ROTC in

college and was commissioned as a United States Army second lieutenant in 1958, and would

proceed to serve our nation with honor, distinction, and valor as a professional soldier; and

     WHEREAS, After receiving his military commission, General Powell received advanced

training in Georgia, during which time he was refused service in bars and restaurants because he

was African-American. After completing his basic training at Fort Benning, he was assigned to

serve as platoon leader to the 48th infantry in West Germany; and

     WHEREAS, General Powell served two tours of duty in Vietnam. During his first tour in

1962-63, he served as a South Vietnamese Army advisor and injured his foot while on patrol in a

Viet Cong held area when he stepped on a punji stake. In 1968, he returned to Vietnam with the

rank of Major and served as the Assistant Chief of Staff of operations for the 23rd American

Infantry Division. He was decorated with the Soldier's Medal for bravery after surviving a

helicopter crash and, despite his injuries, he rescued three others from the burning wreckage; and

     WHEREAS, After returning from the Vietnam War in 1971, General Powell earned a

Master of Business Administration degree from Georgetown University. He later completed a

White House Fellowship from 1972 to 1973, and attended the National War College from 1975 to

1976. From 1976 to 1977, he commanded the 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division; and

     WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, General Powell served as a Senior Military Assistant to

President Reagan's Secretary of Defense. In 1986, he was named Commander of V Corps in West

Germany and in 1987, he served as the United States Deputy National Security Advisor, and from

1987 to 1989, he served as President Reagan's National Security Advisor; and

     WHEREAS, General Powell was promoted to four-star General in April of 1989, and

served for a period of time as the Commander in Chief of the Forces Command (FORSCOM)

which oversees all Army, Army Reserves and National Guard units in the United States. Later in

1989, General Powell, at the age of 52, became the youngest officer to serve as the Chairman of

the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest position in the Department of Defense. He oversaw United

States responses to 28 crises during his time as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was

given the nickname of the "Reluctant Warrior" for his preference for diplomacy and containment

instead of military intervention, when possible; and

     WHEREAS, General Powell retired from the United States Army in 1993, and returned

to public service in 2001, when he was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as

Secretary of State. He was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate, and became the

first African-American Secretary of State in United States history. He went on to play a critical

role in managing our nation's relationships with other nations in the wake of the September 11,

2001 terrorist attacks. His moderate, eloquent and seasoned voice of reason and experience

became widely respected and admired across the globe. He resigned on November 15, 2004; and

     WHEREAS, General Powell received numerous awards during his distinguished military

and public service career including two Presidential Medals of Freedom (the second with

distinction), the Secretary of State Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Energy

Distinguished Service Medal, the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, the Spingarn Medal from the

NAACP, the United States Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an elected

or appointed official, the Congressional Gold Medal, the Silver Buffalo Award, the highest adult

award given by the Boy Scouts of America, and many other prestigious honors; and

     WHEREAS, General Powell was the beloved husband of Alma (Johnson) Powell for

more than fifty-nine years, and the proud father of Michael Powell, who served as the Chairman

of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Linda Powell, and Annamarie Powell; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

extends its deepest sympathies to the Powell family on the passing of the Honorable General

Colin Powell. We furthermore commemorate his brave and loyal service to our nation; and be it

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further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mrs. Alma Powell, the Honorable Michael

Powell, Linda Powell, and Annemarie Powell.

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