24 Years Ago Today – Johnny “Mike” Spann – CIA Officer And First American Killed In Afghanistan Post-9/11

24 Years Ago Today – Johnny “Mike” Spann – CIA Officer And First American Killed In Afghanistan Post-9/11

Every year we remember Johnny Micheal (“Mike”) Spann, the CIA Officer who was the first American killed in Aghanistan after 9/11, part of a small group of elite commandos who helped organize opposition to the Taliban. Today is the 24th anniversary of his death.

You can view our posts, dating back to 2011, here. There are tons of videos, images, and stories about his family.

My first post about Spann was written on May 3, 2011, after the killing of Osama bin Laden, Remembering Johnny “Mike” Spann:

Hearing the news of Osama bin Laden’s death brought forward many emotions and memories.

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, 2001.

Spann was a CIA operative, one of a small number of Americans who landed in Afghanistan, helped coordinate local forces hostile to the Taliban, and directed bombing and other military action.

The story of this small band of men has been told, but not told enough.

Spann was killed during the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi when Taliban prisoners gained access to weapons and attacked.

Spann was killed during that uprising (see video).  One of the prisoners was the so-called American Taliban, John Walker Lyndh, who Spann interrogated shortly before Spann’s death.

Spann’s wife Shannon also worked for the CIA.  In addition to his wife, Spann left behind two daughters and an infant son.

Spann’s family established a website to honor his life, and there is a wealth of information and photos at his Arlington National Cemetery page.

There is an interesting honor paid to Spann at the website of Afghan General and Warlord Abdul Radhis Dostum, including a link to a photo of the memorial to Spann at the site of the uprising in which he died.

So in these days in which we remember those who died on 9/11, let’s also remember Johnny “Mike” Spann, who died in the weeks immediately after 9/11 on a battlefield far from home, and who against seemingly impossible odds helped pave the way for the overthrow of the Taliban, and over nine years later, the justice delivered two days ago.

[Mike Spann interviewing John Walker Lindh, Afghanistan, 2001]Last year I posted about how hiw widow Shannon recorded a video message regarding the establishment of the Johnny Mike Spann Ally Program at the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation.

On 11/25/01, Johnny Micheal Spann became the first KIA of the Global War on Terrorism. The Foundation is proud to rename our Ally Program in his honor & outline our program with the words he used on his CIA application: Action, Responsibility, Leadership. https://t.co/yBQjgU88FU pic.twitter.com/jYhEOeGd9f

— Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation (@GWOTMF) November 25, 2024

The Johnny Micheal Spann Ally Page has more details:

The Spann Ally program posted this new video:

There also was this October 23, 2025 Press Release:

Today MCON announced that it has formally affiliated with the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation through its Johnny Micheal Spann Ally Program. Johnny Micheal “Mike” Spann was a CIA officer and former Marine who became the first American casualty in the Global War on Terrorism on November 25, 2001. On his application to join the CIA, Mike stated his commitment to action, responsibility, and leadership and personified these principles in his sacrificial devotion to the country. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation (GWOTMF) ally program named in honor of Spann ensures all its allies are similarly exemplifying these traits in their collaboration with the Foundation.

“We are deeply humbled and honored to have MCON standing tall beside us as our ally program enters a new era,” said Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation President and CEO Michael “Rod” Rodríguez. “The Foundation will continue to look to MCON as a force multiplier for building a sacred Memorial where all who served and sacrificed in this conflict, and those impacted by it, can honor, heal, be empowered, and unite. At the same time, our Foundation knows that respect and reciprocity are the foundations of every strong alliance, and we are proud to commit to help MCON in their essential work, as well.”

Toby Harnden, who wrote the definitive account, First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11, paid homage on X:

24 years ago today, CIA paramilitary officer Mike Spann and case officer David Tyson entered a dusty fort called Qala-i Jangi. They were on the outskirts of Mazar-i Sharif, the city in Northern Afghanistan they had helped capture from the Taliban two weeks earlier. Both were members of Team Alpha, the eight-man CIA team that fought alongside ethnic Uzbeks and Tajiks and the Green Berets who became known as the horse soldiers.

Mike, a former Marine Corps officer, son, husband, and father would not leave the fort that day. He was killed in action, the first casualty on the battlefield for America after 9/11, cut down during an Al-Qaeda prisoner revolt at Qala-i Jangi. He went down fighting, using his Glock 17 and AKMS against the enemy at close quarters.

David and Mike were the first Americans to question al-Qaeda prisoners after 9/11. They knew that this would be a dangerous day—as was every day they had been through since landing in two Black Hawks in the Darya Suf Valley on October 17. But the CIA and Green Berets were stretched thin, and they were the only men on the ground available to interrogate these 400 or so al-Qaeda prisoners.

There was never any question in Mike Spann’s mind that he would be part of America’s response to the 9/11 attacks. In his application to join the CIA, he had written: “I am an action person that feels personally responsible for making any changes in this world that are in my power because if I don’t no one else will.”

The US was experiencing a swelling patriotism and an acknowledgment that there would be sacrifices… There was evil in the world, and Americans had to be sent to faraway lands so it did not reach home shores again. Mike had always felt this way. Suddenly, America was a lot more like him.

Mike is represented by the 79th star on CIA’s Memorial Wall and remains in the hearts of many. His teammate Mark Rausenberger, who died in 2016, is represented by the 121st star. There are now 140 stars on the wall.

Many brave Afghans also died in 2001. One way Mike is honored is through Badger Six, a charity that helps Afghan allies and their families. Please consider a donation in memory of Mike at http://badgersix.org.

24 years ago today, CIA paramilitary officer Mike Spann and case officer David Tyson entered a dusty fort called Qala-i Jangi. They were on the outskirts of Mazar-i Sharif, the city in Northern Afghanistan they had helped capture from the Taliban two weeks earlier. Both were… pic.twitter.com/QuvqNpVIgO

— Toby Harnden (@tobyharnden) November 25, 2025

With each passing year, there is less and less new information or news. Next year, on the 25th anniversary, we will do a summary post but likely will stop annual updates after that.

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