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Johnny Micheal Spann

Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann
J M Spann.jpg
Johnny Micheal Spann
Born (1969-03-01)March 1, 1969
Winfield, Alabama, U.S.
Died November 25, 2001(2001-11-25) (aged 32)
Qala-i-Jangi, Afghanistan
Buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Seal of the Central Intelligence Agency.svg Central Intelligence Agency
Years of service 1991–2001
Rank Captain Insignia USMC.png Captain
Unit Special Activities Division
Battles/wars

War in Afghanistan

Awards Intelligence Star
Exceptional Service Medallion

War in Afghanistan

Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann (March 1, 1969 – November 25, 2001) was a paramilitary operations officer in the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division. Spann was the first American killed in combat during the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. He died at the Qala-i-Jangi fortress in a Taliban prisoner uprising.

Johnny Micheal Spann was from the small town of Winfield, Alabama, the son of a real estate agent and his wife. Spann graduated in 1987 from Winfield City High School, where he played football. At 17, he earned his private pilot license and later became a certified rescue diver and parachutist.

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 attended the Marines' Officer Candidates School at Quantico, Virginia. He had originally wanted to go into aviation, but became a field artillery officer and eventually served with the elite 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. He specialized in directing indirect fire and close air support. In 1997, served as second-in-command for a joint exercise expedition in Latin America and Africa called "UNITAS."


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