"Papa Jake," WWII Veteran and Social Media Star, Dies at 102

World War II veteran Jake Larson, known as "Papa Jake," has died at 102. Larson gained a global following on social media with his stories of the war, including his deployment to Ireland and the D-Day invasion of Normandy. His TikTok page, @storytimewithpapajake, has 1.2 million followers, and his recollections of the war have garnered millions of views across different platforms. Larson was born in Minnesota in 1922 and joined the Minnesota National Guard at 15, claiming he was 18.

World War II veteran Jake Larson, affectionately known as "Papa Jake," has passed away at the age of 102. Larson, who gained a significant global following on social media, was a prominent figure in the online community for sharing his experiences from the war, including his deployment to Ireland and the D-Day invasion of Normandy. His TikTok page, @storytimewithpapajake, amassed over 1.2 million followers, with his recollections of the war garnering millions of views across various platforms.

Born in Owatonna, Minnesota, in 1922, Larson joined the Minnesota National Guard at the age of 15, falsely claiming he was 18. He was stationed in Northern Ireland in 1942 and served as operations sergeant, assembling planning books for the invasion of Normandy. Larson 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 continued to fight through the Battle of the Bulge and made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations in recent years.

Larson's social media presence brought his stories to a new generation, educating millions about the war and the sacrifices made by his comrades. His granddaughter, McKaela Larson, posted on his social media accounts that he died peacefully on July 17th, 2025, at 102 years old, and that he was even cracking jokes until the very end.

Larson's life and contributions to history have left a lasting impact on many. His son, Karlan Larson, expressed pride in his father's Emmy award, which was shared with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, and stated that the award would be proudly displayed in the family home and handed down to future generations.

References:
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/19/us/jake-larson-world-war-ii-veteran-dead
[2] https://apnews.com/article/papa-jake-dday-veteran-dies-wwii-8906a687582476a0c9a11e1a763afd2d