Wednesday “We Remember”
First up, actor and writer Tom Troupe died. Mr. Troupe aced in a bunch of TV shows – according to IMDB he had 75 credited roles. In movies, I am guessing some of you may remember a wartime drama/comedy called “Kelly’s Heroes”? He played Job. Or perhaps you saw the William Holden movie “The Devil’s Brigade” in which he played Pvt. Al Manella. Then we get to seemingly every TV show ever made…the man got around. But one little facet of his life caught my attention pre-Hollywood:
Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Troupe moved to New York in 1948 to pursue a career in acting. But he first would serve in the Korean War, earning a bronze star, according to his representative. After his service, Troupe returned to New York and made his Broadway debut in 1957 in a production of “The Diary of Ann Frank.” CBS News
Next we come to a bit more of a late bloomer. Jake Larson, a WWII vet who had more than a million followers on-line as “Papa Jake, died at the ripe young age of 102 on July 17th.
Papa Jake, who recently won an Emmy for his interview with journalist Christiane Amanpour, was a D-Day veteran who shared his stories on TikTok to his 1.2 million followers.
Larson shared stories on social media of his time in the army during World War II.
In a video posted to TikTok, the veteran stated that he was 21 years old when he landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. He said he knew about where the armed forces were landing during D-Day because he worked on the top-secret invasion. AZ Central
Born on Dec. 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minnesota, Larson grew up on a farm without electricity or running water during the Great Depression. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938 at age 15, lying about his age, according to the Best Defense Foundation. His unit was transferred to federal service in 1941 following Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
In January 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. Larson was among the Allied troops who stormed the Normandy shore on D-Day, June 6, 1944, surviving machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha Beach. He made it unhurt to the bluffs that overlook the beach, then studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers.
After D-Day, he fought on through the Battle of the Bulge. He and his sweetheart, Lola, later settled in California, where they raised a family after the war.Fox News
According to his grand-daughter he was in good spirits and cracking jokes till the end.
Category: Korea, We Remember, WWII
I would be one of the million followers of Mr. Jake Larson, I enjoyed the way he spoke about his experiences…The best part of the internet is that men like this who were recorded telling their stories will live on forever in that virtual world…
His stories, and those of men like him, are a reminder of a time when the world stood between good and evil, and average men had to become heroes in order that good might prevail.
A lesson more people would be wise to learn and remember as the world gets ever more dangerous once again.
RIP Gentlemen.
God speed to your reunion with family and war buddies Mr. Larson. Thank you for our freedom.
Rest Well, Gentlemen.
Thank you for lives lived fully.