Dr. Henry Kissinger, an American scholar and diplomat, passed away today at his Connecticut residence aged 100. Born in 1923 in southern Germany, the statesman relocated to the United States in 1938, fleeing the Nazis. After becoming a US citizen and serving in the 84th Army Division from 1943 to 1946, Dr. Kissinger became part of the Counter Intelligence Corps in Germany. For his “meritorious service”, he enjoyed the honor of the Bronze Star. He remained in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1959.
A Harvard graduate, Dr. Kissinger also held his master’s and PhD degrees from the same institution. He worked for nearly twenty years as a lecturer at Harvard University. His political career was marked by his appointment as National Security Advisor by President Nixon in 1969 and his role later as Secretary of State under Presidents Nixon and Ford. He played pivotal roles in numerous significant geopolitical events, including negotiating the end of the Yom Kippur War and helping end America’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
Renowned as one of America’s “great statesmen”, Dr. Kissinger published 21 books on national security matters. Even after he exited government service in 1977, American presidents across party lines and foreign leaders frequently sought his counsel. Dr. Kissinger, who celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year, had recently turned his scholarly interests towards the potential implications of artificial intelligence as he continued to remain active in public discussions and international travel.
He is survived by his wife Nancy, two children, and five grandkids. Dr. Kissinger’s family currently plans a private interment service, with a memorial service to follow in New York City.
