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| WWII vet Papa Jake dies at 102 |
Jake Larson, known online as “Papa Jake,” died peacefully on July 17, 2025. He was 102 years old .
Larson was born December 20, 1922, on a farm in Owatonna, Minnesota. He grew up without electricity or running water during the Great Depression .
At just 15, he lied about his age to enlist in the National Guard in 1938. He signed up at the local armory telling officers he was 18 .
In January 1942, Larson shipped out to Northern Ireland. He rose to operations sergeant, helping plan Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy .
On June 6, 1944, Larson landed on Omaha Beach. He survived German machine-gun fire and reached the bluffs overlooking the shore .
He went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. He later settled in Lafayette, California, with his wife, Lola .
Decades passed. Then in 2020 his granddaughter, McKaela Larson, created a TikTok account just to share his memories. People tuned in fast .
By June 2024, he had 800,000 followers. A year later, his channel topped 1.2 million fans on TikTok .
He called his series “Story Time with Papa Jake.” He spoke in simple, warm tones about war, duty and the friends he lost .
Followers praised his humor. He’d flash a grin, tell a quick joke, then remind viewers to live fully .
In 2021, he published his autobiography, The Luckiest Man in the World, sharing fresh anecdotes and life lessons .
He returned to Normandy many times. On June 6, 2025—two days before his death—he spoke beneath the American cemetery’s white crosses .
“We are the lucky ones,” he told reporters. “We must honor those who gave their lives so we could live” .
His granddaughter broke the news on Instagram:
> “Our beloved Papa Jake passed peacefully on July 17th at 102 years young. He was joking until the end. Love you all the mostest.” .
Across the U.S., tributes poured in. Young people shared his videos. History teachers added his clips to lessons .
At a time when many struggle to connect with the past, Larson’s simple storytelling struck a chord .
According to the Pew Research Center, 68 percent of Gen Z say they learn history best from videos online. Centenarian creators like Larson drive that trend .
TikTok reports more than 1 billion monthly users worldwide. Videos tagged #StoryTimeWithPapaJake logged over 100 million cumulative views by mid-2025.
Experts say his genuine voice and firsthand war stories offered an unfiltered link to events nearly 80 years past.
Dr. Linda Stevenson, a historian at the University of Delaware, told CNN his account “gives students real-time access to living memory” .
Social media firms note that elder creators boost engagement by 23 percent on average. Larson’s channel holds a 12 percent like-to-view ratio—well above the platform norm of 4 percent .
Beyond numbers, Larson’s stories inspired many to seek more history. His most-watched clip has 5 million views. It shows him recalling his first sight of Omaha Beach .
He spoke softly, “I had water to my chin. I thought each step might be my last” .
Followers left heartfelt comments:
“Thank you, Papa Jake, for your service and jokes.”
“My grandad made me watch every clip.”
“History feels alive again.” .
His legacy goes beyond TikTok. Schools from California to Minnesota invited him to speak via livestream. He reminded students to value freedom .
He appeared on CNN’s Amanpour & Company on June 6, 2024. He quipped, “Don’t die,” when asked his secret to longevity .
Today, his videos remain. They stand as a bridge—from a man who stormed Normandy’s sands to youth around the globe.
His life reminds us that genuine stories still matter. And that even at 102, one can reach millions with simple truth.