Staff Sgt. Jake Larson, better known as Papa Jake, went from landing at Normandy on D-Day to amassing over one million followers on TikTok. Larson referred to himself as “The Luckiest Man in the World,” a fitting name, given that he also survived the Battle of the Bulge, lived past 100, and even won an Emmy.
With his passing, let’s reflect on the incredible life of Papa Jake.
Larson was born on December 20, 1922, in rural Hope, Minnesota. Growing up through the Great Depression, he lied about his age and joined the National Guard in 1938 at the age of 15. During World War II, Larson was sent to the European Theater, where he was able to apply a special skill: typing.
You think doing the weekly PowerPoint brief or five-paragraph order is tough? Try typing up the plan for the invasion of Normandy.
Leading up to D-Day, one of Larson’s assignments was to type the names of all the soldiers who would land on Omaha Beach…including his own. “Every person who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day…came through these fingers,” Larson told CBS at the age of 101. With the plan finalized, Larson and his comrades executed it and stormed the beach.
“It was hell,” he said of the landing. “That whole beach under us had over 1 million land mines planted.”
After making it to the sea wall, Larson set up a command post to coordinate the push inland.
Larson served throughout the entirety of the war and, miraculously, survived it unscathed. Upon his return to the U.S., Larson settled in California’s Bay Area, where he raised his family with his sweetheart, Lola. Well into retirement and with the help of his granddaughter, Larson found a new calling on social media where he shared “Stories from a WW2 Vet.”
At the time of his passing, Larson had 1.2 million followers and 11 million likes on his TikTok account, @storytimewithpapajake. Sharing stories from WWII, Larson’s videos connect young people to the greatest generation, especially those who didn’t make it home. “I feel like I’m a messenger for these guys that gave their life,” he told CBS.
Following his TikTok fame, Larson was honored by the San Francisco Giants with a first pitch, by the Anaheim Ducks with a signed jersey, and even by Disneyland with an extra special flag retreat ceremony. It was the long-time Californian’s first visit to the park, and he was made an “Honorary Citizen of Disneyland.”
For his interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Larson was awarded an Emmy.
As a D-Day survivor, Larson returned to Normandy for the 75th, 79th, 80th, and 81st anniversaries of the invasion. Papa Jake’s TikTok also includes family moments; notably, Papa Jake walking granddaughter McKaela down the aisle at her wedding and dancing with her at the reception.
However, Papa Jake’s most popular video is his reaction to an AI filter that brought a picture of his beloved Lola back to life. “This past November 23rd, we would have been married 75 years,” Larson said through his tears in the April 2021 video. “…and I still love her.”
On July 17, 2025, Papa Jake passed away peacefully, even cracking jokes. Social media saw an outpouring of love and support for the veteran. Highlighting the French appreciation for D-Day vets, the Normandy, France tourism Facebook account posted:
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jake Larson ‘Papa Jake’, at 102 years old. A true American hero, beloved D-Day veteran and TikTok star, Jake landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy on 6th June 1944, and dedicated his life to honoring the memory of his fallen brothers. Jake returned to Normandy one last time early June, and spent a whole week sharing his stories with the school children and young people of the region. He will never be forgotten.”
Papa Jake Larson leaves behind a legacy of a free world, a loving family, and a grateful nation that better understands the sacrifices that he and so many others made for the freedoms we enjoy today. In his 2025 Memorial Day video, Papa Jake told his viewers, “…you continuing to honor those guys is a great help. That’s the object of my staying here.” With Papa Jake gone, it’s up to us to continue his work and honor veterans like him, keeping their memories alive.
