Colin Powell was born on April 5, 1937, in New York City. He attended Army ROTC at the City College of New York, graduating with a bachelor's degree in geology and earning his commission as a 2nd Lt of Infantry in the U.S. Army on June 9, 1958. He attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then served as a Platoon Leader with the 48th Infantry Regiment in West Germany from 1958 to 1960. His next assignment was as Group Liaison Officer, Company Executive Officer, and then Commander of Company A, 1st Battle Group, 4th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Brigade with the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, from 1960 to 1962. Capt Powell served as a Senior Tactical Advisor to the South Vietnamese Army from December 1962 until he was wounded in July 1963. He was then assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, from 1963 to 1967, where he completed Airborne School, Ranger School, served as a weapons and equipment tester, completed the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and then served as an instructor at the Infantry School. Maj Powell attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from 1967 to 1968. His next assignment was as a staff administrator with 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade with the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division in South Vietnam from June to September 1968, followed by service as Assistant Chief of Staff of Operations for the 23rd (Americal) Infantry Division in South Vietnam from September 1968 to June 1969. LTC Powell attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and earned a Master of Business Administration degree in 1971, and served as a White House Fellow under President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1973. His next assignment was as Commander of 1st Battalion of the 32nd Infantry Regiment in South Korea, followed by attending the National War College in Washington, D.C., from 1975 to 1976. Col Powell served as Commander of 2nd Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, from 1976 to 1977, and then as Junior Military Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense Charles Duncan and then Graham Claytor from 1977 to 1981. He was promoted to Brigadier General during this time on June 1, 1979. BG Powell served as Senior Military Assistant to Deputy Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci from 1981 to 1982, followed by service as Assistant Division Commander for Operations and Training with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, from 1982 to 1983. MG Powell then served as Senior Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger from 1983 to June 1986, and as Commander of V Corps in Frankfurt, West Germany from June to December 1986. He then served as U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor under President Ronald Reagan from December 1986 to November 1987, followed by service as the 15th U.S. National Security Advisor under President Reagan from November 1987 to January 1989. He briefly served as Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from April to September 1989, and he then served as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon from October 1, 1989, until his retirement from the U.S. Army on October 1, 1993. In 1997, Powell started the foundation America's Promise, and he served as the 65th U.S. Secretary of State under President George W. Bush from January 20, 2001, to January 26, 2005. Colin Powell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, and was awarded a rare 2nd Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction by President Bill Clinton upon his retirement from the Army on September 30, 1993. He was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on April 23, 1991, and was the 2nd person ever awarded the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award in 1993. Colin Powell died on October 18, 2021, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

His Soldier's Medal Citation reads:

For heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Major Powell distinguished himself by valorous actions on 16 November 1968, while serving as G-3 Americal Division. On that date, the helicopter in which Major Powell was being transported with the Commanding General, Americal Division, crashed. With complete disregard for his own safety and while injured himself, Major Powell returned several times to the smoldering aircraft which was in danger of bursting into flames. In one instance he had to break away part of the wreckage in order to get a trapped individual. Through his efforts all personnel were saved. Major Powell's personal bravery and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Americal Division, and the United States Army.