Jake Larson, a veteran of the Second World War who stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day, was known to his family and friends under the name of “Papa Jake”, a grandfather of good humor and a passionate story content.
But thanks to an extremely popular presence on social networks, Larson’s stories and optimism were shared online with millions of fans and followers.
Larson died on July 17 at the age of 102, according to his social media accounts, managed by his granddaughter McKaela Larson.
“Please know that he went peacefully and even made jokes until the end,” she said in the post.
Larson’s internet fame began with the Cavid-19 pandemic. Due to self-insulation efforts, McKaela, a dancer of cruise ships, spent a lot of time in the family in Martinez, California, with her grandfather. It was then that she created her Tiktok account, according to family members.
Jake Larson smiled in Disneyland, where he was appointed honorary citizen on November 24, 2024.
(From Mike Larson)
It has become extremely popular. Tiktok account, @StoryTimeWithPapAjakeAmaté more than a million followers and more than 11 million likes.
Its large part meant that Larson’s stories were divided worldwide. In addition to a massive online audience, he recently won an EMMY for an interview on D -Day’s birthday with CNN. Last July, he was invited on stage during a concert by Zac Brown at the Oakland Coliseum. In November, he visited Disneyland for the first time, where he was appointed honorary citizen.
On his Tiktok account, Larson has often described himself as the luckiest man in the world.
The stories he told on the account went from the frightening to the hope.
He told the rise of the boat ramp which dropped him off on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, and looking at his colleagues troops intervene in land mines while trying to avoid German machine gun fire. “I was more afraid of walking on a mine than of us shots,” he said in a position in 2022.
In another Tiktok position, Larson is invited to the best advice he has ever received. “Never give up,” he said. “Always do your best in life.”
The National Museum of the Second World War believes that there were only 66,143 living from the 16.4 million Americans who served in the Second World War in 2024.
Family members have described Larson as an infinitely compassionate and optimistic soul that has always been “quick to tell you how much he loves you,” said his granddaughter Krista Paulson in an interview with The Times.
His grandchildren were impatient to recall memories and anecdotes on their dad Jake. Many commentators on Larson’s account thanked his family for sharing it with them.
“He made people feel that they were part of his family,” said Paulson. “It’s crazy to share it … to be able to say that he was ours, but so proud to know that everyone wanted to be part of his life.”
On his Tiktok page, Larson has often shared stories about his stay in the American army, where he was a staff sergeant. But many of his grandchildren did not hear these stories grow.
“He was not comfortable talking about it,” said his grandson Mike Larson. “Because, let’s be honest, at the time, no one spoke of the SSPT … Once he started to open, I think that helped him.”
Mike Larson said he believed that the presence of his grandfather on Tiktok had allowed other veterans to accept that there was a life after their military service. He told a period in Disneyland, when a man serving in the Marine’s body hovered around Jake and his family, who was preparing for a photo shoot. Mike Larson said he recognized that the man was in service and offered to present him to his grandfather.
After a warm conversation, the man set his hand and Larson immediately pulled him in a big hug. Mike said he had seen tears run over the navy’s face.
“People don’t do this, you never know what this guy was going through,” said Mike, leaving tears. “This conversation could have saved life of this type.”
Larson’s online presence also means that his family can return to his messages and relive their stories and heat documented in hundreds of videos.
Paulson said that when the family returned from the hospital after Larson’s death, she heard her eldest child crying on the sofa. He had reviewed Larson’s Tiktok videos.
“I think you can’t summarize in another way,” said Mike. “He was the luckiest man living.”