Although he was widely reported to have been killed in action, one source claims he died of poisoning on Tinian, while celebrating the combat victory there, as the result of drinking an alcohol concoction that also temporarily blinded another marine. Another source, Fred Goerner, a CBS correspondent, while conducting research for his later best seller "The Search for Amelia Earhart" (1966), had a discussion with a former marine who participated in the Battles of Saipan and Battle of Tinian in June and July 1944. That marine told Goerner that Powell died after drinking poisoned sake. The monthly muster roll of his unit, the 2nd Battalion of the 18th Marines, notes that on July 30, 1944, Powell "died as a result of wood alcohol poisoning, not in line of duty, not result of own misconduct".