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The Coffee County Commission presented World War II veteran James Fennell with a proclamation during its Oct. 1 meeting recognizing him on the occasion of his 100^th birthday, Aug. 12.

Fennell humbly accepted the award during the meeting.

“I don’t know what all the big deal is about me,” he said. “I didn’t do nothing.”

Coffee County Mayor Dennis Hunt said Fennell lived an interesting life.

According to the resolution read aloud during the meeting, Fennell was one of nine siblings born a century ago to a Warren County family.

Fennell trained at Camp Forrest in Coffee County after his 1942 induction into the Army. While fighting in the European Theater during WWII, Fennell was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Germany before escaping to return to his unit.

Fennell worked in Kalamazoo, Michigan for 36 years and then returned to Coffee County upon retirement.

Fennell was described as an avid gardener, reader and often drives to visit family.