Jake Larson, the US army veteran popularly known as Papa Jake who captivated millions on TikTok with his vivid World War II stories, has died at the age of 102.
In a post via TikTok, McKaela, Larson’s granddaughter, announced that the veteran passed away on Thursday “peacefully”.
She revealed that Larson remained witty and joyful until the end.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I have to make this announcement. Our beloved Papa Jake has passed away on July 17th at 102 years young,” the post reads.
“Please know, he went peacefully and was even cracking jokes til the very end. At this time the family and I ask for some privacy as we process this loss.
“I am so thankful to have shared my Papa Jake with you all. You meant the world to him.
“When the time is right, I will continue to share Papa Jake’s stories and keep his memory alive.
“We appreciate all the kind words and posts. As Papa would say, love you all the mostest.”
Fans flooded social media with tributes, celebrating Larson’s extraordinary life and service.
Born on December 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson’s military career began at just 15 when he lied about his age to join the Minnesota National Guard.
By 1942, he was deployed to Northern Ireland with the US army’s 135th Infantry Regiment (34th Red Bull division), where he became an operations sergeant and helped plan the D-Day invasion.
On June 6, 1944, Larson survived the harrowing Omaha Beach landing, dodging machine-gun fire alongside 34,000 Allied troops.
Larson then began sharing stories from his time in the war, including his Omaha Beach landing, through TikTok, where he gained 1.2 million followers under the handle @storytimewithpapajake.
He also has over 16,000 subscribers on YouTube.
In June, his interview on D-Day by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour won an Emmy award.
Copyright 2025 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.
Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle