Gulf veteran at the age of 21

AB Melissa White is welcomed home by her sister, Codie.

Photo: ABPH Brenton Freind

Able Seaman Melissa White is definitely a Gulf veteran.

Still aged just 21, she proudly wears the Australian Active Service Medal with Bar on her uniform.

She’s been to The Gulf twice and she’s only been in the RAN since she was 18.

Not only that, she has been on the pointy end of the action.

When she arrived in The Gulf in 2002 on HMAS Melbourne it was not long before she strapped on a side-arm, climbed into a bullet- proof vest and donned a helmet to become one of the ship’s boarding parties.

She was then aged 19.

When Melbourne returned to The Gulf late last year for Operation Catalyst, she was still part of the ship’s company and returned for a second stint.

Again she was a valued member of the boarding team.

During the latest deployment the ship did 229 boardings.

Melissa was part of many.

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