Jake Larson, better known to the internet as “Papa Jake,” passed away on July 17, 2025, at the age of 102. His death marks the end of a story that began in a small Minnesota town and stretched across history—from the beaches of Normandy during World War II to viral TikTok screens viewed by millions worldwide.
Born on December 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Jake grew up during the Great Depression on a farm without electricity or running water. At just 15 years old, he lied about his age to enlist in the Minnesota National Guard in 1938.
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, his unit was moved into federal service, and Jake was eventually sent overseas in January 1942. He was stationed in Northern Ireland and soon found himself in a key role—working on one of the most important military operations in history.
Jake became the operations sergeant responsible for assembling the planning books for Operation Overlord, the codename for the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France. On June 6, 1944, the day known as D-Day, he was among the nearly 160,000 Allied troops who landed on Normandy’s shores.
He landed on Omaha Beach under heavy German fire and somehow survived the chaos without a scratch.
“I was scared of stepping on a landmine… I was 5 foot 7 and weighed 120 pounds. Thank God the Germans weren’t good at shooting at toothpicks.”
Reflecting on that day decades later, he remembered.
Jake wasn’t just present at the invasion—he was involved in planning it. In one TikTok video, he proudly explained, “I worked on the top-secret invasion. The highest form of secrecy you could get. What an honor for a country boy.”
After D-Day, he continued fighting through the brutal Battle of the Bulge, a month-long winter conflict that became a turning point in the war. For his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star by the U.S. Army and the French Legion of Honor, France’s highest military award.
But what made Papa Jake truly unforgettable to a new generation wasn’t just his service—it was the way he shared it. In 2020, his granddaughter McKaela created a TikTok account called @storytimewithpapajake.
It started as a way to record his stories, but quickly grew into something much bigger. By 2025, Jake had over 1.2 million followers and more than 11 million likes. His posts were a mix of humor, history, and heartfelt reminders about sacrifice and freedom. At 100 years old, he even walked McKaela down the aisle—sharing the moment with his fans.
“We are the lucky ones. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.”
In one of his last appearances, during the 81st anniversary of D-Day in France, he stood before the rows of American graves and said.
He never stopped honoring the fallen. He regularly returned to Normandy for D-Day memorials, where people of all ages greeted him like a celebrity—often asking for selfies. He was always quick with a smile, a hug, or a joke.
“I’m just a country boy. Now I’m a star on TikTok. I’m a legend! I didn’t plan this, it came about.”
he once said.
One especially touching moment came in 2023, when Papa Jake met Bill Gladden, a 99-year-old British D-Day veteran. Gladden had survived a glider crash and a gunshot wound during the war. When the two men met, Papa Jake said with tears in his eyes, “We were meant to meet.” They clasped hands—two soldiers from opposite sides of the channel, joined by a shared past. Gladden died the following year.
Despite his fame, Jake never saw himself as a hero. He often reminded people, “Those guys upstairs looking down at us—they’re the heroes. None of us ever thought we’d be heroes.”
On this past Independence Day, he told Fox News Digital, “God bless all those guys that served… Their souls are looking down at me now.”
His granddaughter confirmed his peaceful passing on TikTok, saying, “He went peacefully and was even cracking jokes til the very end.” She thanked the community for the outpouring of support and promised to keep sharing his stories in time.
“As Papa would say, love you all the mostest.”
Papa Jake also recently received an Emmy for his interview with journalist Christiane Amanpour about D-Day. His autobiography, The Luckiest Man in the World, was published in 2021. The title captured his spirit well—he always called himself lucky to have survived, lucky to have served, and lucky to have lived to tell the tale.
His story has touched millions and reminded people of the human side of war—not just dates and battles, but memories, emotions, and lives forever changed. From dodging bullets on a beach in 1944 to becoming a viral sensation 80 years later, Papa Jake’s journey is not only remarkable—it’s unforgettable.
Rest in peace, Papa Jake. Your stories will live on.