Beloved Bay Area WWII veteran and TikTok star "Papa Jake" turns 102

MARTINEZ, Calif. - He’s a Bay Area treasure. World War II veteran Jake Larson will mark his 102nd birthday on Friday. The war hero, and now TikTok star is known across the country and around the globe as "Papa Jake." 

On Friday, the Martinez resident will celebrate a remarkable 102 years of life with loved ones and the nearly 1 million fans who follow him on social media. 

The endearing centenarian, whose life experiences could take up the pages of a full history book, has not shown signs of slowing down.

"Papa has been very busy," his son Kurt Larson told KTVU on Monday.  

In June, the war vet took an emotional trip to Normandy, France to mark D-Day.

More recently, he went on a whirlwind trip to Disneyland, his first ever to the "Magic Kingdom." 

He got on rides, met with Mickey, and was honored by the amusement park.

"In Walt’s apartment above the Fire Station the President of Disney gave him a proclamation making him an honorary citizen of Disneyland and a lifetime free pass," his son said.

On his TikTok, Papa Jake shared about the adventure, saying, "WOW. My first trip to Disneyland had me feeling like a kid again."

That trip also included a stop to watch an Anaheim Ducks hockey game, where the team also had a special ceremony for him.

"Papa really had the time of his life!" Kurt Larson shared. 

Papa Jake and his family have been gearing up for his birthday for months. 

In a video post back in October, the war vet told his followers, "I got a little birthday coming up here."

He said he's been energized by the support and love from his hundreds of thousands of fans, some who send him correspondence by mail, which he often shares on TikTok.

"I enjoy reading your letters," Larson said, adding, "I really enjoy seeing the amount of you who follow me. My god, I'm near a million there! It’s crazy. It’s plain crazy!"

On social media, Papa Jake has shared stories from his past, offering snapshots of history through his harrowing and unfathomable experiences as a 21-year-old soldier on Omaha Beach on D-Day, the largest seaborne invasion in military history.

He’s shared about his outlook on life, one of appreciation, as he calls himself "the luckiest man alive." 

SEE ALSO: California single mom passes state bar on first try, her emotional reaction video goes viral

For his upcoming birthday, his family has called on the public to celebrate this life with him.

His granddaughter McKaela Larson, who first introduced the TikTok world to Papa Jake in 2020, has called on fans to carry on a tradition and send her grandfather a birthday card for the occasion. 

"For the past four years we've been surprising Papa Jake with birthday cards from all over the world, from viewers just like you," the granddaughter said, as she challenged the social media world to help bring back some special goals from previous celebrations, including getting cards from every state and birthday wishes from new countries as well.

This year, the granddaughter said they’re adding an extra challenge: "I wanna see what celebrities will send Papa Jake a birthday card," McKaela Larson said.

It seems his granddaughter's requests were being answered, as cards were coming in from fans around the globe, as well as some pretty notable ones too.

As of Monday, the family said they had received birthday greetings from all 50 states. They're still seeking one from Washington, D.C.

The Larsons said they were working on opening the cards from celebrities, but they did confirm that in the mounting collection, Papa Jake had received one from a pretty important U.S. figure and a fellow centenarian-- former President Jimmy Carter. He turned 100 in October.

Back in September, Larson sat down with KTVU, and when asked what his secret to longevity was, his was a simple and straightforward response: "My secret is just stay alive, I guess. Don't die!"

Papa Jake also shared that he feels that he’s been richly blessed and that at his age he doesn't feel any aches or pain in his body.

As he prepared to celebrate 102, the war hero extended his appreciation to all those who have written to him, listened to his stories and expressed their love and support to the man so affectionately referred to as everyone’s "Papa Jake." 

"Thanks to you," he said, "I have never felt so good."

His family, like his fans, has also been moved and inspired by this extraordinary figure who keeps going and spreading positivity and boisterous energy wherever he goes.  

"They use to say- Life begins at 40. Now we are thinking life begins at 102," his son said.

Birthday cards to Papa Jake can be sent to: 3559 Mt. Diablo Boulevard. #200, Lafayette, CA 94549.

Good NewsMartinezInstanewsTikTok