Two television crewsfrom reuters and the german station ardare present. Johnny michael spann was a man who set out from his youngest days to make a difference in the world. Spann was killed during the battle of qalaijangi when taliban prisoners gained access to weapons and attacked. Kent pharaoh in honor of mike spann, i will be speaking of him and his. Share your condolences, send flowers, find funeral home information. On the thad forester podcast about mike, his father, johnny spann, describes him as being patriotic from a very young age. Johnny spann, father of slain cia operative johnny michael spann, told a press conference in winfield, ala. Remembering johnny michael spann, cia special activities division, kia 2001. Johnny michael spann was the rare student at winfield city high school who knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life even as a teenager. Susan spann, adventure, mystery, and mountains author of. Spann s father, also named johnny spann, a winfield, ala. Susan spann 100 summits, blog april 7, 2020 april 7, 2020 100 summits, bear bells, daibosatsu, hiking, japan the mountains of japan have a healthy population of asiatic black bears ursus thibetanus, and although they dont hunt hikers, people do occasionally suffer injuries and, more rarely, death after accidentally startling a bear on.
One of the prisoners was the socalled american taliban, john walker lyndh, who spann interrogated shortly before spann s death. Johnny michael spann, a cia officer, was killed during the bloody prison uprising in mazare sharif in our war on terrorism in afghanistan. Todd slee i had the honor and privilege of playing my bagpipes over. I dont know he knew if he would make the ultimate sacrifice, but he wanted to make. Walker had apparently been pointed out to spann as a westerner, or someone who spoke english. She has a deep interest in asian culture and has studied mandarin and japanese. Spann was killed during a deadly fourday prison riot near mazare sharif, afghanistan. The cia today remembered johnny micheal mike spann, the alabama native and cia officer who became the first american killed in afghanistan after 911, as a hero. Remembering johnny michael spann, cia special activities division, kia 2001 in the early days after 911, the united states was striking back at the taliban in small ways wh. Nov 28, 2001 johnny mike spann, who will have his place in united states military history as the first american killed in combat in the war in afghanistan, was one of a team of clandestine operatives from. If you knew or served with this marine and have additional information or photos to support this page, please leave a message for the page administrators here. In 1969 spann performed on muddy waters s halfstudio and halflive doublealbum, fathers and sons, a critically acclaimed recording which showcases spann, the fine harmonica of paul butterfield, and guitarist michael bloomfield.
Spanns cia life was much like that of jack ryan from the tom clancy novels. A biography of bass can be found within the book the navy cross. He took part in the battle of qalaijangi, a violent uprising of the taliban prisoners, during which. Cia special operations group special activities division.
Tuscaloosa marines the johnny michael spann detachment. John philip walker lindh born february 9, 1981 is an american who was captured as an enemy combatant during the united states invasion of afghanistan in november 2001. James spann is an american television meteorologist and weather anchor based in birmingham, alabama. In the hail of coverage about the american taliban and the allamerican hero who died, johnny michael spann, the media presented a classic story of bravery and treason. Johnny michael spann obituary winfield, al the press. Please sign the guest book for cia johnny michael spann, u.
Feb 14, 2005 captain michael spann was a us marine, who had just left the corp and become a cia operative. Johnny micheal mike spann march 1, 1969 november 25, 2001 was a paramilitary operations officer in the central intelligence agencys special activities division. A trust fund has been established at the following. Captain johnny micheal spann a american hero youtube. Rick and bubba, bevill state community college child development program, better world books, books for africa, bandit one photography, dr. Mike spann, first american killed in afghanistan, died when. Alison spann, daughter of cia officer mike spann, rips. Taliban, afghanistan, cia officer johnny, tennessee, american, cia agent johnny, philips, john walker lindh, winfield, voice please enter a search string of at least 2 characters.
Lindh was among the taliban and alqaida men captured and brought there by northern alliance forces. Remembering johnny michael spann, cia special activities. Johnny micheal spanns star was the 79th carved on the agencys memorial wall and his name appears in the cia book of honor. Saturday, march 12, 2005 cia death in afghanistan spurs dads quest. At the time of his death, alison, his daughter was only 9yearsold. Alison, then 9, is now a senior in college with a drive in life like few others. A conversation with alison spann, daughter of first fallen. Please provide me with special offers and discounts from and selected partners. Were just going to leave him, and hes going to fcking sit in prison the rest of his f.
Alabama lawmakers, family of slain cia officer angered by. Johnny micheal mike spann march 1, 1969 november 25, 2001 was a paramilitary operations officer in the central intelligence agencys special activities. Alison spann s father was the first american killed in the afghan war. Johnny michael mike spann, who served in the marines before becoming a cia agent, died nov. He was captured and detained at qalaijangi fortress, used as a prison. Cia operatives were involved in the prisoner revolt at qalaijanghi, a medieval fort being used to house captured taliban soldiers, which claimed the life of johnny michael spann, a sad officer. James has served as the chief meteorologist for abc 3340 for 22 years and can be seen weeknights at 4, 5, 6, and 10 oclock. Johnny micheal mike spann march 1, 1969 november 25, 2001 was a paramilitary operations officer in the central intelligence agency s special activities division renamed special activities center in 2016.
American blues pianist and vocalist, born 21 march 1930 in jackson, mississippi, usa, died 24 april 1970 in chicago, illinois, usa. Afghan doctors on site at the time of the riot gave the spann family the following account. The truth, in fact, is disturbingly different from that, and involves a tangle of deceit and misdirection that has yet to be revealed. Cia adds names to memorial wall national news us news. Johnny gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of americans forever. Dec 08, 2001 remarkably, an afghan cameraman videotaped the c. Nov 26, 2019 then the family of cia officer johnny mike spann appeared, dressed in black. The obituary was featured in legacy on march 3, 2011. Mike spann is the son of johnny and gail spann of winfield, ala. 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. Cia honors alabamian mike spann 15 years after war death. Extraordinary heroism in iraq, afghanistan, and other conflicts.
Johnny mike spann, first american killed in afghanistan. Some correspond to names in a book at the base of the wall, such as johnny michael spann, a former marine officer who became the first american casualty. Washington american taliban john walker lindh played a direct role in killing heroic cia agent johnny michael spann by staying mum instead of. Spann left the waters band in 1969 and released his vanguard solo album cryin time, backed by the gifted. The mike spann detachment holds its regular monthly meeting at. Mainly, i havent decided whether to write it as amore ive actually considered writing that part of the story, and probably will at some point.
It was an incredibly fast read at just under 300 pages and i feel like i learned a lot about the japanese culture in this time period. More than three years have passed since johnny mike spann, a cia operative. Captain michael spann was a us marine, who had just left the corp and become a cia operative. Two cia agents, dave and johnny michael spann, are singling out prisoners for interrogation in an effort to determine their affiliations and backgrounds and screen them for possible links to alqaeda. Betrayal at iga by susan spann is book five in the shinobi mystery series, but it read very well as a standalone. We have told spann s story many times, but it never gets old. Mike spann, first american killed in afghanistan, died when his son. The album features both studio and live recordings recorded in april 1969 with an allstar band including michael bloomfield and paul butterfield of the paul butterfield blues band, donald duck dunn of booker t.
The 6 extra tracks on otis spann is the blues and 7 extra tracks on spann s walking the blues cds give you everything thats been released from spann s great 1960 session for candid. Father of mike spann angry over early release of john walker lindh. Spann s family would like for everyone to please remember his young children. Johnny michael mike spann, was born on march 1st, 1969, in winfield, alabama. Susan spann is a transactional attorney focusing on publishing law and a former law school professor. The real story of general dostum and 12 strong green. Mike was conducting initial interviews of extremists held in qalijangi fortress at mazare. In the book, blehm mentions mike, who was serving in northern afghanistan as a special activities division officer with the cia in 2001. Mahoney covers a lot of ground in his book but at the end fails to provide anything but a hypothetical argument based on circumstantial evidence to suggest, but not prove, that either john walker lindh or the american government is responsible for the murder mr. According to the criminal complaint, spann conducted the interviews at the qalai janghi compound near mazare sharif, in afghanistan.
Guest book i still remember and i greatly appreciate all you did and. Earlier this week, mike spanns father, johnny spann, told the. He took these traits with him when he deployed in the fall of 2001 to afghanistan as part of the governments response to the terrorist attacks of september 11th. Then the family of cia officer johnny mike spann appeared. Her hobbies include asian cooking, fencing, knife and shuriken throwing, traditional archery, martial arts, rock climbing, and horseback riding. This military service page was createdowned by cpl chris spencer spence to remember marine capt johnny michael spann mike. His 32yearold widow, shannon spann, who also worked at the agency, walked behind the caisson, cradling a white. Johnny micheal mike spann was a paramilitary operations officer in the central intelligence agencys special.
Mahoneys words of cia paramilitary operative johnny michael spann. Johnny michael spann passed away in winfield, alabama. In keeping with the marine corps tradition of taking care of its own, in 2011 the marines of the mike spann detachment, the marine corps league established the johnny micheal spann detachment, marine corps league endowed scholarship at the university of alabama to provide financial assistance to deserving. I was surprisingly sucked into this murder mystery set in feudal japan 1500s. Cia agent named as first american fatality killed at.
One of those memories for me was the story of johnny mike spann, from winfield, alabama, the first american killed in the afghanistan war, on november 25. For many years, on november 25 and also memorial day, we have remembered johnny micheal spann, a cia operations officer who was the first american killed in afghanistan after 911. Jun 02, 2014 his guantanamo case file also describes him as being present at a 2001 prison riot that led to the death of cia operative johnny michael spann, the first u. I find out that theyve come hoping to retrieve the body of central intelligence agency officer johnny micheal spann, who was killed by taliban prisonersthe first american combat casualty in afghanistan. Spann s son, johnny michael mike spann, a cia agent and former marine, died november 25, 2001 during a riot near mazare sharif in afghanistan when taliban prisoners he was there to interview. In the early days after 911, the united states was striking back at the taliban in. Nov 29, 2001 johnny michael spann was the rare student at winfield city high school who knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life even as a teenager. Johnny michael spann condolences the virginianpilot. Spann was the first american killed in combat during the united states invasion of afghanistan in 2001. Susan spann ive actually considered writing that part of the story, and probably will at some point. The cia said johnny micheal mike spann, 32, was in a fortress compound at mazare sharif on sunday to question taliban prisoners when fighting broke out. The first time we wrote about johnny micheal mike spann was in early may 2011, in the aftermath of the killing of osama bin laden hearing the news of osama bin ladens death brought forward many emotions and memories. Our 15th anniversary post summed up much of what we had learned, 15th anniversary.
Johnny michael spann obituary winfield, al pioneer press. The extra tracks were originally on the japanese releases of these great cds on the pvine label and on the limitededition mosaic box set, which also. Guest book for johnny michael spann of winfield, al. He was held responsible for the death of johnny micheal mike spann, a winfield native. In this may 27, 2002, file photo shannon spann, widow of cia officer johnny mike spann, and her three children, from left, emily, 4, alison, 10, and jake, 11 months, visit the grave of their. Johnny michael spann obituary trenton, nj the times. Johnny michael spann obituary winfield, al rochester. Oct 09, 2002 understandably, the family of cia agent johnny michael spann is piqued. Johnny micheal spann s star is the 79th carved on the agencys memorial wall and his name appears in the cia book of honor. A combination of us and uk sof alongside na forces eventually quelled the rebellion and retook the fort.
Remembering mike spann an american worth recalling far more than the american taliban. Jude childrens research hospital, herb, sls pressure washing llc, south lamar school. After being captured in afghanistan in 2001, lindh pled guilty to serving as a soldier of the taliban. Johnny micheal spann, captain, united states marine corps. These are words johnny micheal mike spann used to describe himself in his application to the cia. Johnny mike spann was 32, a cia paramilitary officer and former marine who knew he was bound for northern afghanistan and might never return. My son is sfc john michael hennen kia on fathers day of 2007. Jul 22, 20 captain johnny michael spann, an exmarine, died in 2001 while working for the cia in afghanistan. May 23, 2019 in this may 27, 2002, file photo shannon spann, widow of cia officer johnny mike spann, and her three children, from left, emily, 4, alison, 10, and jake, 11 months, visit the grave of their. Michael spann free people check uk phone, address, social. He adds that as a boy, mike was passionate about history.
Spann s family visited the fortress after his murder. I remembered the reporters, squinting in the glaring light reflecting off the barren landscape, and the almost musical lilt of the name mazare sharif rolling off their tongues, followed by the phrase. Johnny micheal mike spann archives yellowhammer news. On that team of cia operatives was johnny michael spann. Because, as the good book says, greater love hath no man but that he lay down. James spann bio, wiki, age, height, wife, kids, meteorologist. Oct 04, 2002 the father of johnny michael spann, the cia officer who was killed during an uprising at a prison in which walker lindh and others were being held after their capture, also addressed the court. Battle of mazar e sharif, special forces troops mount. We respect your privacy and will not sell your information to a third party.
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