Post by connie on Sept 27, 2021 13:11:17 GMT -5
Prell, Donald B. Lt. 422 (2nd Platoon Anti-tank Co.) POW Stalag IX-B, Oflag XIII-B, briefly freed, Stalag XIII D/ Oflag 73, Camp hospital
Stalag IX-B, Bad Orb 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5012/thread
Oflag XIII-B, Hammelburg 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5023/thread
Wikipedia Write-Up en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Prell
Indiana Military Site Write-Up: www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Oflag%20XIII-B/Prell/Prell-Donald.pdf
Prell experienced the bombing in the rr yard at Limburg. Then he was packed off in another box car for a 2-day trip to Stalag IX-B. Here he was interrogated and issued a POW #. Then he was matched 60 km. to Oflag XIII-B. Here on March 27 he experienced the batched attempt to liberate this camp where Patton's son-in-law was being held. Prell and others escaped on foot at this time but were recaptured after several days on the run. He was put on a train that took him to XIID/ Oflag 73. While there he became ill and was transferred to the camp's hospital. He remained at the hospital while most of those at the camp were forced to march east. A week later (mid April) the guards disappeared...
Veteran's History Project Video Interview 157 minute: memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.104418/
Division Association Write-Up 106thinfdivassn.org/photos/prell/donaldprell_story_1944.pdf
UCLA Notes on his Passing in 2020 at age 96 dailybruin.com/2020/08/13/donald-prell-remembered-for-dedication-to-ucla-military-and-technological-service
Donald Prell began his UCLA career in 1942 as an undergraduate student studying physics. One year later, he was a 19-year-old second lieutenant in World War II. “Imagine, you’re on the Westwood campus and life is just fine and dandy,” Owen Prell said. “And the next thing you know you’re getting shot at, you’re captured, you’re starving, you’re freezing, your comrades are dying … That was the formative event in his life.” In December 1944, German soldiers captured and imprisoned Donald Prell during the Battle of the Bulge. He then spent five months as a prisoner of war before escaping in May 1945.After the war, Donald Prell resumed his education at UCLA and switched his major to psychology after observing how other POWs grappled with their situation during his imprisonment, Owen Prell said. By studying psychology, Donald Prell hoped to continue learning about what makes people tick and what helps them cope, he added.
When Donald Prell attended UCLA, he was involved in integration efforts, Owen Prell said. Once, he and a classmate led advocacy efforts for integration in a Westwood barbershop, he added.
Collin Prell, Donald Prell’s grandson, said Donald Prell became a “futurologist” after the war and would constantly try to predict which technologies would become more used in the future. In the 1950s, Donald Prell collaborated with several computer industry pioneers, such as RAND corporation futurist Herman Kahn, Owen Prell said. They worked together to build a new computer technology and application industry, and to help the military and the government, Owen Prell said.
“He just had no fear about starting a new business … or whatever the endeavor was, because what was there to be scared about when you’ve already survived the worst thing anyone can imagine?” Owen Prell said.
Donald Prell was always curious about technology, Owen Prell said. So when Donald Prell moved into finance, he often viewed it with a technological lens, he said.Donald Prell also created and published Datamation, one of the earliest magazines dedicated solely to the computer data-processing industry.
Donald Prell became the founder and president of two venture capital firms, Union Ventures in 1967 and Imperial Ventures in 1980. In the 1960s, Donald Prell predicted the widespread use of ATMs and online banking while working within the finance industry, Owen Prell said.“He was always swiveling his head towards the future,” Owen Prell said.
Donald Prell also cared about promoting diversity and equality in the workspace, Collin Prell said. Cyndee Herles, one of Donald Prell’s friends and former employees, said she was able to learn and succeed in banking — a male-dominated space — by working with him. When Herles had a baby in 1985, she requested more time off work. Donald Prell told her to take as much time off as she needed and encouraged her to bring her baby into the workplace, which was uncommon for the time, she said. Donald Prell was highly regarded and well-respected by everyone in the office, Herles added. “My favorite thing he used to do is every night … He would always say your name and say ‘thank you for being you,’” she said. “He just appreciated you for who you were.”
Donald Prell was known to banter with his colleagues who were USC alumni when they would wear their school’s ball caps on USC game days, Herles said. He was proactive in letting people know he loved UCLA, Herles said. Donald Prell drove a car with a “UCLA ‘48” license plate to display his love for his alma mater, Owen Prell said. His grandfather’s passion for UCLA and futurologist tendencies were admirable, Collin Prell said. “What made him so special was that he didn’t find himself particularly special,” he said. “But he really was special … and I’m going to miss him a lot.”
Stalag IX-B, Bad Orb 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5012/thread
Oflag XIII-B, Hammelburg 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/5023/thread
Wikipedia Write-Up en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Prell
Indiana Military Site Write-Up: www.indianamilitary.org/German%20PW%20Camps/Prisoner%20of%20War/PW%20Camps/Oflag%20XIII-B/Prell/Prell-Donald.pdf
Prell experienced the bombing in the rr yard at Limburg. Then he was packed off in another box car for a 2-day trip to Stalag IX-B. Here he was interrogated and issued a POW #. Then he was matched 60 km. to Oflag XIII-B. Here on March 27 he experienced the batched attempt to liberate this camp where Patton's son-in-law was being held. Prell and others escaped on foot at this time but were recaptured after several days on the run. He was put on a train that took him to XIID/ Oflag 73. While there he became ill and was transferred to the camp's hospital. He remained at the hospital while most of those at the camp were forced to march east. A week later (mid April) the guards disappeared...
Veteran's History Project Video Interview 157 minute: memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.104418/
Division Association Write-Up 106thinfdivassn.org/photos/prell/donaldprell_story_1944.pdf
UCLA Notes on his Passing in 2020 at age 96 dailybruin.com/2020/08/13/donald-prell-remembered-for-dedication-to-ucla-military-and-technological-service
Donald Prell began his UCLA career in 1942 as an undergraduate student studying physics. One year later, he was a 19-year-old second lieutenant in World War II. “Imagine, you’re on the Westwood campus and life is just fine and dandy,” Owen Prell said. “And the next thing you know you’re getting shot at, you’re captured, you’re starving, you’re freezing, your comrades are dying … That was the formative event in his life.” In December 1944, German soldiers captured and imprisoned Donald Prell during the Battle of the Bulge. He then spent five months as a prisoner of war before escaping in May 1945.After the war, Donald Prell resumed his education at UCLA and switched his major to psychology after observing how other POWs grappled with their situation during his imprisonment, Owen Prell said. By studying psychology, Donald Prell hoped to continue learning about what makes people tick and what helps them cope, he added.
When Donald Prell attended UCLA, he was involved in integration efforts, Owen Prell said. Once, he and a classmate led advocacy efforts for integration in a Westwood barbershop, he added.
Collin Prell, Donald Prell’s grandson, said Donald Prell became a “futurologist” after the war and would constantly try to predict which technologies would become more used in the future. In the 1950s, Donald Prell collaborated with several computer industry pioneers, such as RAND corporation futurist Herman Kahn, Owen Prell said. They worked together to build a new computer technology and application industry, and to help the military and the government, Owen Prell said.
“He just had no fear about starting a new business … or whatever the endeavor was, because what was there to be scared about when you’ve already survived the worst thing anyone can imagine?” Owen Prell said.
Donald Prell was always curious about technology, Owen Prell said. So when Donald Prell moved into finance, he often viewed it with a technological lens, he said.Donald Prell also created and published Datamation, one of the earliest magazines dedicated solely to the computer data-processing industry.
Donald Prell became the founder and president of two venture capital firms, Union Ventures in 1967 and Imperial Ventures in 1980. In the 1960s, Donald Prell predicted the widespread use of ATMs and online banking while working within the finance industry, Owen Prell said.“He was always swiveling his head towards the future,” Owen Prell said.
Donald Prell also cared about promoting diversity and equality in the workspace, Collin Prell said. Cyndee Herles, one of Donald Prell’s friends and former employees, said she was able to learn and succeed in banking — a male-dominated space — by working with him. When Herles had a baby in 1985, she requested more time off work. Donald Prell told her to take as much time off as she needed and encouraged her to bring her baby into the workplace, which was uncommon for the time, she said. Donald Prell was highly regarded and well-respected by everyone in the office, Herles added. “My favorite thing he used to do is every night … He would always say your name and say ‘thank you for being you,’” she said. “He just appreciated you for who you were.”
Donald Prell was known to banter with his colleagues who were USC alumni when they would wear their school’s ball caps on USC game days, Herles said. He was proactive in letting people know he loved UCLA, Herles said. Donald Prell drove a car with a “UCLA ‘48” license plate to display his love for his alma mater, Owen Prell said. His grandfather’s passion for UCLA and futurologist tendencies were admirable, Collin Prell said. “What made him so special was that he didn’t find himself particularly special,” he said. “But he really was special … and I’m going to miss him a lot.”