Cassette tape deck owned by General Colin L. Powell
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1962-1971
name: label: Manufactured by
content: Unidentified
label: Owned by
content: General Colin L. Powell, American, 1937 - 2021
label: Subject of
content: Alma J. Powell, American, 1937 - 2024
label: Subject of
content: United States Armed Forces, American, founded 1775
label: Subject of
content: United States Army, American, founded 1775
label: Subject of
content: United States Department of Defense
notes: label: Caption
content: This tape deck was used by Colin Powell to record and exchange messages with his wife, Alma, while he was stationed in Vietnam. Captain Powell was first stationed in Vietnam from 1962 to 1963, serving as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN). He was wounded during this tour of duty and received a Purple Heart. In 1968, Major Powell returned to Vietnam for a second tour of duty, serving as Assistant Chief of Staff of Operations, and later as Deputy, with the 23rd American Infantry Division. During this tour, he was awarded the Soldier’s Medal after surviving a helicopter crash from which he also rescued three fellow soldiers.
label: Description
content: One (1) National recording tape deck used by General Colin L. Powell while stationed in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971. This machine was used by General Powell to exchange recorded messages with his wife Alma J. Powell. The recorder is large and square, constructed of black and light grey plastic and metal. The top features two round reel holders. At the center is a metal nameplate with the name “NATIONAL”. The lower half of the deck’s top is black and has six (6) plastic black and red buttons for basic functions such as the direction of the reel, the record function, sound output, level, and volume. The machine also has a long grey two prong power cord and black feet that uphold it.
place: label: Place used
content: Viet Nam, Asia
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Correspondence
label: Topic
content: Families
label: Topic
content: International affairs
label: Topic
content: Travel
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1961-1969
label: Topic
content: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Tools and Equipment
label: Exhibition
content: Double Victory: The African American Military Experience
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Community/Third Floor, 3 053
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alma J. Powell
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: A2022.101.1.33
objectType: label: Type
content: tape drives
label: Type
content: audio equipment
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: © Estate of Gen. Colin Powell
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: metal and plastic
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 3 1/2 × 8 × 7 1/4 in. (8.9 × 20.3 × 18.4 cm)