Today, I salute WWII Veteran Papa Jake Larson. Jake Larson survived German gunfire on the beaches of Normandy in 1944. He was an animated speaker who charmed strangers, young and old, with his quick smile and generous hugs. The self-described country boy from Minnesota was “cracking jokes till the end,’’ his granddaughter wrote in announcing his death. Late in life, Jake reinvented himself and became a TikTok star, taking to the social media platform to share stories commemorating the Second World War and his fallen comrades, accumulating 1.2 million followers. Papa Jake passed away a few days ago, at 102 years young. Thank you for all the stories, Papa Jake, and THANK YOU for your service.
