Study Questions
1. In what ways did Powell experience bigotry early in life? What was the special appeal of the army to Powell and other African Americans?
2. What did Colin Powell mean by this statement: “If the duty of the soldier is to risk his life, the responsibility of his leaders is not to spend that life in vain”? How did he apply it in different circumstances in deciding that particular American military actions were justified—or unjustified?
3. At several points in this narrative we see Colin Powell encountering the sobering reality of war. Give examples of these encounters and explain how they shaped his emergence as a “reluctant warrior.”
4. Why did Colin Powell come to believe that the Vietnam War had been a mistake?
5. Why did the United States decide against expanding the Persian Gulf War to Baghdad in 1991?
1. In what ways did Powell experience bigotry early in life? What was the special appeal of the army to Powell and other African Americans?
2. What did Colin Powell mean by this statement: “If the duty of the soldier is to risk his life, the responsibility of his leaders is not to spend that life in vain”? How did he apply it in different circumstances in deciding that particular American military actions were justified—or unjustified?
3. At several points in this narrative we see Colin Powell encountering the sobering reality of war. Give examples of these encounters and explain how they shaped his emergence as a “reluctant warrior.”
4. Why did Colin Powell come to believe that the Vietnam War had been a mistake?
5. Why did the United States decide against expanding the Persian Gulf War to Baghdad in 1991?