D-Day Veteran Recalls Omaha Beach | Memoirs Of WWII #50
When World War II Veteran Jake Larson landed on Omaha Beach, he found himself under a hailstorm of German firepower, and eventually pinned down by enemy machine guns. This is the story of a man who went from farm boy to soldier, to honored by thousands across the world.
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Written and Directed by Hudson Louie and Joshua Scott
Filmed by Heather Scott
Edited by Hudson Louie and Joshua Scott
Post Audio by Lane Tarr
Photo Enhancement and Colorization by Hudson Louie
Archive Footage Sources:
www.archives.gov/
Archive Photo Sources:
US Army
Warfare History Network
Jake Larson
Bernard Klug
Primary Musical Score Source:
artlist.io/
Artlist Songs and Composers:
“Beyond the Horizon” by Borrtex
“Gravity” by Jean Pol Cornelis
“Daydream” by Ian Locke
“No One But You” performed by Artie Shaw and His Orchestra
Now think about this, Jake was 15 in 38 which means he was born in 1923. That man is a hundred years old and he is doing fantastic! What a life this man has had! Fantastic story guys! Absolutely love every episode yall do!
Jake was born in December 1922. I had the privilege of meeting him last year in Normandy
@@victorocallaghan6791 That's nuts! So he's technically 101 this year! What an honor to meet someone of his character.
Its was a big honor to meet Papa Jake in Normandië on 6 juni 2023! I Will never forget. What a great, Loving man 🙏🏻❤
now imagine how many guys, could have a nice life like him... but instead they died at around age of 16-25, because a psychopath wanted to rule the world!! I have been to Eupen he mentioned and also to some cemeteries in Belgium and Netherlands, it´s so sad to see the graves of so many young people who have paid the ultimate price, instead of enjoy their lifes
That is correct. My father was born in 1925 and would be 98
XD "I was 120 pounds, I dont think the germans were capable of shooting a toothpick" this man is a national treasure
@6:46
Physique of a toothpick but the heart of a giant
Absolute hero! We have really fucked this world up since we took over.
🤣🤣🤣 i was crying laughing
He doesn't think he's special, but he is. To survive 6 battles without a scratch. He was meant to tell the tales of what he saw, to pass down the experience.
he just gave us a gift from the past............
Anyone who did what he did is extra-special.
Some of the hardest hitting battles too.
I do believe this. He recounts that the GI right next to him who he momentarily turned to for dry matches who was decapitated, "told him, warned him" to get up and move. He says that this was one of the times, and reasons, he survived the next few seconds. The dead soldier was still warning him: not to stay in place, to MOVE.
I wonder if he thinks god saved him because i do
“There’s gotta be someone watching over me” gave me the chills
But that 'someone' apparently didn't find it necessary to watch over the 40 million people that died horribly...?
@@dustycooper I’m with you on that one buddy. Be in his shoes, he’s real lucky his prayer saved him when it didn’t save 40 other million. Imagine being in war and thinking you’re about to die, anybody would start praying
@@dustycooperyou miss the point my friend - He’s expressing his gratefulness knowing full well that he is no more deserving to have survived than anyone else.
A generation we can never replace, thank you hero
We are forever in debt. We can never repay them.
Thanks to all our Veterans who served.
Yes, hearts out to all of you.
For what they served? Politicians, not their Land or Freedom!
and so many cops abuse them
@@antasiaf.640 no. If they hadn't fought their homes may have been taken from them
Every time I see this man speak I get so choked up. Living proof that they were and are the best generation to ever exist. We can never measure up to them, ever. What a great human being Jake is.
I don’t believe in war for no purpose unless provoked America was provoked, I absolutely agree with you this generation was thee most bravest generation ever to exist. Their childhood was taken away by war and their manhood will forever be haunted by such acts that they had no control over because of tyrannical government and dictatorship I love watching and hearing the pain and joy in their speech of their accomplishments I salute each and every one of them 🫡 this man has no idea how much he’s appreciated thanks for the story soldier 💪🏾
A day and age when men were motivated out of duty to country rather then money and greed
Well said
Facts
The new generations are a joke
This man was part of the greatest generation of human beings this earth will ever see. Period. Hands down.
Makes me tear up man. Someone was watching out for this man. Respect.
But not the others who died that day eh?
Respect
i love how wholesome this gentleman is, even after all that hes been through, hes still maintaining his positivity.
This guy saw hell and survived. Hard not to have a positive outlook on life after that.
I worked with WW2 Veterans from 2009 until 2021. Almost most of them are dead. When people say they were the best generation, doesn't describe them accurately. Simply amazing people 😢❤
Wow! Six battles without a scratch! Thank you for your service sir! My Dad was a WWII Marine. He fought three battles in the Solomon Islands. He had great stories and have his journal that he kept during that time. He didn’t write about tactics. He wrote about what was going on around him. You could tell immediately if he just got out of battle because his writing would be jittery. He was a good man and survived to the age of 82. He passed 11 weeks after my Mom passed. He had a broken heart and missed her terribly. His brain was very sharp and worked til he was 80 years old. Such a good generation of good hard working folks
Man. I can only imagine surviving war. And the thing that finally puts you on a bed and croak is a broken heart. The pain of losing someone so close to you is mountains of what a bullet can do. wounds can heal and you can try and walk away. But you cant walk away from your soul and love
That journal must be such a treasure to you and your father. God bless his memory.
@@jscho8674 my dad wrote letters only too his mother and the one ahh remember best is when he visited his snipper brother, who was in a army hospital in Italy. - he was in there from eatting green apples that he had stolen.
Even though I'm British. I'm forever grateful to anyone who served and saved our generation. Without you, we certainly wouldn't be here today. Nothing but respect for for you, sir. And thank you for your service!
These men didn’t just save their generation by my generation Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Let's not forget, the war would have been over if one country did not stand against an entirely conquered and hostile Europe.
The brits had their own men on the beaches too that day.
My grandfather fought in the Red Army (tank commander), and he used to say that if not US, we would've lost the war. We had an old clock from the T-34 tank instrument panel, and it was written "made in USA" on it. Seems like history repeats itself.
The British were heavily HEAVILY involved in D-Day.
I'm an Iraq veteran, but I've always looked up to these guys. I'm no comparison at all. God bless these brave men.
Thank you for your service
Thank you for your service and for watching!
You are the main guard to our freedom so your importance is not debatable. These are the generations that lead to this point. And with the power grab Olympics in America. It will be damn nice to have afew old veterans around. Thank you all for what you do and May God Bless the USA.
You're important too, Sir. Thank you for serving.
Tha k you for your service. You've done the same in serving our nation and keeping us safe, God bless you
I really had tears because he stayed safe and sound through it all. He says, I'm JUST A FARM BOY. Now *the* *WORLD* listens to him *at* *attention*
There are no words that could ever respectfully describe the character of these men who sacrificed everything. God bless them all.
If only this generation had a minuscule if not less had somewhat an understanding what they experienced for our freedom today just to shit all over them believing there BS intilment, I'm sickened what this country has become, my heart and my heart thanks you and every man and woman who given there lives, my flag my American flag is displayed knowing the price all who gave for me and my family today
They could have made a movie out of every story told, its mind-boggling what that man went through in normandy and people today couldn't care less. I thank you, sir, from the bottom of my heart! And as for me and my household, we shall NEVER FORGET!
Every soldier had a story. May they l be remembered forever. Respects from Canada.
My coworker Bobby Morgan just passed away, he was a ww2 vet and played baseball with Jackie Robinson. He was an amazing man and my grandpa was a field medic in ww2 as well 👑
This man is a beautiful representation of our greatest generation. My own grandfather was a Marine in WWII serving on the assault platoon in Okinawa. He was on the frontlines of hell and had a casualty rate of 90%+ in his platoon and survived by the grace of God. My grandpa shared his stories with school kids going around the country giving his presentation detailing the price of war, and I’ll never forget some of the stories and more importantly the life lessons he learned and instilled in me. He was honored as the Minnesota Vikings Veteran of the year in November of 2015 and I’ll never forget that day. I am beyond proud to be his grandson, and reminded of him by men like the one in this memoir. I miss my grandpa everyday, he passed at 95 a few years ago, but I will always carry a piece of him with me and will never forget the greatest generation that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and country. God bless the United States and all those who fought!
I've seen Normandy Beach on person and I could not imagine how crazy and terrifying it would have been to have had to storm that beach. May God be with the GREATEST GENERATION OF ALL TIME
I am a mechanic 91b in the pa army national guard. And I’m proud of it. I have trouble sleeping at night. Non service related. But that being said I have watched every video you posted. These men are quite literally the best generation of men to ever exist in this nation. They were MEN sad thing is a lot of men now do not act like it.
They were the best generation . What Legends .
There’s a 3 hour intimate interview Jocko Willink did with this man that’s incredible to listen to. He tells his full story in detail. Jake is an absolute treasure. My great uncle was on Utah Beach that day and I never got to hear his story so these mean a lot. He survived and had a long military career but I never got his really detailed account like this.
This is just too much! This wonderful elder who fought 6 battles in the most devastating war to date without getting a scratch says, "I'm nothing special." If that doesn't make you shed a tear! The humility and gratefulness that this man shows after going through and seeing things that most men could never come close to describing, is by far one of the most humbling experiences I have perceived. Jake, thank you so much for your service. You are the Greatest Generation!
I interviewed a veteran who was on the Intrepid for its entire service in WWII. Also served during Korea. He's here in Pennsauken, NJ. Just turned 99. Have info if you need it.
please fill out a veteran form on our website www.memoirsofwwii.com thanks for the lead! www.memoirsofwwii.com/veteran-form
Please give your veteran this home's deepest thanks that words do not adequately express! My dad was WW2 PNG Army (would have been 100 this Veteran's Day); all my uncles also WW2 including Marine uncle who survived Iwo Jima and went on to serve as paratrooper in Korean War. My only child was US Coast Guard and his first base was Sandy Hook, New Jersey. GOD BLESS!
Thank you Papa Jake for your endless service. Sharing these memoirs is not taken lightly what it takes to recall them.
I was Fortunate enough to meet this great man last year on Omaha Beach. Stood there at 6:15am on Omaha along side dozens of others in the moment... when these vets rolled up, I choked a bit.. The moment I got to say Thank you for all that you have done to him, my tears rolled down my eyes.. I got a great picture with him that I will forever cherish. I really hope to see him and all the other veterans back for D-Day 80, I'll be there as well and hoping to meet more of these incredible men.
Pretty excited to watch this one on my lunch break, I love how in depth this channel is not only taking stories from the allies, but from the axis as well
Have you personally met every generation to ever exist? Yes there were a lot of brave men in that generation but you can say that about every generation
I don’t think there will ever be another generation like these men.
I love this man. "That's the way my life is. Luckiest man in the world". "I don't think they were capable of shooting a tooth pick". "This is how my life has been. I went thru 6 battles without a scratch". "There's somebody up there, responsible for this"....
The sweetest guy. A truly brave soul.❤️
What an amazing man! 6 battles and not a scratch. That’s not lucky, that’s a great soldier…
I was waiting for you to interview this legend, thank you Josh
Very few men like this still exist, myself included. Thank you, Mr. Larson!
To warriors who fought on the beaches, on the landing grounds on the fields on the streets the seas and up I the air Thank you for your service.
Thank you memoirs of WWll and to all the men and women who fought to defend those that couldn’t there aren’t words of high enough praise. Sincerely thank you.
Seems the Germans were great soldiers and had great technology, everyone fought hard fought bravely in the war there can only be one winner.
@@catdaddy2643 no doubt about it they were very close to an atomic bomb and the amount of territory they captured in so little time shows how brave and ferocious those soldiers were
Buy his book "The Luckiest Man Alive" Great reading and it tells so much more about his early life. This man is a National treasure
Amazing. This man is still among us. He joined the guard in 1938, and in 2023 he's still living and breathing and telling his story. To hear his story is a wonderful privilege. What I wouldnt do to hang out with him for a day...
This is incredible. It's 2023 and he's a living breathing saving Pvt Ryan. And no complaints. And gen Z complains for just about everything.
Wow listening to this man gives you feelings that no war movie could ever produce for you.
What a life god gave him. Love from India. 🇺🇸🇮🇳
My grandpa is 96 ww2 army vet. Would be awesome to see him on here if he would be willing
please fill out a veteran form on our website www.memoirsofwwii.com thanks for the lead! www.memoirsofwwii.com/veteran-form
God bless your dad, thanks him for his service!
My great grandfather was a paratrooper. He's not alive but he survived the whole war
I love how he was so excited when he got his camera and that was a great picture!!!!
We have a Veteran in my town and is a member of the local American legion who served in ww2, Korea, Vietnam, and the gulf war. There has to be very few people that served in all those 4 wars and still be alive today!
PLEASE GET HIM INTERVIEWED
Absolutely brought to TEARS! Amazing. Absolutely amazing. And from my home state too! I’m inspired.
I am a veteran served in the army and fought in Iraq and its people like you that carry the memories of these American hero’s from our past i am so grateful there are people like you and your family what you are doing is so important people need to know what these men and woman have done for our grateful nation! They would never know anything unless you and your family didn’t do what you all are doing i am so grateful and thankful for what you guys are doing!!keep these memories alive forever!!
Thank you for ur service
That's how I feel. I fought in Iraq, these men are fucking special, they're cut from a different cloth than us. It's such a shame not many of them are left.
@@hello4542 fuck him for invade iraq
This man Jake has reminded me of my great grandpa and great uncle they had the heart of gold like this man.
Me too❤ I think about them everyday They built them differently back then....
Thank you sir, my Dad , A farmboy from Vermont was in the 88th fighting in italy, he told me stories, thank you for telling us some of yours.
What a beautiful, wonderful, absolute blessing it is to hear from this man. So full of life even at 100 years old. Thank you for everything you do in documenting our World War II veterans.
Another incredible story of courage and determination by a member of the "Greatest Generation." Thank you Sir!!!
What a guy, what a hero, thank you.
What an amazing guy!!! Thanks from Spain. You´ll find few people in Europe, statistically speaking, with enough common sense to acknowledge and even thanks what that bunch of young americans, among many other nationalities of course, did in Europe. I feel proud to say that I´m of of them few. THANKS!!!
Maaaan...this made me tear up. Such a good hearted man...❤
Ik. I couldn't imagine what this guy went through. He probably thanked God every single day for letting him live through that war
I freaking love every one of these videos.
I wish my grandfather would have shared stories about his service in WW2. He was in the air corp and was a fighter pilot. He passed many years ago. I’m grateful for these videos.
Thank you papa jake 🙏 his episode on jocko podcast is great too , the poem his wife made for him makes me tear up everytime I hear it
Thank you for your service, Mr. Larson! I follow him on social media and he’s a hoot!
Thank you for your work! These stories are so important to preserve.
I sense so much gratitude and positivity in this man’s life. That’s actually super common among people who make it to 100.
He changed my life watching that video. God bless him and the ones he served with...
What an amazing outlook on life, to see so much horror and still appreciate life and see yourself as being lucky, takes a lot of strength of character. Thank you to this channel for making it your mission to find such incredible veterans and record their stories, very honourable and necessary work you're doing 👍
As a marine rn every time I see these videos it gives me chills and makes me want to do more love what y’all do and respect to the men and woman who served before me to pave the way Semper fi
Thank you for your service I'm going into the army myself.
As the The General said...Thank you Sargent jake and remember you are special and a hero just like the rest who fought and died and thank you for your service
The best channel on youtube hands down, might not has as many views today but in the future holds history and interviews of these brave men. Thank you
Memoirs of World War Two all I can say is thank you for telling the stories of the men and women of the greatest generation im truly humbled listening to these stories.
I cry everytime I watch these stories. I'm 36 growing up I actually had a chance to meet a D-Day veteran who told me some amazing stories from that time he was no longer alive. They really were the greatest generation
Grateful KZhead is a thing now, dudes like him are the last ones still standing today at 100 years old. In another decade or so all we’ll have is their stories to look back on, Super valuable conversations and stories to have recorded
As a service member myself I look up to this man for what he did. He’s a damn fine soldier
God... I'm having tears. Jake has such a beautiful soul. Even at 100 years old, you can see the young happy boy in him come out. Such happiness, joy & sense of humour even after all he's been through. What a wonderful man he is!
One of my great uncles was basically behind these guys as a medic helping all these men live.
My great Uncle counted US soldiers boarding the ships to Europe.
I can't thank these MEN enough!
His body has grown old, but his mind is still sharp. God bless this warrior.
Listening to this man speak him recounting the trauma of what he & his fellow brothers in arms experienced got me choked up man. Every single one of them are real true heroes who put their lives on the line to fight against a truly formidable opponent against all odds. I couldn't be anymore prouder of every one of them. That is why these veterans need & deserve to have the very best care in the world. Think they earned that right above everyone else. I truly thank them for their bravery & dedication for their efforts throughout every battle they fought. They'll never be forgotten
Very few people can understand what these guys saw and went through. It's indescribable.
Only those who served themselves can understand. Even warfare now looks like Nerf guns and foam rockets compared to WW2
I had to join your Patreon after watching this, and in memory of my Grandad as well. My late grandfather fought in the battle of Al Alamein in Africa. He was 8th Army. Man, he had some funny stories to tell.... would only tell the funny stories to us as kids, never any horror stories. He did always say the Germans were hard and tough fighters though... He always said that as if it was in respect to them. He survived the war, shipped out of Africa riddled with shrapnell. He was grateful for that as it was hell at that battle he said. I applied for his medals that he never collected around 1990 when I was about 16 years old. I forgot I had applied. 3 months later, a little brown box arrived 'On Her Majestys Service' - it was his 4 medals. I ran to his house with the medals and he said "Where is the bloody cheque?" - that was how he was, sharp as a razor. He tole me to keep the medals. The medals are now framed and now that I am 50 years old, I have passed the medals to my 27 year old daughter to look after. I wish he was still here so he could tell you his stories. Cheers Grandad, forever my hero
God bless you Mr. Larson, and thank you for your service, and thanks to all who served with you, both the lost and the returned.
Just absolutely amazing, terrifying, and inspiring. This generation of men makes me so proud to be an American 🇺🇸 thank you for this channel and all the hard work you guys do and reminding me and so many others what it means to be an American ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
The way he talks and tells this story is amazing! Thank you for service sir. And of course thank you Josh and family, amazing as always
Wow the fact that he bought the camera is awesome. That picture is worth so much for us to be able to go back in time
My grandfather was a ww2 veteran and he woulda loved to have told his story i think, especially at the end, this is noble work your doing, these dudes deserve to be recognized
Thank you Jake and to all of those of the greatest generation! It's amazing to think how so many of these young adults at the time gave up so many of their personal comforts to literally save the world from tyranny.
What a Warrior.. My Respects go out to this man.. What a story 🙏🏼
We are the last generation of people that will have been able to hear these stories straight from their mouth. So thank you for eternalizing this history 🎉🎉
Thank you Mr. Larson for all you did, and all you gave sir. May you continue to have good health and many more years of life.
As always, another priceless interview of an amazing individual. History lives on because of you guys.
I subscribed to this channel around the time it started and to see it grow is amazing, you guys do a phenomenal job every time and I’m looking forward to the future by exploring our past during WWII
I am so thankful for all the people that have fought for all of us so that we live a peaceful life not harmed by war, thank you to the many people that may have died or lived but fought with their life for us, for our future… We owe them.
This great man is a bloody hero! What an incredible story he's been through. Unfortunately these amazing people are all now sadly gone 😢 you will never see the likes of these great men again.
I crave another video every single time a new one is released. Listening to this guy reminded me a lot of listening to my great uncle about his time in the Army making his way through Normandy.
Incredible journey this man has been through. Thank you for your brave service .
I'm so thankful for the Greatest Generation. Grandpa fought for General Patton. He was my literal Super Hero, he taught me a lot.
The youth of today need to hear these stories..
How does this account not have more followers! This is better than anything the history channel use to put out. Thank you! I love every one of these stories.
I was waiting for you to interview this legend, thank you Josh. I freaking love every one of these videos..
SSG Larson - thank you for your service & bravery. I loved hearing your story & I felt like I was right there with you. God bless you!
Thank you and all men and women who sacrificed for saving the freedom of people and this country and the world.
I found this channel a few months ago and just caught up with all the videos, amazing series! Finally catching an episode right after it was released.
That's exactly how I found this channel 2 years ago I couldn't stop watching them until I seen them all and just came across this one today but yeah an absolutely incredible series stories so many of these videos gave me goosebumps and chills with tears in my eyes
after ww2 can you make one about vietnam
Yes
Don’t forget KOREA!
There's more Vietnam vets than WW2 vets still alive. I'm sure it wouldn't be impossible
Glad you guys invited Jake Larson, I have watched him since the American Veterans Center. He is a real hero that nowadays generation don't deserve. 🇺🇸
What a beautiful soul . I wish I could thank this man personally