Editing Colin Powell (section)

===Vietnam War===

[[Captain (U.S. Army)|Captain]] Powell served a tour in Vietnam as a [[Army of the Republic of Vietnam|South Vietnamese Army]] (ARVN) advisor from 1962 to 1963. While on patrol in a [[Viet Cong]]-held area, he was wounded by stepping on a [[punji stake]].<ref name=Kearny_p179>{{Cite book|author-link=Cresson Kearny|author=Kearny, Cresson H.|title=Jungle Snafus...And Remedies|publisher=Oregon Institute of Science & Medicine |location=Cave Junction, Oregon|year=1996 |isbn=978-1-884067-10-5 |oclc=41447083|page= 179}}</ref> The large infection made it difficult for him to walk, and caused his foot to swell for a short time, shortening his first tour.{{sfn|Steins|2003|pp=25–26}}

Powell returned to Vietnam as a [[Major (United States)|major]] in 1968, serving as assistant [[Chief of staff (military)|chief of staff]] of operations for the [[23rd Infantry Division (United States)|23rd (Americal) Infantry Division]]. During the second tour in Vietnam he was decorated with the [[Soldier's Medal]] for bravery after he survived a helicopter crash and single-handedly rescued three others, including division commander Major General [[Charles M. Gettys]], from the burning wreckage.<ref name="CNN1996" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Finlayson |first=Reggie |title=Colin Powell |series=Biography (A & E) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zaYOC27mmhAC&q=Charles+M.+Gettys+colin+powell&pg=PA55 |access-date=December 7, 2012 |year=2003 |publisher=Twenty-First Century Books |isbn=978-0822549666 |page=55 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020123656/https://books.google.com/books?id=zaYOC27mmhAC&q=Charles+M.+Gettys+colin+powell&pg=PA55 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====My Lai massacre inquiry====
{{Blockquote|quote=Soldiers actively hunted, herded, and killed elderly people, children, infants, and raped women while other Soldiers [''sic''] looked on and did nothing to stop the massacre. An estimated 350 to 500 unarmed civilians died in My Lai ... MAJ Colin Powell, a recently assigned Deputy G3, investigated the allegations described in the [Glen] letter. He proved unable to uncover either wide-spread unnecessary killings, war crimes, or any facts related to My Lai ...|author=US Army Center for the Army Profession and Leadership|source=''My Lai at 50: Written Case Study''<ref name="CAPL">{{cite web |url=https://capl.army.mil/case-studies/wcs-single.php?id=76&title=my-lai-at-50 |title=My Lai at 50: Written Case Study |author=<!--Not stated--> |year=2021 |website=Center for the Army Profession and Leadership |publisher=US Army |access-date=19 October 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019035946/https://capl.army.mil/case-studies/wcs-single.php?id=76&title=my-lai-at-50 |archive-date=19 October 2021}}</ref>}}

Powell was charged with investigating a detailed letter by [[11th Light Infantry Brigade]] soldier Tom Glen, which backed up rumored allegations of the 1968 [[My Lai massacre]].<ref name="CAPL"/> Powell wrote: "In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between [[Americal Division|Americal]] soldiers and the [[Vietnamese people]] are excellent".<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeYoung |first1=Karen |author-link1=Karen DeYoung |title=Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell |date=2006 |publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-307-26593-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7baTaod_kEcC&dq=%22In%20direct%20refutation%20of%20this%20portrayal%20is%20the%20fact%20that%20relations%20between%22&pg=PT92 |language=en}}</ref> Later, Powell's assessment would be described as [[Whitewash (censorship)|whitewashing]] the news of the massacre, and questions would continue to remain undisclosed to the public.<ref name="BBCNews Obit">{{cite news |title=Colin Powell: From Vietnam vet to secretary of state |date=October 18, 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33957894 |work=BBC News |access-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-date=October 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018212230/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33957894 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2004, Powell said to television and radio host [[Larry King]], "I was in a unit that was responsible for My Lai. I got there after My Lai happened. So, in war, these sorts of horrible things happen every now and again, but they are still to be deplored".<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview on CNN's Larry King Live |publisher=US Department of State |location=New York |date=May 4, 2004 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/32160.htm |access-date=February 3, 2007 |archive-date=February 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205115534/http://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/32160.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>