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Native New Yorker Colin Powell Passes Away

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell (USA) prepares to testify at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings on Desert Storm troop deployments in 1990.
Mark Reinstein
/
Getty Images
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell (USA) prepares to testify at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearings on Desert Storm troop deployments in 1990.

Colin Powell, the first black US Secretary of State has died. The native New Yorker passed away this morning. The 84-year-old died from complications of COVID-19 while being treated for cancer. He was fully vaccinated. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi was asked about his death.

“While the vaccines available currently are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths, we do know that there will be some infrequent occasions that do result in these severe outcomes.”

Powell grew up in the South Bronx and graduated from the City College of New York before going on to a lengthy military career. It included serving two tours in Vietnam and becoming a four-star general.