JOHN COFFELTEditor

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 100th 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.”

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.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.