D-Day hero and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake’ Larson dies at 102
AP:
Jake Larson, fondly known as “Papa Jake,” a D-Day veteran who captured hearts worldwide by sharing stories of World War II and honoring his fallen comrades on TikTok, has died at the age of 102.
Larson, who survived German gunfire while landing on Omaha Beach during the 1944 D-Day invasion, passed away peacefully on July 17, his granddaughter McKaela Larson announced on his social media accounts. “He went peacefully,” she wrote, adding, “As Papa would say, love you all the mostest.”
Despite his harrowing wartime past, Larson was known for his charm, warmth, and humor. His storytelling endeared him to a younger generation, amassing 1.2 million followers on TikTok through his “Story Time with Papa Jake” series. Tributes poured in from across the United States and towns in Normandy, where he remained a beloved figure.
Born on December 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson lied about his age to join the National Guard at just 15. He was deployed to Northern Ireland in 1942 and later became an operations sergeant, helping to plan the Allied invasion of Normandy.
On June 6, 1944, Larson was among the 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy. He landed on Omaha Beach under heavy German machine-gun fire but survived without injury and reached the bluffs above — then heavily fortified with German emplacements.
Speaking to the Associated Press during the 81st D-Day anniversary this past June, Larson reflected on his duty: “We are the lucky ones. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.”
He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, one of the war’s most grueling campaigns, and was later awarded the Bronze Star and France’s prestigious Legion of Honor.
In recent years, Larson returned regularly to Normandy for D-Day commemorations. He was always met with admiration and gratitude — and countless selfie requests, to which he responded with heartfelt hugs. In a memorable moment in 2023, he embraced fellow D-Day veteran Bill Gladden, then 99, saying, “We were meant to meet.” Gladden passed away the following year.
Larson’s TikTok videos blended light-hearted jokes with sobering reflections on the cost of war. “I’m no hero,” he once said. And in a message to global leaders in 2024, he urged: “Make peace, not war.”
He often marveled at his fame late in life. “I’m just a country boy. Now I’m a star on TikTok,” he told AP in 2023. “I’m a legend! I didn’t plan this — it came about.”
Across Normandy, local museums and remembrance groups paid tribute to Larson, whom they described as an “exceptional witness” to history.
“He came every year to the museum, with his smile, his humility, and his tales that touched all generations,” read a post from the Overlord Museum. “His stories will continue to live. Rest in peace, Papa Jake. Thanks for everything.”