99-year-old WWII veteran becomes viral TikTok star – as he returns to Normandy Beach

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A 99-year-old World War II veteran who became a viral TikTok star while opening up about his wartime experiences has made an emotional return to Normandy in order to honor the thousands of his fellow soldiers who died on D-Day.  

Jake Larson joined the National Guard when he was only 15 years old – more than 80 years ago – and participated on the June 6, 1944, battle on Normandy beach in France which saw the ‘land, air, and sea forces’ come together for the ‘largest invasion in human history’ according to EisenhowerLibrary.gov – also known as D-Day.

Now, the vet has become an internet sensation after sharing his experiences of fighting in the war in a series of videos, which were posted to TikTok under the username @StoryTimeWithPapaJake by his granddaughter, McKaela.

She started the account in 2020, and she has since gained more than 479,000 followers and has raked in more than six million likes across the videos.

According to McKaela, who is from California, her grandfather lied about his age when he was a teen so he could join the U.S. Army at age 15.

99-year-old WWII veteran becomes viral TikTok star – as he returns to Normandy Beach

A 99-year-old WWII veteran has become a viral TikTok star for sharing his wartime stories – as he returned to Normandy Beach to honor thousands of his fellow soldiers who died on D-Day

Jake Larson joined the National Guard when he was only 15 years old - more than 80 years ago - and participated on the June 6, 1944, battle on Normandy beach in France, known as D-Day

Jake Larson joined the National Guard when he was only 15 years old - more than 80 years ago - and participated on the June 6, 1944, battle on Normandy beach in France, known as D-Day

Jake Larson joined the National Guard when he was only 15 years old – more than 80 years ago – and participated on the June 6, 1944, battle on Normandy beach in France, known as D-Day

Now, the vet has become an internet sensation after he opened up about his experiences from fighting in the war in a series of TikTok videos

Now, the vet has become an internet sensation after he opened up about his experiences from fighting in the war in a series of TikTok videos

He stormed Omaha Beach – one of the five areas of German-occupied France which was invaded by American, Canadian, and British troops on D-day – and he even helped with the ‘top-secret planning of the invasion,’ she explained.

According to Jake – who is now the only surviving member of his unit – they arrived to the beach by ship but instantly faced trouble, since there were so many people and not enough room for them all.

They were posted to TikTok under the username @StoryTimeWithPapaJake by his granddaughter, McKaela. Jake and McKaela are pictured together in 2020

They were posted to TikTok under the username @StoryTimeWithPapaJake by his granddaughter, McKaela. Jake and McKaela are pictured together in 2020

‘We had to come down on these rope ladders carrying our 75-pound rifle. Dropping onto these landing crafts, I was the first one down there,’ he recalled in one video.

‘I thought we were gonna go in and land on Omaha beach. Instead, they were having trouble with the amount of people they already had, there wasn’t enough room and they couldn’t get over the cliff to capture anything or make room for us. 

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‘So we went around in circles waiting for the word to come in. They were ready to call off the invasion because the fire power was too great.’ 

And things didn’t get easier for them when they did finally get to land. Jake said there were supposed to be holes dug out for them to hide and take shelter in, but the Air Force had ‘totally missed Omaha Beach’ so there was ‘no protection’ for them.

‘I got behind a little burrow which was six inches high with two machine guns shooting at me from two sides,’ he explained.

She started the account in 2020, and she has since gained more than 479,000 followers and has racked in more than six million likes across the videos

She started the account in 2020, and she has since gained more than 479,000 followers and has racked in more than six million likes across the videos

She started the account in 2020, and she has since gained more than 479,000 followers and has racked in more than six million likes across the videos

According to McKaela, who is from California, her grandfather lied about his age when he was a teen so he could join the U.S. Army at age 15. He is pictured in the Army

According to McKaela, who is from California, her grandfather lied about his age when he was a teen so he could join the U.S. Army at age 15. He is pictured in the Army

He helped storm Omaha Beach - one of the five areas of German-occupied France which was invaded by American, Canadian, and British troops - on D-day

He helped storm Omaha Beach - one of the five areas of German-occupied France which was invaded by American, Canadian, and British troops - on D-day

He helped storm Omaha Beach – one of the five areas of German-occupied France which was invaded by American, Canadian, and British troops – on D-day

According to Jake, they arrived to the beach by ship but instantly faced trouble, since there were so many people and not enough room for them all

‘We had water up to my chin coming in. I turned around and not two-feet behind me, there was another soldier.

And things didn't get easier for them when they did finally get to land. Jake said there were supposed to be holes dug out for them to hide and take shelter in, but the Air Force had 'totally missed Omaha Beach' so there was 'no protection' for them

And things didn’t get easier for them when they did finally get to land. Jake said there were supposed to be holes dug out for them to hide and take shelter in, but the Air Force had ‘totally missed Omaha Beach’ so there was ‘no protection’ for them

‘I said, “Hey have you got a match, buddy?” I got no answer. I had just glanced at him but the next time I looked there was no head under the helmet.

‘I thank that soldier’s soul for getting me to run when I did because the [enemy] soldiers’ machine guns had stopped to reload and I started [running].

‘I [was thinking], “What in the world are you doing here, Jake?” You can’t shoot at anybody, you can’t see them but they can see you. What a predicament. But I made it, I made it to the cliff without a scratch.’

In a follow-up video, Jake explained that when nightfall came after the invasion, he was told he was going to have to keep watch all night long.

‘At 12 o’clock that night, German planes came in and dropped little flares and lit up the beach like daylight and took pictures,’ he said. ‘Our aircrafts started shooting up at them but after a while everything quieted down.’

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Jake revealed that the bed he was supposed to sleep in that night had been hit by a piece of metal from the aircraft, so if he hadn’t been tasked with keeping watch he might have been killed.

In the end, Jake made it out 'without a scratch on him,' and now calls himself the 'luckiest man alive'

In the end, Jake made it out 'without a scratch on him,' and now calls himself the 'luckiest man alive'

In the end, Jake made it out ‘without a scratch on him,’ and now calls himself the ‘luckiest man alive’

'I was the luckiest man in the world,' he said. 'There must have been some intervention from above that kept me being lucky all the way through. I came out without a scratch'

‘I was the luckiest man in the world,’ he said. ‘There must have been some intervention from above that kept me being lucky all the way through. I came out without a scratch’

Other videos featured him showing off items he still had from the time that he served, including magazines (pictured) and the score book he used during his rifle training

Other videos featured him showing off items he still had from the time that he served, including magazines and the score book he used during his rifle training (pictured)

Other videos featured him showing off items he still had from the time that he served, including magazines (left) and the score book he used during his rifle training (right)

Another TikTok showed him breaking down in tears after McKaela gave him a moving image of his late wife, Lola, from when she was young. The couple is pictured when they were young

Another TikTok showed him breaking down in tears after McKaela gave him a moving image of his late wife, Lola, from when she was young. The couple is pictured when they were young

‘I thought I was the luckiest man in the world,’ he recalled. ‘There must have been some intervention from above that kept me being lucky all the way through. I came out without a scratch.’ 

In honor of the 78-year anniversary of D-Day, Jake flew all the way across the world to visit Omaha Beach in France, and the emotional moment was captured by the Today show.

'Holy smokes,' he said as he became overwhelmed with emotion over the gift. 'I can't believe it - it's her. This past November, we would have been married for 75 years, and I still love her'

‘Holy smokes,’ he said as he became overwhelmed with emotion over the gift. ‘I can’t believe it – it’s her. This past November, we would have been married for 75 years, and I still love her’

During his appearance on the Today show, Jake reflected back on the moment that he stormed the beaches of Normandy as a young soldier, describing his return to the location as ‘very eerie’. 

He also joked that he credits his petite frame with his survival during the brutal battle, recalling how he thought to himself: ‘Thank God the Germans aren’t good at shooting toothpicks.’

‘I said, “God, what am I doing here? What the hell, I can’t see anybody to shoot at,”‘ Jake recounted of the moment that he made his way up onto the beach, having waded through water that was up to his chin. 

‘But I ran. I weighed 120lbs and I was 5’7″, and I said, “Thank God the Germans aren’t good at shooting toothpicks.” Honestly I was thinking that.’

Speaking to host Kerry Sanders, he continued: ‘I feel [the soldiers who died here’s] presence right now.’

Kerry clutched onto Jake’s arm as he slowly made his way onto the spot where he fought 78 years earlier. 

He also wrote a book about his experiences, entitled The Luckiest Man in the World, which came out last year and is available on Amazon

He also wrote a book about his experiences, entitled The Luckiest Man in the World, which came out last year and is available on Amazon

Some people have branded him a 'legend' and an 'hero' for his 'bravery' and 'strength'

Some people have branded him a ‘legend’ and an ‘hero’ for his ‘bravery’ and ‘strength’

He continued: ‘Their souls are right here witnessing this. They’re telling me, “Thank you Jake. Thank you for coming and telling the world that this is where we were killed.” I’m not the hero, I’m here to tell you that the heroes are buried over here.’ 

‘Protect our freedom. Honor these heroes that have given their life at a young age. Honor these people.’

On TikTok, other viral videos featured him looking at old photos of himself in the war and telling the stories behind them, and showing off the items that he still had from the time that he served, including magazines that were given out to the soldiers, the bible he carried with him, the score book he used during his rifle training, and a menu from a restaurant he often visited.

Another viral video, which was seen more than 19 million times, showed him breaking down in tears after McKaela gifted him with a moving image of his late wife, Lola, from when she was young.

‘Holy smokes,’ he said upon seeing the sweet gift, as he became overwhelmed with emotion. 

‘She’s alive! Look at that smile. I can’t believe it – it’s her. This past November, we would have been married for 75 years, and I still love her.’

In honor of the 78-year anniversary of D-Day, Jake flew all the way across the world to visit Omaha Beach in France, and the emotional moment was captured by the Today show

In honor of the 78-year anniversary of D-Day, Jake flew all the way across the world to visit Omaha Beach in France, and the emotional moment was captured by the Today show

'It's eerie. I've very eerie to be here,' he told host Kerry Sanders. 'I feel [the soldiers who died here's] presence right now. Their souls are right here witnessing this'

‘It’s eerie. I’ve very eerie to be here,’ he told host Kerry Sanders. ‘I feel [the soldiers who died here’s] presence right now. Their souls are right here witnessing this’

Jake, who also wrote a book about his experiences, entitled The Luckiest Man in the World, has stolen many people on the internet’s hearts, with some branding him a ‘legend’ and an ‘hero’ for his ‘bravery’ and ‘strength.’

‘We must protect him at all [costs],’ wrote one person.

Another added, ‘This world is a better place because of your service.’

‘Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are why we are free! My heart smiles for you,’ gushed someone else.

‘Strong and brave, this generation were heroes,’ said a different user.

A fifth comment read, ‘True American hero,’ while a fifth said, ‘We salute you.’

‘Thanks for your service and I hope you go on and live a healthy and good rest of your life,’ wrote another viewer.

‘God bless you, sir,’ added one supporter. 



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