Jump to content

Johnny Micheal Spann: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 41: Line 41:
|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jmspann.htm
|url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jmspann.htm
|title=Johnny Micheal Spann, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Central Intelligence Agency Officer
|title=Johnny Micheal Spann, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Central Intelligence Agency Officer
|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery Website}}</ref> Yet, news reports do not corroborate that story and tell, instead, that in a panic Spann picked off 3 or 4 with his pistol while it was actually his companion Dave who opened fire with the AK-47 failing to prevent the Taliban from killing him with their bare hands. Time Magazine reported shortly after the events:
|publisher=Arlington National Cemetery Website}}</ref> Yet, news reports released shortly following the actual events do not corroborate that story. Instead, they report that, in the panic of being siezed by the throat, Spann picked off 3 or 4 with his pistol. It was actually his companion, "Dave", who opened fire with the AK-47 failing to prevent the Taliban from killing Spann with their bare hands. 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.".<ref name=Time>{{cite web|accessdate=
"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.".<ref name=Time>{{cite web|accessdate=

Revision as of 04:25, 18 December 2008

Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchCentral Intelligence Agency / United States Marine Corps
Years of service1991-2001
RankCaptain
UnitSpecial Activities Division
Battles/warsBattle of Qala-i-Jangi
AwardsIntelligence Star
Exceptional Service Medallion

Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann (March 1 1969 – November 25 2001) was a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) paramilitary operations officer in the former Directorate of Operations, Special Activities Division (SAD).[1] Spann was the first American killed in combat during the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Biography

Spann was originally from Winfield, Alabama, and in December 1991, while attending Auburn University, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. After graduating from Auburn with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice/law enforcement in 1992, Spann enrolled in Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. He also had a daughter named Allison Spann.

He had originally wanted to go into aviation, but served as an artillery expert, specializing in how to direct indirect ground (artillery), air and naval firepower toward the enemy on the ground. By 1996, he had earned the rank of Captain. He joined the CIA in June 1999 and went on to serve in the "Ground Branch" of the CIA's paramilitary Special Activities Division.

Killed during a riot at an Afghan prison

Main article: Battle of Qala-i-Jangi

Spann was killed during a riot at the Qala-i-Jangi compound in Mazari Sharif in northern Afghanistan according to CNN reporter Robert Young Pelton.[2] In the same day, he and another officer at General Dostum's military garrison named Qali Jangi near Mazari Sharif questioned 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 troops backed by U.S. air strikes and UK Special Boat Service and US Army Special Forces crushed the uprising.

His memorial at the Arlington National Cemetery states that he fought with his 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] Yet, news reports released shortly following the actual events do not corroborate that story. Instead, they report that, in the panic of being siezed by the throat, Spann picked off 3 or 4 with his pistol. It was actually his companion, "Dave", who opened fire with the AK-47 failing to prevent the Taliban from killing Spann with their bare hands. 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]

Memorial

The length of Spann's military service would not normally have qualified him for burial at Arlington National Cemetery. However, at his family's request, President Bush signed a waiver allowing him to be buried there. Of the 260,000 people interred at Arlington, only a few hundred were buried there after receiving a waiver. Spann is buried in section 34 at Arlington National Cemetery.

Spann was also memorialized with a star on the CIA Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters in Langley, 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 and the Exceptional Service Medallion.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ The Directorate of Operations is now a part of the National Clandestine Service.
  2. ^ Robert Young Pelton. "The Truth about John Walker Lindh" (PDF). Honor Mike Spann. Retrieved May 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Johnny Micheal Spann, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Central Intelligence Agency Officer". Arlington National Cemetery Website.
  4. ^ "Inside the Battle at Qala-I-Jangi". Time Magazine.
  5. ^ "CIA Honors Slain Agency Officers at Annual Ceremony". Press Release. Director of Central Intelligence, CIA. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Johnny_Micheal_Spann&oldid=258723995"