The VBC–and the world–lost one of its most beloved veterans ever to share his story with us. Jake Larson—decorated World War II veteran and unlikely social media star known to millions as “Papa Jake”—died peacefully at his home in the San Francisco Bay Area on July 17, 2025. He was 102.
Jake joined us in September 2021 to tell his story of growing up in Minnesota, going to war in Europe, and coming home haunted by his wartime experience. You can view his story below.
The last surviving member of his company, Staff Sgt. Larson stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day, helped plan the invasion of Normandy, and later emerged as a cherished witness to the war’s history through his viral TikTok channel, “Story Time with Papa Jake,” which drew over 1.2 million followers. His death was confirmed by his devoted granddaughter, McKaela Larson, who helped share his stories with the world. “As Papa would say,” she posted, “‘Love you all the mostest.’”
Jake Larson was born on December 20, 1922, in Hope, Minnesota, a farm boy with grit, humility, and a memory like a reel of history.
Jake Larson’s service in World War II began with a lie—he was only 15 years old when he walked into a National Guard recruiting office in Owatonna, Minnesota, looked a captain straight in the eye, and said he was 18. “Sign right here,” the officer said, and Jake became part of the U.S. Army years before he could legally drive. What began as a way to earn a dollar for marching every Monday night would take him from Depression-era farmland to the beaches of Normandy, through six major campaigns in Europe, and into the annals of history.
By 1942, Jake was among the first U.S. troops deployed overseas. He shipped to Northern Ireland with V Corps, where his talents and leadership earned him a place in G3 Operations—the unit responsible for planning and executing field operations. He became the only operations sergeant assigned to Omaha Beach. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Jake landed with the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division. “They had me in a crossfire from two machine guns,” he remembered. “I hid behind a berm of wet sand, maybe six inches high. It saved my life.” At one point, he reached for a cigarette and asked a nearby soldier for a match—only to find the man beside him had been decapitated. “That moment got me up and running,” Jake said. “I don’t know how I made it, but I did.”
Jake’s wartime experiences continued at the Battle of the Bulge, where he was on duty the night the Germans launched their surprise attack. He helped sound the alarm, waking senior commanders and alerting frontline divisions just before tanks rolled in. He worked 12-hour night shifts with little rest, all while dodging flares, enemy aircraft, and artillery. “My foxhole buddy’s rifle was split in two by shrapnel,” Jake said. “If he hadn’t laid it on my litter, it would’ve been me.”
After the war, Jake returned home to Minnesota, attended trade school, and married Lola—the woman who had clipped his photo from a local newspaper years before and carried it in her wallet. They raised a family and moved to California. In his later years, Jake chronicled his experiences in a memoir titled The Luckiest Man in the World, a name he lived up to. “I fought in six battles, saw men die all around me, and came out without a scratch,” he said. “I got a discharge before the war ended, met the love of my life, and lived to 100. How do you explain that?”
Jake’s legacy didn’t end with the war. In his 90s, he became a TikTok sensation thanks to his granddaughter, McKaela, who began recording his stories during the pandemic. Millions of followers came to know and love “Papa Jake” for his warmth, humor, and unshakable sense of gratitude. “I don’t believe in negativity anymore,” he said. “God, I am so fortunate. I’m just a farm boy from Hope, Minnesota. And I’m still here.”
The Luckiest Man in the World recounted not just his wartime experiences but also the miracles that followed. “A fall cured me of the shakes from PTSD,” he said. “An operation fixed my color blindness.” He counted his blessings in generations: “Nine grandchildren. Eleven great-grandchildren. I’ve even got a grandson who’s a grandfather.”
Larson’s stories weren’t about glorifying war but remembering sacrifice, love, and survival. He was a witness, a teacher, and a grandfather to the world. When asked the secret to longevity, he whispered, “Don’t die.” Then he smiled.
A memorial service will be planned at a future date. In honor of Jake, his family encourages donations to veterans’ organizations and, in Jake’s words, to “Love one another the mostest.”
