Cruelbreed
08-05-2009, 01:37 PM
Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann (March 1, 1969 – November 25, 2001) was a Central Intelligence Agency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Intelligence_Agency) (CIA) paramilitary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramilitary) operations officer in the former Directorate of Operations, Special Activities Division (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Activities_Division) (SAD).[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-SASnote-0) Spann was the first American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) killed in combat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killed_in_action) during the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29) in 2001.
Johnny Micheal Spann was originally from the small town of Winfield, Alabama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winfield,_Alabama), the son of a real estate agent. Spann grew up very religious and graduated in 1987 from Winfield City High School, where he played football. At 17, he earned his Private Pilot License (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Pilot_License) and later became a certified rescue diver and parachutist. In December 1991, while attending Auburn University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn_University), he joined the Marine Corps Reserve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Reserve). After graduating from Auburn with a bachelor of science (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_science) degree (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_degree) in criminal justice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_justice)/law enforcement in 1992, Spann enrolled in Officer Candidate School (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_Candidate_School_%28U.S._Marine_Corps%29) in Quantico, Virginia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantico,_Virginia). He had originally wanted to go into aviation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation), but served as an artillery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery) expert, specializing in how to direct indirect ground (artillery), air and naval (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval) firepower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firepower) toward the enemy on the ground. He served six years with the United States Marine Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps), including tours in Okinawa, Japan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa,_Japan) and Camp Lejeune (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Lejeune), North Carolina, eventually achieving the rank of Captain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_%28land%29). He joined the CIA in June 1999 and went on to serve in the "Ground Branch" of the CIA's paramilitary Special Activities Division. He was survived by his first wife Kathryn Ann Webb, who died five weeks later from cancer; his wife Shannon, also a CIA employee; his two daughters from his first marriage, nine year old Alison and four year old Emily, and a son six month old Jacob Micheal.
Killed during a riot at an Afghan prison
Main article: Battle of Qala-i-Jangi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Qala-i-Jangi)
Spann was killed during a riot at the Qala-i-Jangi compound in Mazari Sharif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazari_Sharif) in northern Afghanistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan) according to CNN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN) reporter Robert Young Pelton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Young_Pelton).[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-HonorMikeSpann-1) In the same day, he and another officer at General Dostum's military garrison named Qali Jangi near Mazari Sharif questioned John Walker Lindh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Walker_Lindh). As shown on British Television (Channel 4 news), Spann asks "are you a member of the IRA?" This question was asked because Lindh was told to claim he was Irish to "avoid problems."
Officials recovered his body after Afghan Northern Alliance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Northern_Alliance) troops backed by U.S. air strikes and UK Special Boat Service (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Boat_Service) and US Army Special Forces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Army_Special_Forces) crushed the uprising.
His memorial at the Arlington National Cemetery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetery) states that he fought with his AK-47 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47) until it ran out of ammunition, then drew his pistol and emptied it, before turning to hand to hand combat which saw him shot.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-ANC-2) However, a news report released shortly after the actual events reports instead that Spann fought only with his pistol, killing three attackers before being overcome. It was actually his companion, "Dave", who opened fire with the AK-47. Time Magazine reported shortly after the events:
"According to members of a German television crew who were later trapped in the fort with Dave, Spann asked the prisoners who they were and why they joined the Taliban. They massed around him. 'Why are you here?' Spann asked one. 'To kill you,' came the reply as the man lunged at Spann's neck. Spann drew his pistol and shot the man dead. Dave shot another, then grabbed an AK-47 from an Alliance guard and opened fire. According to eyewitness accounts given to the German team, the Taliban fighters launched themselves at Spann, scrabbling at his flesh with their hands, kicking and beating him. Spann killed two more with his pistol before he disappeared under the crush.".[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-Time-3)
Afghan doctors on site at the time of the riot gave the Spann family the following account...
Mike Spann’s family visited the fortress after his death. They talked to Afghan doctors who will never forget his bravery. “They said they thought Mike might run and retreat, but he held his position and fought using his AK rifle until out of ammo, and then drew and began firing his pistol,” Spann’s father said. “While watching Mike fight they were able to jump up and run to safety.
“They said the only reason that they and several others were able to live was because Mike stood his position and fought off the prisoners while enabling them the time to run to safety. The doctors stated that as they fled toward a safe haven they saw Mike run out of ammo and then witnessed him fighting hand to hand until he was overcome by the numerous al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners.”
Memorial
Although Spann had served in the United States Marine Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps) for ten years, he was no longer in the military at the time of his death. However, because the Intelligence Star is considered the equivalent of the US Military's Silver Star and recognized as equivalent by President George W. Bush (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush), Spann was approved for burial in Arlington National Cemetery. [5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-4) Spann is buried in section 34 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Spann was also memorialized with a star on the CIA Memorial Wall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_Memorial_Wall) at CIA headquarters in Langley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langley,_Virginia), Virginia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia) that commemorates individuals who died in the line of duty. The wall currently has 87 stars (as of October 2008), 33 of which remain unidentified for national security reasons. Spann was posthumously awarded the Intelligence Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_Star) and the Exceptional Service Medallion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exceptional_Service_Medallion).[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-5)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-5)
Johnny Micheal Spann was originally from the small town of Winfield, Alabama (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winfield,_Alabama), the son of a real estate agent. Spann grew up very religious and graduated in 1987 from Winfield City High School, where he played football. At 17, he earned his Private Pilot License (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Pilot_License) and later became a certified rescue diver and parachutist. In December 1991, while attending Auburn University (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auburn_University), he joined the Marine Corps Reserve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Reserve). After graduating from Auburn with a bachelor of science (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_science) degree (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_degree) in criminal justice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_justice)/law enforcement in 1992, Spann enrolled in Officer Candidate School (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_Candidate_School_%28U.S._Marine_Corps%29) in Quantico, Virginia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantico,_Virginia). He had originally wanted to go into aviation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aviation), but served as an artillery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery) expert, specializing in how to direct indirect ground (artillery), air and naval (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval) firepower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firepower) toward the enemy on the ground. He served six years with the United States Marine Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps), including tours in Okinawa, Japan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa,_Japan) and Camp Lejeune (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Lejeune), North Carolina, eventually achieving the rank of Captain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_%28land%29). He joined the CIA in June 1999 and went on to serve in the "Ground Branch" of the CIA's paramilitary Special Activities Division. He was survived by his first wife Kathryn Ann Webb, who died five weeks later from cancer; his wife Shannon, also a CIA employee; his two daughters from his first marriage, nine year old Alison and four year old Emily, and a son six month old Jacob Micheal.
Killed during a riot at an Afghan prison
Main article: Battle of Qala-i-Jangi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Qala-i-Jangi)
Spann was killed during a riot at the Qala-i-Jangi compound in Mazari Sharif (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazari_Sharif) in northern Afghanistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan) according to CNN (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN) reporter Robert Young Pelton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Young_Pelton).[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-HonorMikeSpann-1) In the same day, he and another officer at General Dostum's military garrison named Qali Jangi near Mazari Sharif questioned John Walker Lindh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Walker_Lindh). As shown on British Television (Channel 4 news), Spann asks "are you a member of the IRA?" This question was asked because Lindh was told to claim he was Irish to "avoid problems."
Officials recovered his body after Afghan Northern Alliance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Northern_Alliance) troops backed by U.S. air strikes and UK Special Boat Service (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Boat_Service) and US Army Special Forces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Army_Special_Forces) crushed the uprising.
His memorial at the Arlington National Cemetery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetery) states that he fought with his AK-47 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47) until it ran out of ammunition, then drew his pistol and emptied it, before turning to hand to hand combat which saw him shot.[3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-ANC-2) However, a news report released shortly after the actual events reports instead that Spann fought only with his pistol, killing three attackers before being overcome. It was actually his companion, "Dave", who opened fire with the AK-47. Time Magazine reported shortly after the events:
"According to members of a German television crew who were later trapped in the fort with Dave, Spann asked the prisoners who they were and why they joined the Taliban. They massed around him. 'Why are you here?' Spann asked one. 'To kill you,' came the reply as the man lunged at Spann's neck. Spann drew his pistol and shot the man dead. Dave shot another, then grabbed an AK-47 from an Alliance guard and opened fire. According to eyewitness accounts given to the German team, the Taliban fighters launched themselves at Spann, scrabbling at his flesh with their hands, kicking and beating him. Spann killed two more with his pistol before he disappeared under the crush.".[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-Time-3)
Afghan doctors on site at the time of the riot gave the Spann family the following account...
Mike Spann’s family visited the fortress after his death. They talked to Afghan doctors who will never forget his bravery. “They said they thought Mike might run and retreat, but he held his position and fought using his AK rifle until out of ammo, and then drew and began firing his pistol,” Spann’s father said. “While watching Mike fight they were able to jump up and run to safety.
“They said the only reason that they and several others were able to live was because Mike stood his position and fought off the prisoners while enabling them the time to run to safety. The doctors stated that as they fled toward a safe haven they saw Mike run out of ammo and then witnessed him fighting hand to hand until he was overcome by the numerous al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners.”
Memorial
Although Spann had served in the United States Marine Corps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps) for ten years, he was no longer in the military at the time of his death. However, because the Intelligence Star is considered the equivalent of the US Military's Silver Star and recognized as equivalent by President George W. Bush (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush), Spann was approved for burial in Arlington National Cemetery. [5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-4) Spann is buried in section 34 at Arlington National Cemetery.
Spann was also memorialized with a star on the CIA Memorial Wall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_Memorial_Wall) at CIA headquarters in Langley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langley,_Virginia), Virginia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia) that commemorates individuals who died in the line of duty. The wall currently has 87 stars (as of October 2008), 33 of which remain unidentified for national security reasons. Spann was posthumously awarded the Intelligence Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_Star) and the Exceptional Service Medallion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exceptional_Service_Medallion).[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-5)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Micheal_Spann#cite_note-5)