AMERICAN HERO: WWII veteran and beloved TikTok star “Papa Jake” Larson has died

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From Politico: D-Day veteran ″Papa Jake″ Larson, who survived German gunfire on Normandy’s bluffs in 1944 and 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.

Tributes for “Story Time with Papa Jake” poured in from followers across the United States, where he had been living in Lafayette, CA., and from towns around Normandy still grateful to Allied forces who helped defeat the occupying Nazis.

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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 January 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 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.

After D-Day, he fought on through the Battle of the Bulge.

In recent years, Larson became a beloved hero across the nation, as his family set up a TikTok account and posted videos of his stories.

One video from last year has gone extremely viral, with over 4 million views, as he praised TikTok for allowing him to share his stories with people around the world.

Larson’s granddaughter announced the sad news in a post on Sunday that Papa Jake has passed away. She wrote:

It’s with a heavy heart that I have to make this announcement. ‌Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young. Please know, he went peacefully and was even cracking jokes til the very end. ‌

At this time the family and I ask for some privacy as we process this loss. ‌
I am so thankful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all. You meant the world to him. ‌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. ❤️ ‌

-McKaela Larson, Papa Jake’s Granddaughter ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

While in Normandy, France in June 2024, Larson was interviewed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Amanpour won an Emmy for her interview with Larson earlier this month, and shared the honor with Larson.

Below is the interview:

Reacting to the news of Larson’s death, Amanpour wrote on X on Saturday, “So sorry to hear this. They really don’t make them like Jake Larson anymore. The sacrifices he made with his Band of Brothers in WWII, and the joy he lived throughout his long life, offer an example to us all. RIP.”

READ MORE from Politico.

The DML News App just published a report about “Papa Jake” on July 4, as he shared a message about the significance of Independence Day.

WATCH: Viral 102-year-old WWII veteran has message about America

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The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp

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