Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Melissa
Rathbun-Nealy
POW (Gulf War)
March 9, 1970

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Melissa Rathbun-Nealy was one of two U.S. Army women captured and held as a Prisoner of War during Operation Desert Storm. They were the first two women from any branch of U.S. Military to be captured and thus held since World War II, and Specialist Rathbun-Nealy may well be the first ENLISTED woman of any branch of service ever interned as a Prisoner of War.

Awards Received

  • Prisoner of War Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Specialist

    Division:

    Prisoner of War (Persian Gulf)

    Action Date:

    January 30, 1991 – March 3, 1991

    Specialist Melissa Rathbun-Nealy, United States Army, was captured near the Kuwait/Saudi Arabia border on 30 January 1991 and was held by the Iraqis as a Prisoner of War until his release on 3 March 1991.