Kammala wannan jumla: A lokacin Yaƙin Duniya na II, da farko ya yi ƙoƙarin shiga cikin Sojan Ruwa na Amurka amma an ƙi shi saboda rashin gani, don haka ya shiga Sojan Sama na Amurka a matsayin jami'in leken asiri. Bayan da ya karbi kwamishinansa a matsayin mai ba da shawara a 1942, ya kammala horo a sansanonin kusa da Miami, Florida da Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. An sanya shi zuwa 319th Bombardment Group, wanda ya koma Ingila daga baya a wannan shekarar. Ya yi aiki a Arewacin Afirka a lokacin
Operation Torch kuma daga baya aka sanya shi zuwa Hedikwatar Rundunar Sojojin Sama ta Arewa maso Yammacin Afirka. A can, Powell ya yi aiki a Sicily a lokacin mamayewar Allied na Sicily.