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1987 yearbook photo of Johnny Michael "Mike" Spann
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WINFIELD, Ala. — Johnny "Mike" Spann craved the anonymous
grunt work no one else wanted — covertly serving his country far away from
this sleepy town that he called home.
Spann was fulfilling his duties as a CIA officer when he was killed in
Afghanistan, becoming the first American known to die in combat there.
"He gave his life in the line of work — in the line of duty," Spann's
father, Johnny Spann, said Wednesday after the CIA confirmed his son's
death. He said Osama bin Laden was to blame for what happend to his son.
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Johnny Spann, father of slain CIA officer Johnny "Mike" Spann, killed in prison riot in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, the first American casualty.
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Rioting prisoners killed Mike Spann at a compound in Mazar-e-Sharif in
northern Afghanistan, the agency said. Officials recovered his body from
the prison after northern alliance rebels backed by U.S. airstrikes and
special forces quelled an uprising by Taliban and al-Qaida prisoners.
The riot began Sunday when hundreds of prisoners stormed an armory for
weapons. By the time the fortress was recaptured on Wednesday, hundreds
of prisoners and dozens of alliance fighters were dead.
In his hometown of Winfield, in northwestern Alabama, Spann was
remembered by friends and relatives as a goal-oriented ex-Marine who
always wanted to do the right thing without drawing attention to himself.
His father said it was those traits that made him a natural for the CIA,
where Spann had wanted to work since he was a teen-ager.
Spann joined the CIA about two years ago. He was a paramilitary trooper
in the agency's commando arm, which is equipped to arm and train local
forces and to conduct covert assaults.
When Spann joined the CIA he told his family, "Someone has got to do the
things no one else wants to do," his father recalled.
"That is exactly what he was doing in Afghanistan," his father said.
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CIA spokeswoman Anya Guilsher speaks to the media as Johnny Spann, background, left, waits his turn to talk about the death of his son, Johnny Michael "Mike" Spann, Wednesday.
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Spann was survived by a wife and three children, aged 4, 9 and 6 months.
His father said he had been in Afghanistan for about six weeks.
In Washington, Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama said he had spoken to
Spann's widow, Shannon.
"She said that when I saw people, I should tell them her husband cared
about America, cared about the future of America and cared about the
security of Americans," said Shelby, fighting back tears.
President Bush said through a spokesman that he regretted Spann's death.
"The president understands that this battle began Sept. 11," White House
press secretary Ari Fleischer said. "There may be more injuries, there
may be more deaths, and the president regrets each and every one."
Spann graduated in 1987 from Winfield City High School, where he played
football. He earned a degree in criminal justice and law enforcement at
Auburn University.
Like many in this sleepy town of about 4,500, Spann set his sights on
something bigger. After serving with the Marines, he earned a post in
America's foreign intelligence agency.
Danny Little, an insurance agent who watched Spann grow up, said he was
proud to have been acquainted with a man who gave his life helping
others.
"Lord knows how many people will benefit, because those people he was
fighting are evil," he said.
The CIA has been conducting covert operations in Afghanistan alongside
the more public military effort. CIA officers are believed to have been
providing weapons, money and intelligence to rebel groups opposing the
Taliban and al-Qaida.
CIA officers also interrogated captured prisoners — the very duty that
brought Spann to the prison where he was killed.
Four other Americans other than Spann, all military personnel, have been
killed in connection with the fighting in Afghanistan. All died in
accidents outside the country.
Spann was the 79th CIA employee to have died in the line of duty.
