Veteran returns to Omaha Beach for first time in 75 years

earlier this morning Army veteran Jake Larson you just saw him was honored for his bravery the 96 year old stormed Omaha Beach 75 years ago today about that for a second he says he is the last living member of his unit Anthony Mason who's leading our coverage from Normandy today Anthony what a story he has to tell good morning to you yeah he sure does Gail Jake Larson has a great life in California with nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren but d-day was a moment that changed his life forever and yesterday was the first time in 75 years he stepped back onto Omaha Beach 75 years how come I'm still alive I'm still alive Jake Larson was 21 years old when he stormed Omaha Beach with his army unit never in my life that I ever think that I would be standing on Omaha Beach on the 75th anniversary of d-day it's like a dream come true like I won the lottery the 96 year old vet says the beach today looks dramatically different the sea here is clear there was bloody bodies what can a person say now accepted wars he'll just think of it a million minds out we follow us 2400 wrong yeah shooting at you yeah any one time you stopped for a cigarette I stopped for a cigarette behind that berm and my matches were wet so I I turned to my left and not three feet from me there was a soldier and I said buddy have you got a match and he didn't answer I looked again and there was no head under the helmet the soul of that boy inspired me to aqua tech instant and run for the clip how does it feel to come back here J it's one of the most unbelievable things can ever happen to me I never figured I'd be even living this long 96 years old is not chicken feed no sir it's not but Larsen almost didn't make it here and it wasn't because of his age but because of funding veteran organizations were going to help but there was a problem as quick as they found out that my service records were burned up they dropped me like a hot potato but two women at his favorite coffee shop decided to raise money for him through a crowdfunding site when they told me they were gonna put that on the internet or someplace I said I'm gonna get one of the chairs here and get a tin cup and sit out in front now but you all pick up more right outside here than you will for that I said who is gonna pay money for me go over there turns out a lot of people didn't how did that make you feel well it made me feel great because I've got a book that I didn't know if I could publish or not yeah but this is gonna help me publish that the name of the book it's going to be the luckiest man in the world that's how you feel that's exactly how I feel the motto of your unit which is on a pin on your head I believe yes to the last man you're the last man that I am the last man yeah what do you want people to know on this 75th anniversary J don't remember me remember all those guys that sacrifice their lives for freedom that we all enjoy today and remember freedom is not free no it's not it was his friends at the bagel street cafe in Martinez California who started the fundraiser to send him over to Normandy he's well-known at the shop Jake used to drive himself there six days a week that was until he couldn't drive anymore he's a little grumpy about that fact but he's great very grateful for this trip guys so great I love him saying don't remember me but now that you've introduced us to him we will never forget him exactly every beginning we'll have to look for that book the luckiest man in the world I love that he considers himself that and so many of these men who survived have all said something similar to that you see why people wanted to remember me with him go ahead Anthony then remember and remember you guys 96 years old is not chicken feet no sir it's not they still got a lot of he's very feisty guy I like that I like that a lot of spirit Thank You Anthony Mason in Normandy what a great job you're doing thank you so much

Channel: CBS Mornings

Views: 1,123,355

Keywords: video, cbs, news, CBS News, CBS This Morning, D-Day invasion, Normandy, France, World War II, D-Day anniversary, veterans, Jake Larson

Id: hMruLqIy-Pg

Length: 5min 18sec (318 seconds)

Published: Thu Jun 06 2019