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World War II veteran and social media sensation Jake “Papa Jake” Larson has passed away at the age of 102. His granddaughter, McKaela Larson, shared the news on his social media accounts Saturday, noting that he passed peacefully and with his characteristic humor, “cracking jokes til the very end.”
Larson, a member of the “Greatest Generation,” captivated over a million followers on TikTok (@storytimewithpapajake) with his engaging stories of life and military service. His presence extended beyond social media; just last month, he was interviewed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in Normandy, France, for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
He vividly recalled the landing, saying, “I got off the landing craft and had water right up to my chin. We were all kids.”
Larson revealed he enlisted in the National Guard at the young age of 15, admitting to having lied about his age. Despite his experiences, he humbly stated, “I don’t think I was a hero.
I was just like anybody else. We were all in this together.”
He emphasized his commitment to sharing the stories of his friends who lost their lives during the pivotal invasion.
When asked by Amanpour about the soldiers’ understanding of their mission, Larson emphatically stated, “Oh, definitely. That we knew.
Every one of us was prepared to give our life to kick Hitler’s ass out of Europe. … And we did.”
Amanpour’s poignant interview with Larson earned her an Emmy Award just a few weeks ago, an honor she graciously shared with him. Larson’s reaction, captured in a video message to Amanpour, reflected his humility and surprise: “It’s phenomenal.
And here I am, little country boy that joins the infantry at 15 years old and I come here now, 102, going on 103 and I’m winning something like this? There is a God.”
Larson’s son, Karlan Larson, confirmed the news of his father’s passing to CNN and described his life as “epic.” He shared that his father’s Emmy is proudly displayed in the family’s living room and will become a cherished heirloom for future generations. He added that his father was “overjoyed” by Amanpour’s gesture of sharing the award.