The Johnny Micheal (Mike) Spann Detachment of the Marine Corps League, with 35 charter members, received its formal charter as Detachment #1272 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on 24 April 2007. A ceremonial dinner was held at the University Club in Tuscaloosa and was attended by the Alabama Department Commandant R.C. Smith, several other officers of the Marine Corps League, representatives of local government bodies, charter members and their wives and significant others. Our honored guest was Mike Spann’s father, Johnny Spann of Winfield, Alabama.

Marine Captain Mike Spann was chosen as our namesake to honor his service to this nation, first as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and later as a member of the CIA's paramilitary Special Activities Division in Afghanistan. Mike’s service represents the very highest commitment to the defense of our nation, its constitution, and its citizenry. In the days following the cowardly 11 September 2001 attack by radical Islamists on New York and Washington D.C., Mike was one of the first Americans to deploy to Afghanistan (HonorMikeSpann.org). He was killed 25 November 2001 during a riot at the Qala-i-Jangi prison compound in Mazari Sharif in northern Afghanistan. Mike was the first American to die in the current war that the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T. Conway, has described as “The Long War” and “a multi-faceted, generational struggle”.

Likewise, the Mike Spann detachment is multi-faceted and multi-generational. Our members range in age from 19 to 87. Services to our Marine families and community will be multi-faceted and numerous.

As this is written we are the newest Marine Corps League detachment. However, Marines in Tuscaloosa have been getting together to celebrate November 10th for many years. Just prior to the 2006 gathering a Marine stationed in Montgomery, Alabama, paid a visit to Tuscaloosa and asked why, with all the Marines in the area, we did not have a detachment? The Marines here thought that was a good question. They met barely a month later and asked themselves if they wanted a Marine Corps League. Overwhelmingly, they supported the idea and a fellow Marine's question was transformed into a detachment in less than six months.

Ray Looney

Senior Vice Commandant

Marine Corps League Detachment #1272

The Johnny Micheal Spann Detachment