Brother and sister from Hawks have served in the Navy for about a dozen years

Paul and Christy Prell of Hawks have two members of the military to be proud of, with a son and daughter who have served in the Navy a combined 12 years. Both Scott and Mindy joined the Navy shortly after graduating from Rogers City High School in the late 1990s and have taken different paths after leaving the area. Mindy went to boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois only three weeks after receiving her diploma in 1997. Her first duty station was in New Orleans, Louisiana.

From there, her Navy career path took shape in San Diego, California where Prell received approval to become a legalman. She served as a paralegal and court reporter, and furthered her education at the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island.

AFTER THAT, Prell was deployed to Rota, Spain to continue her duties as a court reporter. She sat in on criminal and court marshal cases from 2002 to 2004. Prell was down to her last week in Rota and was preparing to leave for the states, which kept her busy. It was one of a couple of factors that prevented her from traveling to Madrid on March 11, 2004. That was the day terrorists detonated bombs at a train station, killing nearly 200 people.

Prell had enjoyed the four-hour train trips to Madrid a couple of times. “I was thinking of going,” said Prell on the phone from San Diego. “But I had lots of stuff to do, plus I didn’t have a lot of money.” Prell remembers being at the train station before the attacks. She said it was a huge facility with a beautiful fountain that had small turtles swimming in it.

She said that area was destroyed by the bomb blasts. PRELL SAID an officer she knew was in Madrid when the attack occurred. He was late in getting back to the train station, which probably saved his life. What person wouldn’t be concerned when something so deadly hits so close? Fearful of travel? It’s something that Prell had to put out of her mind as she boarded flights for home.

“I couldn’t think of that stuff,” she said confidently. Prell is back in San Diego and is thankful to be in the pleasant conditions of southern California, especially after hearing of the storm digout going on in Presque Isle County this week. “That’s something I don’t miss,” she said. Prell, who has two years remaining to serve in the Navy, is working as a paralegal in San Diego these days. She is taking courses in criminal justice through the University of Phoenix. Prell is single and has a cat named Samantha that traveled with her from Spain.

SCOTT PRELL will officially be in the Navy for only another month. He is using up his remaining vacation time until March 30, preparing paperwork so he can transfer to the U.S. Coast Guard, preferably somewhere in the Great Lakes. Unlike his sister, Scott enjoys outdoor winter activities in Presque Isle County and looks forward to purchasing a snowmobile in the near future. He joined the Navy in August 1999 and later was stationed at Pearl Harbor for nearly three years. He went to school for five months to learn the duties of an electrician’s mate. Last year, Prell received his orders and was assigned to the U.S.S. Roosevelt, which went to the Persian Gulf for six months beginning June 1.

He said the time in the gulf was actually less than four months before their return in early December. The mission was to board ships in the gulf and search for w

eapons, terrorists, or drugs. Prell’s job included fixing lighting circuits and galley equipment. The sailors were reminded of the difference they were making in the world during daily news reports that were given over the intercom. There were three occasions he was able to go ashore for leave.

In the Arab countries he visited, Prell thought he would stand out from the crowd, but was surprised at the number of tourists from Europe and Australia. During the time of transition, Prell will be staying with friends in Mayport, Florida to see where his next step in life will take him.

*** *** ***

ANY INFORMATION provided to The Advance about or from those serving in the military would be greatly appreciated. Drop off the information at The Advance or email it to Advancepete@speednetllc.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.