Sharon Denise Powell is a retired Journalist First Class of the United States Navy and a dedicated historian holding a Master’s degree in Psychology. Her journey into military history is deeply personal. Growing up in the Swift Creek Community of Eastern North Carolina, her fascination with World War II began at age eight, listening to her mother recount the story of her half-brother, Chief Steward Petty Officer Samuel Powell Jr., who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Helena. Driven by a profound sense of duty to her family’s legacy, Sharon has spent decades researching, interviewing, and documenting the overlooked contributions of African American service members.

Through her sharp journalistic lens and compassionate storytelling, she gives voice to the “invisible warriors” who fought on two fronts: against fascism abroad, and against segregation at home.