Honoring Our Heroes

Ensign Cecil H. Prescott Jr.: Age 98

Ensign Cecil H. Prescott Jr. served three years on active duty with the U.S. Navy and two years with the U.S. Navy Reserve. His Military Occupational Specialty and ranks were Pharmacist Mate Third Class while on active duty and as Flight Surgeon with the Navy Reserve as Ensign. He received the following medals, awards, decorations and citations: Victory Medal, Atlantic-Pacific Medal and American Theater Medal.

Ensign Prescott was born to his parents, Cecil H. Prescott Sr. and Leila Prescott, at Birmingham, AL, August 8, 1925. While attending high school, he worked at various jobs such as a soda jerk and other jobs before he graduated from Phillips High School. His love for music began when he started taking piano lessons at the age of seven, and he played the saxophone in his high school band. Throughout his life, he played a variety of instruments including the piano, pipe organ, saxophone, trombone, clarinet, etc.

After graduating from Phillips High school, he volunteered and enlisted for service in the U.S. Navy August 7, 1943 at Birmingham, AL. He completed the Naval Basic Training at the Naval Station Great Lakes. After training as a pharmacist, he was sent to serve at the St. Albans Naval Hospital, New York. While serving there, he was invited to play with the military band, the Medicos of Melody, playing the saxophone. He remained at St. Albans while his unit sailed for Europe, and the unit's ship was torpedoed. He was introduced to the American band director, Glenn Miller.

In January 1945, he was transferred to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and in May 1945, he was assigned to the hospital ship, USS Consolation, a Haven-class hospital ship used for hospital services, consultations, preventive medicine and casualty evacuation. In 1960, this ship was renamed SS Hope and was used throughout the world for health treatments. Ensign Prescott was in Honolulu when the Japanese surrendered September 2, 1945. His ship was used to transport POW's from the Bataan Death March back to the U.S.A. Ensign Prescott was discharged from military service at Memphis, TN in 1946. Prescott is proud to have served his country.

Ensign Prescott used the G.I. Bill to complete requirements for a B.S. Degree in Biology from Birmingham Southern College and a Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of AL. He worked in general practice of medicine at Lineville, AL, 1954 -1958 and at Bessemer,AL 1958-1964.

Ensign Prescott completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1964. He practiced psychiatry at Montgomery, AL, at Jackson Hospital, Baptist South Medical Center and Meadhaven 1964-1996.

Ensign Prescott and his wife, Nell, were married 77 years before she passed away, and they had three daughters, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They were members of the Montgomery Symphony League and First Baptist Church at Montgomery where he served as a deacon. He continued playing in musical groups in Montgomery including the Recreators, the Capitol Sounds and the Upbeats.