Jake Larson, D-Day Veteran and TikTok Star, Dies at 102
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D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake’ Larson dies aged 102
‘Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17 at 102 years young,” granddaughter McKaela Larson posted on his social media accounts. Mr Larson 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. His service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honour award. 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. ‘We have the responsibility to honour these guys who gave us a chance to be alive’, Mr Larson told The Associated Press in June. He also had a message to world leaders: “Make peace not war”
Tributes to the veteran quickly filled his Story Time With Papa Jake TikTok account from across the US, where he had been living in Lafayette, California.
‘Papa Jake’ Larson shared stories to commemorate the Second World War (Thomas Padilla/AP)
Towns around Normandy, still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis in the Second World War, paid homage to him too.
“Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17 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 on December 20 1922 in Owatonna, Minnesota, Mr Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age as 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.
Mr Larson 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 cliffs that overlook the beach, then studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers.
“We are the lucky ones,” Mr Larson told The Associated Press (AP) at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June.
“We are their family. We have the responsibility to honour these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.”
Mr Larson’s service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honour award (Eric Risberg/AP)
Mr Larson went on to fight through the Battle of the Bulge, a gruelling 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 Honour award.
In recent years, Mr 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 big hugs.
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,” Mr Larson told Mr Gladden, their hands clasped tightly. Mr Gladden died the following year.
In his TikTok posts and interviews, Mr Larson combined humorous anecdotes with sombre reminders about the horrors of war.
Reflecting to AP on the three years he was in Europe, Mr Larson said he was “no hero”. Speaking in 2024, he also had a message to world leaders: “Make peace not war.”
Mr Larson made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations in recent years (Eric Risberg/AP)
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 honour D-Day’s veterans and fallen shared tributes online to Mr 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.”
D-Day veteran war hero and TikTok star who survived German gunfire on Normandy beaches dies aged 102
Papa Jake Larson survived German gunfire on Normandy beaches in 1944. He then gained over 1.2 million followers by sharing stories to commemorate World War II and his fallen comrades. The war hero’s grieving granddaughter McKaela announced his death on social media, sharing how he passed ‘peacefully’ on Thursday. She wrote: “An animated speaker who charmed strangers young and old with his quick smile and generous hugs, the self-described country boy from Minnesota was cracking jokes til the end” He was born in 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, and enlisted in the National Guard in 1938. In 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland before becoming operations sergeant and assembling the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. He was among the nearly 160,000 brave allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
HERO GONE D-Day veteran war hero and TikTok star who survived German gunfire on Normandy beaches dies aged 102
A D-DAY veteran war hero who became a TikTok sensation late in life has died aged 102.
Papa Jake Larson survived German gunfire on Normandy beaches in 1944 and then gained over 1.2 million followers by sharing stories to commemorate World War II and his fallen comrades.
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4 D-Day veteran Jake Larson poses before going for a ride in the ‘The Spirit of Benovia’ World War II-era aircraft in 2019 Credit: AP
4 Larson is greeted by pilot Joe Anderson, left, before going for a ride in the aircraft Credit: AP:Associated Press
4 World War II veteran Jake Larson meets youths during ceremonies at the US cemetery to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings Credit: AP
The war hero’s grieving granddaughter McKaela announced his death on social media, sharing how he passed “peacefully” on Thursday.
She wrote: “An animated speaker who charmed strangers young and old with his quick smile and generous hugs, the self-described country boy from Minnesota was cracking jokes til the end.”
McKaela added: “As Papa would say, love you all the mostest.”
Tributes have poured into his Story Time with Papa Jake TikTok account.
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Meanwhile towns around Normandy, still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis in World War II, paid him homage too.
Born in 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938.
The war hero had lied about his age as he was just 15 years old at the time.
In 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland before becoming operations sergeant and assembling the planning books for the invasion of Normandy.
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He was among the nearly 160,000 brave allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach.
Larson said at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June: “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.”
Nazi Hunters Thomas Will Ludwigsburg Germany Robin Perrie
It represents one of the defining moments of the war and of evil Hitler’s defeat.
Larson’s incredible service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honor award.
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In recent years, Larson made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations and at every stop.
And since gaining social media popularity too, Papa Jake was greeted by people asking for a selfie – but offered big hugs instead.
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.
He told Gladden as they held hands: “I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet.”
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Gladden passed away the following year.
In his TikTok posts that have accumulated hundreds of thousands of views and likes, Larson combined humorous anecdotes with somber reminders about the horrors of war.
Speaking of his social media fame in 2023, he said: “I’m just a country boy. Now I’m a star on TikTok. I’m a legend! I didn’t plan this, it came about.”
Larson has previously refused to call himself a “hero” and asked world leaders to “make peace not war”.
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“Papa Jake,” D-Day veteran and beloved TikTok star, dies at 102
“Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young,” granddaughter McKaela Larson posted on his social media accounts. Larson was among the nearly 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He survived machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach, then studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers. Larson said he lied about his age when he was 15 years old to enlist in the National Guard in 1938. 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. “I’m just a country boy. Now I’m a star on TikTok,” he told AP in 2023, “I didn’t plan it, I didn’t intend to be a legend!” he said in an interview. “We are the lucky ones,” Larson told The Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D- Day in June.
An animated speaker who charmed strangers young and old with his quick smile and generous hugs, the self-described country boy from Hope Township, Minnesota, was “cracking jokes til the end,” his granddaughter wrote in announcing his death.
Tributes to him quickly filled his “Story Time with Papa Jake” TikTok account from across the United States, where he had been living in Lafayette, California. Towns around Normandy, still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis in World War II, paid him homage too.
FILE – In this photo taken April 29, 2019, D-Day veteran Jake Larson poses before going for a ride in the “The Spirit of Benovia” World War II-era aircraft in Oakland, California. Eric Risberg / AP
“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 grew up during the Great Depression and, at times, he had no electricity or running water, he told CBS Minnesota. Larson said he lied about his age when he was 15 years old to enlist in the National Guard in 1938.
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.
Larson learned to type with a typewriter in school, and when he was sent to France, he knew about typewriters as much as he knew about guns.
“It changed my life. It raised me right up to the top,” he told CBS Minnesota in an interview prior to his death. “Every person that landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, came through these fingers. These fingers I’m showing you right now.”
FILE – U.S. veteran SSgt. Jake M. Larson talks to a girl who wears an American flag around her neck during a gathering in preparation of the 79th D-Day anniversary in La Fiere, Normandy, France, June 4, 2023. Thomas Padilla / AP
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. Larson outlived many soldiers who were with him that day.
“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.”
Jake Larson, a WWII veteran who became a TikTok star as ‘Papa Jake’, has died at 102
Jake Larson, a WWII veteran who became a TikTok star as ‘Papa Jake’, has died at 102. Larson was one of 34,000 Allied soldiers to storm Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of German-occupied Normandy. His recollections of the moment he landed on Omaha Beach, as well as other memories of fighting in the war have garnered millions of views across different social media platforms. His TikTok page, with the handle @storytimewithpapajake, has 1.2 million followers and his posts have more than 11 million likes. He also has more than 16,000 subscribers on YouTube.
toggle caption Thomas Padilla/AP
Jake Larson, a beloved World War II veteran and social media star known as “Papa Jake” who captivated millions with his stories, has died. He was 102 years old.
Papa Jake died “peacefully and was even cracking jokes til the very end,” his granddaughter Mckaela Larson wrote on a TikTok post Saturday .
“I am so thankful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all. You meant the world to him,” she continued. “When the time is right, I will continue to share Papa Jake’s stories and keep his memory alive. We appreciate all the kind words and posts. As Papa would say, love you all the mostest.”
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Born in Owatonna, Minn. on Dec. 20, 1922, Larson joined the Minnesota National Guard when he was just 15 years old by claiming he was 18. He was then assigned to the U.S. Army’s 135th Infantry Regiment in the 34th Infantry Division — which is known as the “Red Bull.”
toggle caption Eric Risberg/AP
During WWII, Larson was deployed to Ireland, and then on June 6, 1944, he was one of 34,000 Allied soldiers to storm Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of German-occupied Normandy.
In recent years, Larson’s posts on social media, with the help of his family, have gained him a global following. His TikTok page, with the handle @storytimewithpapajake, has 1.2 million followers and his posts have more than 11 million likes. He also has more than 16,000 subscribers on YouTube.
His recollections of the moment he landed on Omaha Beach — where he escaped enemy machine gun fire — as well as other memories of fighting in the war have garnered millions of views across different social media platforms.
“It seemed like that the landing was an eternity, with all the firing going on…. I can’t describe it. And people say, ‘Were you scared?’ I was scared of stepping on a landmine, and that’s what I was trying to prevent,” Larson said in a video posted by the U.S. Army last month. “I was 5 foot 7 at that time. I weighed 120 pounds and I said, ‘Thank God the Germans aren’t good at shooting at toothpicks’.”
toggle caption U.S. Army photo/U.S. Army
Larson understood that the fight came at a cost and tremendous sacrifice. At least 2,400 American troops died during the invasion on Omaha Beach.
“There’s going to be casualties but we’re willing to risk that. We had to get this done. We had to relieve the world of this guy called Hitler,” Papa Jake also recalled in the video.
D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake’ Larson dies at 102
The self-described country boy from Minnesota was ‘’cracking jokes til the end,’’ his granddaughter, McKaela Larson, wrote in announcing his death. Tributes to him quickly filled his “Story Time with Papa Jake’ TikTok account from across the United States. Towns around Normandy, still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis in World War II, paid him homage too. 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 advanced on to participate in 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. He often called himself “the luckiest man in the world,” and expressed awe at all the attention he was getting.
An animated speaker who charmed strangers young and old with his quick smile and generous hugs, the self-described country boy from Minnesota was ‘’cracking jokes til the end,’’ his granddaughter, McKaela Larson, wrote in announcing his death.
PARIS — D-Day veteran ″Papa Jake″ Larson, who survived German gunfire on Normandy’s bluffs in 1944 and then garnered 1.2 million followers on TikTok late in life by sharing stories to commemorate World War II and his fallen comrades, has died at 102.
“As Papa would say, love you all the mostest,” his granddaughter posted on his social media accounts.
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Mr. Larson in 2019, before going for a ride in the “The Spirit of Benovia” World War II-era aircraft in Oakland, Calif. Eric Risberg/Associated Press
Born Dec. 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minn., Mr. Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15. 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.
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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.
“We are the lucky ones,” Mr. 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.
Advertisement
“We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.”
He advanced on to participate in 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, he 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.
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,” Mr. Larson told Gladden, as their handsclasped tightly. Gladden died the following year.
In his TikTok posts and interviews, Mr. Larson combined humorous anecdotes with somber reminders about the horrors of war.
In addition to the invasion of Normandy, Mr. Larson fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Eric Risberg/Associated Press
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 said in 2023.
Small-town museums and groups around Normandy that work to honor D-Day’s heroes and fallen shared tributes online.
Advertisement
“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.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/20/us/papa-jake-larson-dies-ww2.html