doctors say the blood cancer can weaken the immune system, making him more vulnerable, even though he was fully vaccinated. he had been scheduled for the booster right when he came down with covid. powell's journey was an american journey. born to jamaican immigrants in harlem, powell grew up in the bronx, joining the army rotc in college, serving two combat tours in vietnam. powell once said when he first put on a uniform, he liked what he saw. powell would soon break through barriers, becoming a four-star general, serving under four presidents, republican and democrat. in 1991, overseeing the successful gulf war, when the u.s. ousted iraqi president saddam hussein from kuwait. his most controversial moment coming more than 20 years later. in 2003, as secretary of state, during a speech to the u.n., powell made the case for war,