An emotional Moddie was visited by many staff members and friends during the celebration. He said he was very happy with the party. “I’ve been here six years now. I know them all,” he said.

He had no secret to his longevity — but said he drinks milk three times a day.

Moddie received a certificate of honor and coin from Douglas A. Collins, secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, Jodi Ouellette, on behalf of U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, presented him with a flag and a copy of a congressional record Bergman would be reading on the congressional floor.

“This is to honor your service, sacrifice to our country and, of course, your 100th birthday,” she said.

Former World War II prisoner of war John Moddie was all smiles during a celebration Wednesday in honor of his 100th birthday at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

“Obviously you don’t get people every day that make it to 100 years old, so this is just very special for us to be able to honor him and his life of service and just really take time to honor him for everything he’s done for us as a nation and as a people,” said Dr. John Shealey, director of the VA medical center. “We’re just so glad to be able to do that. Mr. Moddie’s just a great guy. You can never fully show your appreciation. He’s a great, great human being that’s done so much, not just his military service, but he’s been involved in our community, involved in all aspects of life in our community. And it’s just a small way that we can say ‘thank you’ to him.”

In attendance were daughter Betty Ann Stewart of Norway and son Gary of Iron Mountain.

“This is wonderful. He’s never had such a big party. He’s just really happy,” Stewart said.

“We’re very grateful that he made it to 100 and he survived World War II,” his son added.

Moddie enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 1943 at age 18 and served in B Battery, 590th Field Artillery Battalion, 106th Infantry Division, where he trained to operate a 105 mm howitzer. He took part in the Battle of the Bulge. While in Germany, he was taken captive on Dec. 19, 1944, and remained a prisoner of war until April 2, 1945. When he was liberated, he weighed barely 85 pounds.

The Niagara, Wis., native later returned to the area. He married his wife, Betty, in 1971 and they lived in Quinnesec until her death in 2019.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.