MARTINEZ (KRON) — A group of friends is going to battle for a 96-year-old Martinez man hoping to return to Normandy.
Jake Larson survived D-Day there 75 years ago, but the army won’t sponsor his trip to France because it says it has no record of his service.
“I dodged bullets coming from the bottoms, from both places,” Larson said. “You talk about the luckiest man in the world, I am it.”
Larson says he’s the luckiest man in the world, sharing war stories and awards with KRON4’s Michelle Kingston in his Martinez home.
Larson has 11 great grandchildren, pointing out the photos of his family displayed all over his apartment, next to his American flag.
Almost every morning — Larson comes to the Bagel Street Cafe in Martinez.
When his friends found out the army would not sponsor his trip to Normandy this June because his military records were destroyed in an army base fire in the 1970s, they went to work.
“It’s unbelievable how people have come through for me from all over the place,” he said.
A GoFundMe page shows people have donated thousands of dollars toward Larson’s trip.
“I’ve got it completely paid for and I am going first class.”
Larson says he’s the only living survivor from his unit that stormed Omaha Beach and this trip is for them.
“I am going back for all of my buddies”
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