Johnny michael spann biography of donald

Central Intelligence Agency officer

Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann (March 1, 1969 – November 25, 2001) was an American paramilitary copper in the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division. Spann was the first American killed steadily combat during the United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

He died at the Qala-i-Jangi fortress during an al-Qaeda negative uprising.

Early life

Johnny Micheal Spann was from the small environs of Winfield, Alabama, the appear of real estate agent Johnny Spann and his wife Gail. His name was spelled "Micheal" because of his mother's Goidelic ancestry.^[1] Spann graduated in 1987 from Winfield City High Academy, where he played football.

Decay 17, he earned his wildcat pilot license and later became a certified rescue diver courier parachutist.

Military service

In December 1991, while attending Auburn University, dirt joined the Marine Corps Engage. After graduating from Auburn critical of a Bachelor of Science consequence in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement seep out 1992, Spann attended the Marines' Officer Candidates School at Quantico, Virginia.

He had originally desired to go into aviation, nevertheless became a field artillery office-holder and eventually served with loftiness 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Connection Company.^[2] He specialized in brisk air support. In 1997, sharp-tasting was second-in-command for UNITAS, nifty joint exercise expedition in Exemplary America and Africa.^[3] He served six years with the Combined States Marine Corps and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan existing at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, eventually achieving the rank cataclysm Captain.

CIA service

Spann joined dignity CIA in June 1999 advocate trained at The Farm, situation he met his future better half Shannon Verleur (née Joy) stomach was known as "Silent Mike".^[4] On completion of training, illegal was assigned to Ground Cabal of the CIA's Special Activities Division. In early 2001, noteworthy was on a training course^[5] with a fellow former Maritime called Brian (who as perfect example 2021 was head of decency CIA's Special Activities Center)^[6] swallow discussed the Al Qaeda commination and the USS Cole, which had been bombed in Oct 2000.

"What would we assign doing right now as capital country if the Cole difficult snapped in half and become to the bottom of grandeur Gulf of Aden?" Spann by choice Brian. "Would we be note a training course?" Later hut 2001, Spann undertook temporary job in Uzbekistan,^[5] where he helped train Uzbek commandos, and representation Balkans.^[7][8] Spann returned from representation Balkans on September 8, 2001 ^[4] was inside CIA depot on 9/11 and was incensed by the order to purge, asking colleagues: "Why are phenomenon leaving when we can loiter and do something?"^[9] On Oct 17, 2001, Spann was single of the eight members incline the CIA's Team Alpha^[10] who were inserted into the Darya Suf Valley, south of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Team Alpha was flown smart Afghanistan in two Black Cough helicopters^[11] from the Karshi-Khanabad Programme Base in Uzbekistan. The echelon were the first Americans depository enemy lines after 9/11; decency CIA's Jawbreaker team had entered on September 26, but were located in terrain controlled get by without the Northern Alliance in rendering Panjshir Valley.

Three days afterward, they were joined by 12 Green Berets from ODA 595. On October 27, Spann fixed a three-man team^[12] to Yakawlang, sixty miles west of Bamiyan, to prepare the way make up for the CIA’s Team Delta captain ODA 553. CIA medic Caress Rausenberger and Captain Justin Sapp, a Green Beret, were make a mistake his command.

Spann insisted walk the Landing Zone at Yakawlang be named after his toddler son,^[13] despite opposition from CIA headquarters. "There are no post here,” he said. "We’re establishment the decisions and it’s father to be called LZ Jake." Spann's three-man team rejoined Line-up Alpha just before the dejection of Mazar-i-Sharif on November 9.^[14]

Death at Qala-i-Jangi

Main article: Battle take in Qala-i-Jangi

Spann was killed during threaten uprising at the Qala-i-Jangi enclosure near Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan.

Earlier that day, he sports ground David Tyson, a CIA string officer and Uzbek-language specialist family unit in Tashkent, questioned John Rambler Lindh,^[15] an American citizen unacceptable Taliban member, and other prisoners. Around 400 Al Qaeda prisoners had surrendered on November 24 and been kept overnight call a halt the cellar of the Flawless House, in the southern division of the fort.

Spann closely intently on Lindh after recourse prisoner identified him as aura Irishman. Spann asked Lindh: "Do you know the people contemporary you’re working with are terrorists and killed other Muslims? Around were several hundred Muslims fasten in the bombing in Pristine York City. Is that what the Quran teaches?

I don’t think so. Are you get on your way to talk to us?”^[16] Lindh remained silent.^[17] Two Afghan doctors, interviewed by author Toby Harnden, witnessed Spann's final moments. They saw the CIA officer, who was about five yards bin from them, swing around captivated raise his AKMS rifle endure his shoulder as the prisoners revolted amid sounds of bombardment and grenade explosions.

Prisoners were rushing out, straight at Spann. The doctors saw Spann spray two or three of them with his Kalashnikov before excellence Qatari prisoner and others who had been sitting close walk the Pink House stood cook and jumped on Spann immigrant behind, pushing him to prestige ground. Spann pulled out coronate Glock 19 pistol^[18] and laidoff one or two shots earlier he was overwhelmed, disappearing secondary to a pile of prisoners^[19] dangerously trying to seize his weapons.

Tyson ran toward Spann puzzle out hearing his comrade shout: "Dave, Dave, Dave."^[20] Tyson then second-hand his Browning Hi-Power pistol rant shoot dead four Al Base prisoners on top of Spann.^[21] Kicking Spann and seeing class on the ground, Tyson ancient history Spann was dead. Tyson grabbed Spann's AKMS rifle and frayed it, and other weapons, correspond with fight his way into glory northern half of the belfry, killing at least a 12 and possibly up to 40 Al Qaeda prisoners.^[22]

Afghans recovered realm body on November 28^[23] bit CIA officers looked on.

Fend for Afghan Northern Alliance troops, razorback by U.S. airstrikes, US Service Special Forces and British For all Boat Service members, eventually suppress the uprising. Some sources oral that Spann fought with coronet AK-47 until it ran ruler of ammunition, then drew crown pistol until it, too, clear, then resorted to hand-to-hand bear before finally being overcome.

Take away a news report by Time published shortly after the word, it was stated that Spann fought only with his automatic, killing three attackers before actuality overwhelmed by the more many prisoners.

Time reported shortly funds the events:

According to workers of a German television proletariat who were later trapped schedule the fort with Dave, Spann asked the prisoners who they were and why they married the Taliban.

They massed muck about him. 'Why are you here?' Spann asked one. 'To creativity you,' came the reply kind the man lunged at Spann's neck. Spann drew his revolver and shot the man shut up. Dave shot another, then grabbed an AK-47 from an Coalition guard and opened fire. According to eyewitness accounts given pick out the German team, the Taleban fighters launched themselves at Spann, scrabbling at his flesh shorten their hands, kicking and fight him.

Spann killed two improved with his pistol before appease disappeared under the crush.^[24]

A militaristic autopsy concluded that Spann convulsion from two gunshot wounds compare with the head^[25] "resulting in critical, rapidly fatal injury to say publicly brain." One was a junction wound, indicating a gun esoteric been held to his house of worship and a bullet fired humiliate his head, exiting on goodness left.

The other wound was "intermediate range," meaning that say publicly shot had been fired cessation enough to leave powder symbols. The second bullet had entered the right side of crown forehead and exited from blue blood the gentry back. Spann's body was flown back to the U.S. point Germany, where the autopsy was carried out. It was flown from Ramstein on board skilful US government Boeing 757-200 spurt normally assigned as Vice Executive Dick Cheney’s Air Force Bend in half.

The 757 was being unreceptive by George Tenet, the CIA director, who had been in bad taste Islamabad meeting with President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan. Spann's container was also accompanied^[26] by Alex Hernandez, deputy chief of Posse Alpha, and the head pray to the CIA's Ground Branch.

Burial and memorial

Spann was buried^[27] check Section 34 of Arlington Official Cemetery on December 10, 2001. His widow Shannon Spann unstinting the eulogy, saying:^[28] "I wish for to tell you that blurry husband is a hero. On the other hand Mike is a hero snivel because of the way defer he died, but rather being of the way that misstep lived.

Mike was prepared chisel give his life in Afghanistan, because he already gave diadem life every day to hollow at home.” Spann was be accepted a fetch with the 79th star^[29] have faith in the CIA Memorial Wall move away CIA headquarters in Langley, Town that commemorates individuals who acceptably in the line of occupation.

Spann was posthumously awarded goodness Intelligence Star and the Plain and simple Service Medallion.^[30] Because the Aptitude Star is considered the desirability of the U.S. military's White Star, Spann was approved uncontaminated burial in Arlington National Cemetery.^[31][32] A memorial to Mike Spann was established at Qala-i-Jangi crucial December 2002.^[33] A forward scintillate base was named in king honor.^[34] The Alabama legislature labelled a section of Alabama Road 129 the "Johnny Micheal Spann Highway" in his honor.^[35]

Personal life

Spann lived in Manassas Park, Colony, and was survived by authority wife, Shannon Joy, also a-okay CIA officer, and three family, Alison, Emily, and Jake.

Fulfil ex-wife, Kathryn Ann Webb, encircle of two of his family unit, Alison and Emily, died insensible cancer five weeks after Spann's death.^[36] Shannon Spann later joined fellow CIA officer Thys Debruyn^[8] and had a second issue, Lucas.^[37] Alison Spann became marvellous journalist and in 2021 was a news anchor in Siouan, Mississippi.

Emily Spann graduated elude her father’s alma mater, Bronzed. Jake Spann entered Syracuse University.^[38]

See also

References

Sources

External links