On View
Military History Gallery
Exhibition
Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
Manufactured by
Unidentified
Worn by
General Powell, Colin L., American, 1937 - 2021
Subject of
United States Army, American, founded 1775
Date
1989-1993
Medium
cotton and synthetic fiber blend cloth with metal fastener
Dimensions
H x W x D (flat): 1 5/8 × 36 1/2 × 3/4 in. (4.1 × 92.7 × 1.9 cm)
Caption
Colin Luther Powell was born in Harlem, New York, on April 5, 1937. He graduated from Community College of New York in 1958 and earned his commission through the ROTC as a second lieutenant in the Regular Army. After a distinguished and highly decorated military career, Powell was promoted to four-star general in 1989. That same year he became the first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), serving under President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. General Powell retired from the Army in 1993 after 35 years of service. In 2001 he became the first African American Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush before resigning in 2004. General Powell died on October 18, 2021, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. After a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral in D.C., General Powell was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Description
A US Army green service uniform belt worn by Colin L. Powell as General and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The belt is made from black canvas cotton and synthetic fiber blend fabric. There is a brass metal flat clip on one end and a brass metal flip buckle on the other end. The text "US" is engraved on the back of the buckle.
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing-Historical
Type
belts (costume accessories)
military uniforms
Topic
Clothing and dress
Local and regional
Military
Persian Gulf War, 1991
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret)
Object number
2016.14.5
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd554db5139-8bb2-4087-9db9-90fe09f5c1e5

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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