D-Day Veteran And TikTok Star ‘Papa Jake’ Larson Dies At 102.
Jake Larson, a revered World War II veteran who survived the harrowing D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach and later captivated millions as the TikTok sensation “Papa Jake,” passed away peacefully on Thursday, 17 July 2025, at his home in Lafayette, California. He was 102. His granddaughter, McKaela Larson, confirmed his death, noting that he remained his jovial self, “cracking jokes till the very end.”
Born on 20 December 1922 in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson enlisted in the National Guard at the tender age of 15, fibbing about his age to join in 1938. By 1942, he was stationed in Northern Ireland, where he rose to the rank of operations sergeant and played a pivotal role in assembling the planning books for Operation Overlord, the codename for the Normandy invasion. On 6 June 1944, Larson was among the 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the Normandy coast, enduring relentless German machine-gun fire to reach the bluffs overlooking Omaha Beach unscathed. He later fought through the brutal Battle of the Bulge, a defining moment in the war that hastened Hitler’s defeat.
Larson’s wartime contributions earned him a Bronze Star from the U.S. Army and France’s prestigious Legion of Honour. Yet, it was his heartfelt humility that resonated most. “We are the lucky ones,” he told The Associated Press in June 2025, standing amidst the rows of graves at the Normandy American Cemetery. “We are their family. We have the responsibility to honour these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.”
In his later years, Larson became an unexpected social media star. With the help of his granddaughter, he launched the TikTok account “Story Time with Papa Jake” in 2020, amassing 1.2 million followers and over 11 million likes. His candid recollections of D-Day, peppered with humour and sobering reflections on the horrors of war, struck a chord with audiences worldwide. “I’m just a country boy. Now I’m a star on TikTok,” he marvelled in a 2023 interview with The Associated Press. “I’m a legend! I didn’t plan this, it came about.” Larson also shared his stories on YouTube, where he had over 16,000 subscribers, and in his 2021 autobiography, *The Luckiest Man in the World: Stories from the Life of Papa Jake*.
Larson’s infectious warmth and quick smile made him a beloved figure at Normandy commemorations, where he was a regular visitor. The Overlord Museum in Normandy paid tribute, calling him “an exceptional witness and bearer of memory” whose annual visits, filled with humility and tales that touched all generations, left an indelible mark. His message to world leaders in 2024 was simple yet profound: “Make peace, not war.”
Tributes poured in from across the United States and Normandy, where small-town museums and communities honoured his legacy. Larson, who described himself as “no hero,” leaves behind a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation. His granddaughter vowed to keep his stories alive, ensuring that Papa Jake’s legacy endures. “I am so thankful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all,” she wrote on social media. “As Papa would say, love you all the mostest.”