He became an unexpected social media star when his granddaughter opened a TikTok account in his name. Photo: Jake Larson/Instagram
Jake Larson, a World War II veteran who had over 1.2 million followers on TikTok, has died at the age of 102, as announced by his granddaughter on social media.
Affectionately known online as "Papa Jake," Larson helped plan the Normandy landings and stormed Omaha Beach in Normandy, France.
He became an unexpected social media star when his granddaughter opened a TikTok account in his name, followed by his autobiography.
"Our beloved Papa Jake passed away on July 17th at the age of 102. Please know that he went peacefully and continued to make jokes until the very end," his granddaughter, McKaela Larson, wrote on Instagram.
"At this time, my family and I are asking for some privacy as we process this loss."
"I am so grateful that I got to share my Papa Jake with all of you. You were the world to him. When the time is right, I will continue to share Papa Jake's stories and keep his memory alive," she added.
"We appreciate all of your kind words and posts. As Papa would say, I love you a bushel and a peck."
Born on December 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson grew up on a farm without electricity or running water during the Great Depression.
He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938 at the age of 15, lying about his age, according to the Best Defense Foundation.
His unit was transferred to federal service in 1941 following Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
In January 1942, he was sent overseas and stationed in Northern Ireland. He became an operations sergeant and prepared plans for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy.
Larson was among the Allied troops who stormed the Normandy coast on June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire as he landed on Omaha Beach. He made it unscathed to the bluffs overlooking the beach, then littered with German artillery positions that mowed down American soldiers.
After D-Day, he fought during the Battle of the Bulge. He and his beloved Lola later settled in California, where they raised a family after the war.
In 2020, his granddaughter started a TikTok account, "storytimewithpapajake," through which he amassed online fame.
In 2021, he wrote an autobiography titled The Luckiest Man Alive: Stories From Papa Jake's Life.
Larson returned to Normandy for several commemorative celebrations and for the anniversary of D-Day in recent years. – Adnkronos International/Tribune News Service
