Former Secretary of State Colin Powell died Monday morning as a result of complications from COVID-19 at the age of 84, his family announced.
The Republican four-star general was fully vaccinated against the virus.
General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19. He was fully vaccinated,” the Powell family said in a statement shared on Facebook. “We want to thank the medical staff at Walter Reed National Medical Center for their caring treatment.”
“We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American.,” Powell family added.
It was reported that Powell was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that hurts the body’s ability to fight infections. It wasn’t immediately clear as to what complications Powell suffered or how long he had been in Walter Reed prior to his death.
Powell held key military and diplomatic positions throughout government, serving under both Democratic and Republican presidents. During the Reagan administration, Powell became the first Black national security adviser. President George H.W. Bush would tap Powell to be his Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1988, becoming the youngest and first Black chairman.
After 35 years of military service, Powell retired from the U.S. Army as a four-star general before becoming the first Black Secretary of State under President George W. Bush in 2001.
Colin PowellCOVID-19George W. BushJoint Chiefs Of StaffNewsSecretary of State
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