Chuck Colson died on 21 April 2012.  His name is so well known it requires little in the way of background, though surprisingly few know some of the finer details of Colson’s life.

Chuck Colson was an officer in the US Marine Corps from 1953 to 1955.  Most people know he worked for President Richard Nixon, and that he would ultimately go to prison for obstruction of justice in the Watergate scandal.  He became a Christian just prior to his arrest, beginning the rest of his life.

On 17 November 1993 Chuck Colson addressed the US Air Force Academy.  An article based on his remarks was published in the Summer 1996 Airpower Journal entitled “A Question of Ethics” (pdf).  It appears to have been based on his address to the Harvard Business School on 4 April 1991 entitled “The Problem of Ethics.”

A Michael Weinstein supporter — and current active duty Air Force officer — recounted hearing Colson’s address as a cadet, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional.”

A reading of either version of the speech proves that not to be the case.

Still, if he still recalls it so vividly to this day, Colson must have made a lasting impact.  That could be a good thing.