'Papa Jake' Larson, WWII veteran and TikTok star, dies
Share this @internewscast.com

Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 at the time.

PARIS, France — Jake Larson, affectionately known as “Papa Jake,” a D-Day veteran who bravely faced German fire on the cliffs of Normandy in 1944, later captivated 1.2 million TikTok followers by sharing his World War II stories and honoring his fallen comrades, has passed away at the age of 102.

Known for his engaging storytelling, Jake was beloved by many for his infectious smile and warm hugs. A proud Minnesotan country boy, he maintained his sense of humor until his final days, as his granddaughter expressed when announcing his passing.

Tributes poured in on his popular TikTok account, “Story Time with Papa Jake,” from fans all over the U.S., where he had been residing in Lafayette, California. Communities in Normandy, still appreciative of the Allied efforts that liberated them from Nazi occupation in World War II, also paid their respects.

“Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young,” granddaughter McKaela Larson posted on his social media accounts. “He went peacefully.”

“As Papa would say, love you all the mostest,” she wrote.

Born Dec. 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15 at the time. In 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy.

He was among the nearly 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach. He made it unhurt to the bluffs that overlook the beach, then studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers.

“We are the lucky ones,” Larson told The Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, speaking amid the immaculate rows of graves at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach.

“We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.”

He went on to fight through the Battle of the Bulge, a grueling month-long fight in Belgium and Luxembourg that was one of the defining moments of the war and of Hitler’s defeat. His service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honor award.

In recent years, Larson made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations — and at every stop, “Papa Jake” was greeted by people asking for a selfie. In return, he offered up a big hug, to their greatest joy.

One memorable encounter came in 2023, when he came across Bill Gladden, a then-99-year-old British veteran who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle.

“I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet,” Larson told Gladden, as their hands, lined and spotted with age, clasped tightly. Gladden died the following year.

In his TikTok posts and interviews, Larson combined humorous anecdotes with somber reminders about the horrors of war.

Reflecting to AP on the three years he was in Europe, Larson said he is “no hero.” Speaking in 2024, he also had a message to world leaders: “Make peace not war.”

He often called himself “the luckiest man in the world,” and expressed awe at all the attention he was getting. “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.”

Small-town museums and groups around Normandy that work to honor D-Day’s heroes and fallen shared tributes online to Larson, one of their most loyal visitors.

“He was an exceptional witness and bearer of memory,” the Overlord Museum posted on Facebook.

“He came every year to the museum, with his smile, his humility and his tales that touched all generations. His stories will continue to live. Rest in peace Papa Jake,” it read.

“Thanks for everything.”

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Gaza flotilla: Activists including Greta Thunberg say Israeli navy has begun intercepting a Gaza-bound aid flotilla

Gaza Flotilla: Activists, Including Greta Thunberg, Report Interception by Israeli Navy

BARCELONA, Spain — Activists traveling on a flotilla of vessels headed towards…
Federal agents raid Dallas strip club, arrest 41 illegal immigrants in human trafficking investigation

Federal Agents Conduct Raid on Dallas Strip Club, Arrest 41 in Human Trafficking Probe

Federal agents lifted the veil at a Dallas strip club, apprehending dozens…
Two Delta regional jets collide on taxiway at LaGuardia Airport; 1 injured

Two Delta Regional Jets Collide on LaGuardia Airport Taxiway; One Person Injured

Two Canadair jets operated by Endeavor Air, a subsidiary of Delta Air…
Health insurance costs for 22 million in limbo as shutdown begins

22 Million Face Uncertainty Over Health Insurance Costs as Government Shutdown Starts

The first government shutdown since 2019 has begun, and Republican leaders say…
A prolonged US government shutdown could impact your travel plans

Extended US Government Shutdown May Disrupt Your Travel Arrangements

If a U.S. government shutdown persists, it might disrupt travel plans, potentially…
Michigan church shooter's family reacts to viral fundraising effort by community faith members

Family of Michigan Church Shooter Responds to Viral Community Fundraising Effort

The relatives of Thomas Jacob Sanford, responsible for a tragic shooting at…
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy students to travel from Lakeview, Chicago to Vatican City for audience with Pope Leo XIV

Students from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in Lakeview, Chicago to Visit Vatican City for a Meeting with Pope Leo XIV

CHICAGO (WLS) — On Wednesday, a group of traveling students from Our…
Morgan Wallen denied throwing chair off bar roof to police in 2024, footage shows

Morgan Wallen Dismisses Allegations of Throwing Chair from Bar Roof in 2024, Video Evidence Emerges

Country music star Morgan Wallen, who was arrested and charged with reckless…
Pope Leo XIV intervenes in US abortion debate, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich giving award to Illinois Senator Dick Durbin

Pope Leo XIV Weighs in on US Abortion Discussion as Chicago Cardinal Cupich Honors Senator Durbin

ROME — Pope Leo XIV has made his first intervention in an…
Carnival ride malfunction

Carnival Ride Malfunction Leaves Passengers Hanging at School Event: Watch the Video

A Carnival ride in California malfunctioned during a high school event, causing…
Chicago immigration raids: Family 'unlawfully' detained by ICE at Millennium Park now separated, court filing argues

Chicago Immigration Raid: Court Documents Allege Family Detained ‘Illegally’ by ICE at Millennium Park Now Divided

CHICAGO (WLS) — The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) has taken legal…
Charlie Kirk assassination: Exclusive photos show path to campus rooftop weeks later as access scrutinized

Charlie Kirk Incident: New Photos Reveal Route to Campus Rooftop Amid Security Review

“Many campus police departments do not have drone programs, which poses a…