Ep 17: To Protect and To Serve, Spc Joseph Kennedy
America's Memory
Military history. Story of a fallen hero from war in Afghanistan
info_outline
Ep 16: Big Brother, Major Samuel Griffith
America's Memory
A Major who served in the war in Afghanistan pays the ultimate sacrifice and this is his powerful story.
info_outline
Ep 15: The Right Guy, William "Chief" Carlson
America's Memory
CIA Operative and former Delta Force who paid ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan War
info_outline
Ep 14: In Harm's Way, Sgt Anthony Maddox
America's Memory
Sgt Anthony Maddox is one of the over 2,400 fallen US Military from the war in Afghanistan and this is his story.
info_outline
Ep 13: Born to Serve, Cpl Jacob Leicht
America's Memory
Story of fallen hero from the war in Afghanistan
info_outline
Ep 12: Second Chances, HM2 Clayton Beauchamp
America's Memory
The story of a man from Texas who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war in Afghanistan.
info_outline
Ep. 11: They Call Me Doc, Spc Jerod Osborne
America's Memory
The story of an Army medic who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the war in Afghanistan
info_outline
Ep 10: Wounds Unseen, SSgt Jeffrey Reber
America's Memory
Jeffrey Reber was an American hero. The list of Marines willing to praise his battlefield leadership is long and distinguished. Many of them would suggest they’re alive today because of his split-second decisions during combat.
info_outline
Ep 9: The Moose, SSG Curtis Oakes
America's Memory
The story of one of the fallen US military from the war in Afghanistan
info_outline
Ep 8: Tip of the Spear, Mike Spann (CIA)
America's Memory
The first US casualty in the war in Afghanistan was Johnny Mike Spann.
info_outlineThey’re known as the tip of the spear. Trailblazers we ask to go in first. Highly trained. Fearless.
When America was attacked on 9/11, we needed those trailblazers on the ground in Afghanistan to find those responsible and stop their reign of terror.
Johnny Micheal “Mike” Spann was one of those who dared to enter that rugged and strange terrain. The CIA paramilitary officer and former Marine had received extensive training in intelligence gathering, unconventional operations, and combat leadership.
When one references “boots on the ground,” Spann was one of the first pairs of boots.
As the first combat loss in Afghanistan, his name resonated with many Americans in those early days of the war on terrorism as they wondered what lay before them.
How long would America fight in Afghanistan? How much blood and treasure would be required to end that evil?
Mike Spann grew up in Winfield, Alabama. He was a curious child often found with his nose in encyclopedias. He loved all things military and history but especially became fascinated with the Marines.
He covered his walls with posters of the Few and the Proud. When his family moved, the posters came down but went right back up in the next house.
As he matured he’d set one goal after another such as earning his private pilot’s license at seventeen years of age. He attended Auburn University, excelled academically, and earned a degree in Criminal Justice. He still longed for that military experience.
His father gave him pause since he had become a husband and father. Mike replied that if he didn’t go now he never would.
Fulfilling those early dreams, he attended officer candidate school and became a United States Marine Corps officer.
**** Listen to the rest of this amazing story on the podcast