War on terror

CIA honors Alabamian Mike Spann 15 years after war death

The CIA today remembered Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann, the Alabama native and CIA officer who became the first American killed in Afghanistan after 9/11, as a hero.

Spann, 32, died 15 years ago today. He was conducting initial interviews of Taliban extremists held in Qali-Jangi fortress at Mazar-e Sharif when hundreds of prisoners revolted and he was attacked and killed, according to a story about Spann on the CIA's website. The CIA also remembered Spann in tweets and on the agency's Facebook page.

"His last act, just before he was killed by those who had supposedly surrendered, was to warn an agency colleague of the imminent danger," according to the CIA story.

Spann is among 117 CIA employees honored with stars carved into the marble of the CIA Memorial Wall, according to the CIA post.