Larson in the Pegasus Bridge memorial in Benouville, Normandy, Monday June 5, 2023. World War II veteran Britain’s Bill Gladden, left, speaks with U.S WWII veteran Jack M. veterans, using wheelchairs, at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where thousands of paratroopers jumped not long after midnight on June 6, 1944.Īt every stop on his Normandy trip, “Papa Jake” was greeted by people asking for a selfie - in return, he offered up a big hug, to their greatest joy. He also went Sunday into a parade alongside other U.S. We were meant to meet,” Larson told Gladden, their hands clasped. That’s where he met Bill Gladden, a 99-year-old British veteran : “I want to give you a hug, thank you. Larson landed on Omaha Beach, where he ran under machine-gun fire and made it to the cliffs without being wounded. Most of them lost their lives in the D-Day landings and ensuing operations. The American Cemetery is home to the graves of 9,386 United States soldiers. “You can see me all over: ‘Papa Jake.’ I’m a legend! I didn’t plan this, it came about.” World War II veterans Jake Larson attends a ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control, at the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Now I’m a star on TikTok,” he told The Associated Press with enthusiasm. “I got in on the planning of D-Day … I’m just a country boy. Larson, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, attended a ceremony on Tuesday at the American Cemetery marking the 79th anniversary of the assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control. COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP) - World War II veteran Jake Larson, a 100-year-old American best known on social media under the name “Papa Jake,” enjoyed giving hugs to the many fans he met during his trip to Normandy for D-Day commemorations.
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