Latest news with #WorldWarII-era
Boston Globe
a day ago
- General
- Boston Globe
D-Day veteran and TikTok star ‘Papa Jake' Larson dies at 102
'As Papa would say, love you all the mostest,' his granddaughter posted on his social media accounts. Advertisement Mr. Larson in 2019, before going for a ride in the "The Spirit of Benovia" World War II-era aircraft in Oakland, Calif. Eric Risberg/Associated Press Born Dec. 20, 1922, in Owatonna, Minn., Mr. Larson enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, lying about his age since he was only 15. In 1942, he was sent overseas and was stationed in Northern Ireland. He became operations sergeant and assembled the planning books for the invasion of Normandy. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up He was among the nearly 160,000 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. 'We are the lucky ones,' Mr. Larson told The Associated Press at the 81st anniversary of D-Day in June, speaking amid the immaculate rows of graves at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Advertisement 'We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive.' He advanced on to participate in the Battle of the Bulge, a grueling month-long fight in Belgium and Luxembourg that was one of the defining moments of the war and of Hitler's defeat. His service earned him a Bronze Star and a French Legion of Honor award. In recent years, he made repeated trips to Normandy for D-Day commemorations — and at every stop, 'Papa Jake' was greeted by people asking for a selfie. In return, he offered up a big hug. One memorable encounter came in 2023, when he came across Bill Gladden, a then-99-year-old British veteran who survived a glider landing on D-Day and a bullet that tore through his ankle. 'I want to give you a hug, thank you. I got tears in my eyes. We were meant to meet,' Mr. Larson told Gladden, as their handsclasped tightly. Gladden died the following year. In his TikTok posts and interviews, Mr. Larson combined humorous anecdotes with somber reminders about the horrors of war. In addition to the invasion of Normandy, Mr. Larson fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Eric Risberg/Associated Press Reflecting to AP on the three years he was in Europe, Larson said he is 'no hero.' Speaking in 2024, he also had a message to world leaders: 'Make peace not war.' He often called himself 'the luckiest man in the world,' and expressed awe at all the attention he was getting. 'I'm just a country boy. Now I'm a star on TikTok,' he said in 2023. Small-town museums and groups around Normandy that work to honor D-Day's heroes and fallen shared tributes online. Advertisement 'He was an exceptional witness and bearer of memory,' the Overlord Museum posted on Facebook. 'He came every year to the museum, with his smile, his humility and his tales that touched all generations. His stories will continue to live. Rest in peace Papa Jake,' it read.
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Straits Times
WWII-era bomb weighing over 200kg found in Melaka
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The bomb will be detonated in a controlled explosion. JASIN, Melaka - A World War II-era bomb weighing over 200kg has been discovered in Malaysia's Melaka state at the Felda Senggeh settlement. Jasin OCPD Superintendent Mohamad Rusli Mat said the unexploded ordnance (UXO) was found by a settler at 1.47pm on July 14 while he was clearing the land. He said the bomb disposal unit from district police headquarters was immediately deployed to the scene. 'Upon inspection, the device was confirmed to be an old UXO, probably from the World War II period, weighing close to 500 pounds (226kg),' he said on July 14. Mr Mohamad Rusli added that the bomb will be detonated in a controlled explosion on July 15 in accordance with standard operating procedures. Unexploded bombs can remain volatile even decades after they were deployed. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
The Star
14-07-2025
- The Star
WWII-era ordnance weighing over 200kg found near Jasin
JASIN: A suspected World War II-era unexploded ordnance (UXO) weighing approximately 226kg has been discovered at Felda Senggeh in Nyalas here. Jasin OCPD Supt Mohamad Rusli Mat said the bomb was found by a settler at around 1.47pm on Monday (July 14) while he was clearing his plot of land. He said the police weaponry and bomb disposal unit from the district police headquarters was immediately deployed to the scene to inspect the object. "Upon inspection, the device was confirmed to be an old UXO, probably from the World War II period, weighing close to 500 pounds (226kg),' he said on Monday (July 14). Supt Mohamad Rusli added that the bomb will be detonated in a controlled explosion on Tuesday (July 15) in accordance with standard operating procedures. UXOs were remnants of past conflicts and can remain volatile even decades after they were deployed.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Alaska's ‘Nazi Creek' renamed to honour Indigenous heritage
Federal officials on Thursday unanimously approved the renaming of two natural features on Alaska's Little Kiska Island, removing World War II-era names considered offensive and replacing them with Indigenous terms. The changes are a long-awaited step toward restoring cultural respect and historical accuracy in the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutian Islands saw military action during World War II, including Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska Islands.(File/ The United States Board on Geographic Names voted 17-0 to rename the 'Nazi Creek' to Kaxchim Chiĝanaa which translates to 'Gizzard Creek' or 'Creek belonging to Gizzard Island' in Unangam Tunuu, according to a report by the Alaska Beacon. A nearby summit known by a slur for Japanese people was renamed to Kaxchim Qayaa or 'Gizzard Hill'. Both the names were derived from traditional Indigenous names for Little Kiska Island. A report by SF Gate quoted Michael Livingston, a member of Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, who led the campaign for change, said the elders of the community were happy with the name change. 'It's about making things better for our community, " Livingston said. Livingston's efforts, the report added, were backed by local Native tribes, cultural institutions and civil rights organizations including the Museum of the Aleutians, Congregation Beth Sholom of Anchorage, and the Alaska chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. The origins of old names The former names, as per the Alaska Beacon report, dated back to a 1953 US Army map, where cartographers assigned arbitrary names based on alphabetical order, an explanation critics said was dismissive and harmful. Livingston said that these offensive terms were removed after World War II but somehow reappeared in mapping databases during the 2010s due to unvetted digitization of old maps. The Aleutian Islands saw military action during World War II, including Japanese occupation of Attu and Kiska Islands. The US government then had forced many Indigenous Unangax̂ people into poorly maintained internment camps. Many had died from illness and neglect in these camps. Federal reparations for those actions, according to the Beacon report, were granted in 1988 alongside payments to Japanese Americans interned during the war. Livingston's mission for change continues Livingston, a former police captain, was inspired to push for accurate mapping after delayed emergency response in Anchorage in 2002 which was partially caused by map inaccuracies. That's when he came across 'Nazi Creek' while reviewing outdated maps and was appalled to see it still in use. Livingston told SF Gate that to see 'Nazi' on a map in 2020s America was 'unthinkable'. His next target is Quisling Cove, a body of water named after Norwegian Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling. The renaming is currently under review. FAQs Q: What was 'Nazi Creek' renamed to? It was renamed to Kaxchim Chiĝanaa, meaning 'Gizzard Creek' in the Unangam Tunuu language. Q: Why were the names changed? The names were considered offensive and rooted in arbitrary WWII-era naming conventions that ignored Indigenous history. Q: What language are the new names from? Unangam Tunuu, the traditional language of the Indigenous Unangax̂ people. Q: Are more name changes expected? Yes. A campaign is on to rename Quisling Cove, another WWII-era name referencing a Nazi collaborator.
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
TaylorMade P·UDI Bomber Utility Iron blends retro style with tour-ready performance
Gear: TaylorMade P·UDI Bomber utility iron Price: $299.99 with UST Recoil Dart Bomber shaft and Golf Pride Victory Black/Copper grip Specs: One-piece forged 4140 high-speed face, internal mass optimization with 26 grams of tungsten, thick-thin back wall construction, sound stabilization bar, Thru-Slot Speed Pocket. Available: July 10 Who it's for: Skilled players who want a long-iron replacement that delivers shot-making versatility, with a vintage-inspired look What you should know: Built with a nod to 1940s bomber aircraft, the P·UDI Bomber blends clean, tour-style shaping and advanced internal weighting with a forged face and Speed Pocket to help better players hit penetrating, workable shots with precision and control. The Deep Dive: TaylorMade is known for pushing innovation forward, but the new P·UDI Bomber takes a brief detour—stylistically, at least—into the past. Drawing design inspiration from World War II-era aircraft, the P·UDI Bomber carries a military-style paint job, engraved detailing, and a premium shearling-lined headcover that wouldn't look out of place in a pilot's duffel bag. But despite its vintage look, this club is built for modern performance. This is TaylorMade's most aggressive iteration of the UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) yet, and it's positioned as the more penetrating, lower-launching counterpart to the P·DHY utility iron. Compared to the P·DHY, which offers higher launch and more forgiveness, the P·UDI Bomber is designed for golfers who want to flight the ball down, shape shots on command, and replace a fairway wood or long iron with something more precise off the tee or fairway. The shaping is deliberate—clean and compact at address, with a topline and sole width that will appeal to better players who like to work the ball. Inside the head, TaylorMade's team used internal mass optimization and placed 26 grams of tungsten low and forward to lower launch and increase control. The one-piece forged 4140 face is built for speed, while the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket helps preserve distance on low strikes—particularly useful when playing from tight turf or low-cut tee boxes. The club also features a thick-thin back wall structure and a sound stabilization bar that combine to dial in feel and acoustics. While some utility irons in this category can feel hollow or harsh, the P·UDI Bomber delivers a more solid, forged-like impact sound that matches its premium appearance. It's available only in a 1-iron loft (17 degrees) with a 40-inch length and comes standard with a UST Recoil Dart Bomber Edition graphite shaft and a Golf Pride Victory Black/Copper grip—both customized to fit the club's retro aesthetic. Custom options are available through TaylorMade's fitting channels. At $299.99, it's priced like a specialty club—and it is one. But for players who want a playable utility iron with serious style and substance, the P·UDI Bomber hits the target.
