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100-year-old WWII vet ‘Papa Jake’ becomes a TikTok star

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A 100-year-old World War II veteran who moonlights as a TikTok star gave out selfies and hugs to adoring young fans on a trip to Normandy to commemorate D-Day.

Jake Larson, affectionately known as “Papa Jake” online, is not the typical face seen on TikTok, but the centenarian has more than 615,000 followers who watch him tell war stories on the app.

In Normandy, some of those followers cheered Larson on and asked for photos at nearly every stop during his visit.

“I’m just a country boy. Now I’m a star on TikTok,” he told the Associated Press.

“You can see me all over: ‘Papa Jake.’ I’m a legend! I didn’t plan this, it came about.”

Larson attended a ceremony at the American Cemetery Tuesday to mark the 79th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy by sea in an operation that led to the liberation of France from Nazi control.


Jake Larson speaks to a young girl wearing an American flag hat and scarf.
Larson often says he’s the luckiest man alive thanks to all his fans in his TikTok videos.
AP

Jake Larson waves his hat as he's wheeled by people clapping for him.
Larson was one of 40 US veterans brought to Normandy by the nonprofit Best Defense Foundation.
REUTERS

“Papa Jake” was one of the young soldiers who landed on Omaha Beach and ran through machine-gun fire to the cliffs.

While visiting the Pegasus Memorial Monday, Larson met a fellow veteran from the British army, 99-year-old Bill Gladden, and two shared a special moment.

“I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet,” Larson told Gladden, their hands clasped.


Jake Larson and Bill Gladden grasp hands as they speak to one another.
Larson told British veteran Bill Gladden that they were meant to meet each other.
REUTERS

On Sunday, he joined a parade with other US veterans at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped on June 6, 1944.

When fans asked for selfies, Larson graciously gave out hugs.

The 100-year-old was born in Owatonna, Minnesota, and enlisted in the National Guard in 1938 at just 15 years old, having lied about his age.

He was deployed to Northern Ireland in January 1942 and became an operations sergeant who assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy.

“I got in on the planning of D-Day,” he said. “I got the Bronze Star and the French gave me the Legion of Honor.”


Larson gives a thumbs up as he poses with a US Army solider.
Larson joined the National Guard in 1938 and was deployed to Northern Ireland in 1942.
REUTERS

Larson landed on Omaha Beach and ran through machine-gun fire to the cliffs on D-Day.
REUTERS

Jake Larson smiles as a woman pats his shoulder.
He was awarded the Bronze Star as well as the Legion of Honor from France.
REUTERS

Following D-Day, he continued his service through the Battle of the Bulge.

Larson was one of 40 US veterans who traveled to Normandy thanks to the Best Defense Foundation, a nonprofit that helps vets visit places where they fought in the war.

With Post wires

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