Tiktok’s favorite WWII veteran ‘Papa Jake’ passes on 102

World War II veteran Jake Larsen, who collected more than 1.2 million followers on Tiktok, died at the age of 102, his granddaughter announced on social media.

Known with love online as “Papa Jake”, Larsen helped plan a de-day invasion and a storm occurred on Omaha Beach in Normandi, France. He became an unexpected social media star when his granddaughter started a Tiktok account for him, followed by his autobiography.

His granddaughter Mackela Larsen wrote on Instagram, “Our dear Papa Jake has passed away on July 17 in a 102 -year -old youth. Please know, he left peacefully and even finishing jokes.” “At this time, the family and I ask for some privacy because we process this loss.”

He said, “I am very grateful to share my father Jake with all of you. You meant the world. When the time is right, I will keep sharing the stories of Papa Jake and will keep his memory alive,” he said. “We appreciate all kinds of words and posts. As Papa says, you love all the most.”

Reporter’s notebook: Remember courage on the 81st anniversary of D-Day

Born on December 20, 1922 in Ovetona, Minnesota, Larsen grew up in a field without electricity or flowing water during great depression. According to the Best Defense Foundation, he admitted to the National Guard at the age of 15 in 1938 at the age of 15. His unit was shifted to federal service in 1941 after Japan’s amazing attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

In January 1942, he was sent abroad and posted in Northern Ireland. That operation became a sergeant and collected planning books for the invasion of Operation Overlord, Normandi. Larsen was among the soldiers of the friendly countries who exploded on the Normandy coast on 6 June 1944 to avoid machine-gun’s fire when they landed on Omaha Beach. They ignored it for ignoring the beach ignoring the beach, then herbs with German gun explosions that dropped American troops down.

After D-Day, he fought through the fight for bulge. He and his beloved, Lola, later settled in California, where he raised a family after the war.

In 2020, his granddaughter began a tiktok account, “StorytimewithpaPajak”, through which he gained online fame. He wrote an autobiography in 2021, titled “The Luckest Man in the World: Stories from the Life of Papa Jake.”

Larsen returned to Normandi for several D-Day anniversary and memorial ceremony in recent years.

World War II veterans visit Normandi for emotional D-Day monument

“We are lucky,” Larsen told Associated Press on the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, Omaha Beach’s ignoring ignored between the tombs in the US cemetery.

“They had no family. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these people who gave us a chance to survive.”

Earlier this month, Larsen shared a message with Fox News Digital on Independence Day about the importance of independence.

“God blesss all those who served, and they served,” Larsen told Fox News Digital from her home in Lafet, California on the fourth date of July. “His soul is now looking at me.”

“Every time I talk, I like to remind those people who look upwards, they are heroes … We are the heroes in any of us in every thinking.”

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The tribute from Zac Brown brand, unsecured podcast and retired naval officer, Jaco Wilink has been shared in the stories of Larsen’s Instagram account.

Fox News’ Ashley Demela and Associated Press contributed to this report.