The former secretary of the state has been known to many as an accountable and principled man. Mr. Colin Powell contracted the COVID-19 virus, although he had been vaccinated, his vulnerable immune system was weakened after fighting cancer, which led to his death, The New York Times reported.
President Joe Biden directed all government flags across the state to be lowered at half-staff through Friday in honor of the man he called “patriot of unmatched honor and dignity.” Mr. Powell served as the first Black national security adviser and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his time as the secretary for the United States, he worked closely with Mr. Biden, who was then a senator.
Mr. Colin Powell Together With President Joe Biden (Photo: AP)
Mr. Colin Powell Had Several Medical Conditions
Mr. Colin Powell had been battling several underlying medical conditions. According to a Powell family spokesperson, he had Parkinson’s disease and had recently been treated for multiple myeloma. It is a type of blood cancer that obstructs the body’s ability to fight off infection. Powell had prostate cancer surgery nearly two decades ago when he was Secretary of State, CNBC news reported.
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Powell and His Wife Tested Positive For COVID-19
Recently, Powell and his wife, Alma Powell, tested positive for COVID-19. Colin Powell had planned to receive a booster shot last week, but he wasn’t feeling well enough to do so, the news added. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fully vaccinated people with weakened immune systems account for a large proportion of hospitalized breakthrough cases.
Mr. Powell was described by Vice President Kamala Harris as an intelligent man who motivated leaders in the military around the country as an independent barrier breaker. Mr. Biden went on to say that Mr. Powell’s first-hand experience of history from advising presidents and influencing the country’s policies was backed up by his personal conviction to democratic values. He and Jill Biden, the first lady, expressed their condolences to the Powell family.
Powell, even though born in Harlem to Jamaican immigrants and raised in the South Bronx, identified himself as a Republican. He did not always follow a party line during presidential campaigns. In 2020, he rejected the party under Trump and voted for Mr. Biden.
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