Washington: In a rare request, CIA officers
are asking people to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of
the first American killed in the Afghan war by donating to
help the children of other intelligence officers killed.
Since the death in 2001 of CIA officer Mike Spann, 23
stars have been added to the wall at the CIA`s headquarters
that honours CIA operatives lost. Many were killed in the wars
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The clandestine world rarely breaks its silence,
especially when it comes to family, but the CIA Officers
Memorial Foundation notes about 56 children of those killed in
the line of duty will need educational support over the next
17 years.
Spann was part of a small group of CIA paramilitary
officers who went into Afghanistan just 16 days after the
September 11 attacks. Less than two months later, the CIA,
along with US Special Forces Green Berets and a massive aerial
bombing campaign, helped Afghan militias drive out the ruling
Taliban.
Spann was killed when hundreds of Taliban and al Qaeda
prisoners, guarded by just a handful of Afghans, tried to
escape from a fortress jail in Mazar-e-Sharif in northern
Afghanistan.
Spann is survived by his wife, Shannon, a retired CIA
officer, and three children.
PTI
