Nicknamed “Pope Jake”, American veteran Jake Larson died on Thursday, July 17 at the age of 102. He was one of the last living American soldiers who fought during World War II.
Years after walking through the Omaha Beach sand during the day D in 1944, Jake Larson had become a star in Tiktok’s social network, thanks to his little daughter, Mikaela Larson, who regularly published short videos to tell her daily life and her story.
The account, called “Time of Tales with Pope Jake” (“Histoles with Pope Jake”, in French), is followed by more than one million people.
“I won the cliff without scratches”
On the occasion of Commemorations of the 80th anniversary of landingIn 2024, BFMTV had been able to meet him at his home in Martínez, California. He had returned to his historic arrival in Normandy.
“We walked on a single line. If we saw a water jet, it was someone who had just walking on a mine. They shot us but could not have done it. I arrived there. I won the cliff without scratches,” recalls Jake Larson.
Very modest in his obstacle career, he had assured in front of our cameras that “he did not believe he was a hero.”
“It was rather these guys, who opened the way, who allowed me to get out of it, at the expense of their lives,” said “Pope Jake.”
In his last video posted on the social network, Jake Larson announced, very moved, that he had received an Emmy award, for an interview last June with a CNN journalist.
Source: BFM TV
