A D-Day veteran who grew to become a social media star in his later years has died on the age of 102.
“Papa Jake” Larson survived German gunfire within the June 1944 landings after which garnered 1.2million followers sharing tales on TikTok to commemorate Second World Battle and his fallen comrades.
Sharing the information of his loss of life on the platform that discovered his legions of recent followers, ‘Story time with Papa Jake’, his granddaughter McKaela Larson stated he “went peacefully and was even cracking jokes ’til the very finish”.
“I’m so grateful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all,” she continued. “You meant the world to him.
“When the time is correct, I’ll proceed to share Papa Jake’s tales and hold his reminiscence alive. We recognize all the sort phrases and posts. As Papa would say, love you all of the mostest.”
Born on 20 December 1922 in Minnesota, US, Larson enlisted within the Nationwide Guard in 1938, mendacity about his age as he was solely 15 on the time. In 1942, 4 years later, he was despatched abroad and was stationed in Northern Eire.
He grew to become operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy.
He was among the many practically 160,000 Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, surviving machine-gun hearth when he landed on Omaha Seaside.
“We’re the fortunate ones,” Larson instructed The Related Press (AP) on the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, talking amid the stainless rows of graves on the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Seaside.
“We’re their household. We have now the accountability to honour these guys who gave us an opportunity to be alive.”
Larson greets schoolchildren throughout a go to in June 2025 to Colleville-sur-Mer, to the Normandy American Cemetery. Pic: AP
His service throughout the struggle earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honour award.
In his TikTok posts and interviews, Larson mixed humorous anecdotes with sombre reminders concerning the horrors of struggle.
Within the wake of his loss of life, small-town museums and teams round Normandy that work to honour D-Day heroes shared tributes to Larson, one among their most loyal guests.
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Larson died aged 102. Pic: AP
“He got here yearly to the museum, together with his smile, his humility and his tales that touched all generations,” the Overlord Museum posted on Fb.
“His tales will proceed to reside. Relaxation in peace Papa Jake.”
