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196th Signal Photo Company Still Photo Gallery
Selected photos taken by members of the 3131st Signal Service Battalion and the 196th Signal Photo Company during the Italian Campaign of World War II. Photographs are identified by the first and last name of the photographer and Army Signal Corps serial number and obtained from the National Archives, private collections and the public domain.. Each caption is transcribed from the reverse side of its original Army Signal Corps photograph. (Click on each thumbnail photo for a larger view.)
VIEW INDEX TO STILL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Still photo coverage by members of the 3131st Signal Service Company from September to December 1944
prior to re-designation to the 196th Signal Photo Company.
Getty, George H., 196th Signal Photo Company
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21 April 1945 - 5/MM-45-7598 - Fifth Army, Bologna Area, Italy Allied traffic on Highway 65 south of Bologna, extending about 10 miles, waiting to ford a river, until the bridge can be completed. (Photo by George Getty, 196th Signal Photo Company) |
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Getty was assigned to the Signal Corps as a combat photographer. Getty shipped for overseas duty in early May 1943, arriving in Oran, North Africa, on May 13 where he became a member of a combat photo team consisting of a still photographer (Getty), a motion picture cameraman and a driver. The team was attached to the Third Infantry Division and photographed the assault landing near Licata, Sicily, on July 10, 1943. In October 1943, Getty received his U.S. citizenship. On Jan. 1, 1944, Getty's GAU (General Assignment Unit #2), 196th Signal Photo Company, the last to leave Sicily, left Palermo, Siciliy and headed for its newly-assigned location near Naples. "Our entourage consisted of 2nd Lt. James V. Gann; Pvt. Francis P. Mulhair (Pat), motion picture cameramen; Pvt. Chester G. Rusbar (Rus), still photographer Pvt. Geogre H. Getty, still photographer; and Pvts. Marshall H. Bull and John N. Pits, drivers. Sgt. Louis J. Murchio, a motion picture cameran was left behind in a hospital in Palermo where he was recuperating from surgery. Murchio, a motion picture cameraman would rejoin us when able. We were driving three vehicles loaded with our personal equipment and bed rolls plus whatever else we had managed to scrounge and had hopes of keeping." - Getty diary. Consequently, after the conquest of Sicily, Getty went on to serve as a combat photographer at Cassino, Italy, where he was severely wounded on February 22, 1944. His decorations included a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the French Croix de Guerre, and various battle stars and citations. He returned to the U.S. in July 1945, and was honorably discharged on September 7, 1945. Getty accepted the invitation of a former high school classmate to join him in Traverse City, Michigan to do freelance photography. He later worked for a local photographer, then as a graphic artist for television station WPBN doing photography and art work. Getty was married to Helen Brunson who generously contributed this obituary which was written by fellow 196th SPC photographer Louis Murchio to the co-authors. Twice George and Helen toured Sicily and Italy to retrace his wartime steps and were able to meet many of the families he got to know during the war. During his postwar years, George enjoyed writing. Those of his friends who were privileged to read any of his poems enjoyed this one the most. The title is Portrat and it is featured here with Helen Getty's permission: Peaceful by nature, not easily riled, Lover of freedom, Democracy's child. Angered by proof of a people suppressed, Aware of a problem that must be addressed. Peacefull by nature but willing to fight, Convinced that a mission of mercy is right. Eager for action, to do what he can, This is America's young fighting man. - George Getty, May 20, 2003 |
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American Soldiers Enjoy Ice Cream on the terrace of
the Enlisted Men's American Red Cross Service Club, Rome, Italy,
Casina Delle Rose.
An Ice cream plant on the premises was operated by
Italians employed by the American Red Cross which served some 15,000
soldiers daily. -
(Photo by George Getty, 196th Signal Photo Company). |
Graning, Paul D., 196th Signal Photo Company
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22 February, 1945 - 5/MM-45-3043 - Fifth Army, Della Torraccia Area, Italy A Sherman tank hit a German Teller mine and broke its tread. Engineers from the 126th Engineers, 10th Mountain Division, sweep the area for more mines. (Photo by Paul D. Graning, 196th Signal Photo Company) |
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19 April 1945 - 5/MM-45-7099 - Fifth Army, Montepastore, Italy A wire crew of the 85th Division Artillery strings wire using a truck set up they invented. (Photo by Paul D. Graning, 196th Signal Photo Company) |
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6 January 1945 - 5/MM-45-175 - Fifth Army, Italy An infantry company marches through the snow. They are one mile from the front, but still take their daily march. Source: Historical Media 2007. Note: Stars and Stripes field censorship marks. (Photo by Paul D. Graning, 196th Signal Photo Company). |
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31 August 1944 - MM-5-44-10080 - Fifth Army, Arno River Area, Italy Capt. Charles F. Gandy, CO, "F" 370th Combat Team, 92nd Infantry Division, 423 Hobart Street, NW, Washington, D.C. on his right, 1st Lt. R.A. Montgomery, CO "H" 370th Combat Team, 318-3rd St., S.W. Washington, D.C. In the rear of the Jeep, Pvt. Harold Clemens, 56 W. 127th St., New York City. Capt. Gandy has just received his orders, take his company, across the Arno River near Pontedera. Last night one of his patrols was the first to cross the Arno River and return with prisoners. (Photo by Paul D. Graning, 196th Signal Photo Company). |
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16 April 1945 - 5/MM-45-6819 - Fifth Army, Tole Area, Italy Members of the First Battalion, of the 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, moving up the side of a hill toward Tole. Other members are taking a break. (Photo by Paul D. Graning, 196th Signal Photo Company). |
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Harry Hartman, 196th Signal Photo Company
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21 February 1945 - 5/MM-45-2932 Fifth Army, Mount Grande area, Italy
(Re-enacted) Litter bearers putting casualty in ambulance after carrying him from the mountains. They are with the 1st Btn., Medical Section, 337th Infantry Regiment, 85th Avenue. Photo by Harry Hartman, 196th Signal Photo Company
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22 January 1945 - 5/MM-45-1313, Fifth Army, Italy Pvt. George Bohlman, Milwaukee, Wis.,paints a 155mm rifle with white paint to camouflage it from aerial observation. Source: Historical Media 2007. (Photo by Harry Hartman, 196th Signal Photo Company) |
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25 August 1944 - MM-5-44-9653 - Fifth Army, Ponsacco, Italy M-10 tank destroyers equipped with 3-inch naval guns firing as artillery at German positions across the Arno River. 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion, 1st Armored Division. (Photo by Harry Hartman, 3131st Signal Service Company). |
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31 December 1944 - MM/45/30042 - Fifth Army, Radicosa, Italy Left to right: Pfc. Jessie Treat, Seymour, Mo., Pfc. Brody Radford, Snow Hill, N>C., Battery "C", 532nd A.W. Battalion, crew of multiple .50 cal. machine gun stand by in snowstorm alert for enemy air attack on Highway #65. (Photo by Harry Hartman, 3131st Signal Service Company). |
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1 September 1944 - MM-5-44-10181 - Fifth Army, Cascina Area, Italy Negro troop of Co. "N", 3rd Bn., 370th Infantry Regiment, advance through Cascina as Fifth Army moves against the enemy. (Photo by Harry Hartman, 3131st Signal Service Company). |
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Kurland, David. 196th Signal Photo Company
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196th Signal Photo Company still photographer
David Kurland , right, is featured in
a new Italian-produced |
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14 April 1944 - MM-KUR-44-10625 - Naples, Italy - "THIS IS THE ARMY" The touring cast of “This Is the Army” (ABOVE) dine on the terrace of the Naples Royal Palace, begun in 1600 by Dominico Fontana and restored in 1837 where they lived during their spring engagement. A 1943 motion picture produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner, and directed by Michael Curtiz. The story and original music were written by Irving Berlin. A wartime musical designed to boost morale in the U.S. during World War II, it features a large ensemble cast, including George Murphy, Joan Leslie, Alan Hale, and the late Ronald Reagan. (Photo by David Kurland, 196th Signal Photo Company) |
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Levine, Melvin, 196th Signal Photo Company
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22 February, 1945 - 5/MM-45-2975 - Fifth Army, Mount Grande Area, Italy Fifth Army infantrymen pass through a bend in the road in the Mount Grande area on a cold winter's day, after coming out of the lines. (Photo by Melvin Levine, 196th Signal Photo Company) |
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24 March 1945 – 5/MM-45-5376, Fifth Army, Italy Infantrymen of the New Jewish Brigade pay homage to their first dead. Photo by Melvin Levine, 196th Signal Photo Company. |
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10 April 1945 – 5/MM-45-6277, Fifth Army, Massa Area, Italy Here lie two Italian partisans and an American. Photo by Melvin Levine, 196th Signal Photo Company. |
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Longini, Robert
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During the invasion of Sicily, an American cargo ship is hit by a bomb from a German plane and its cargo of munitions explodes, off Gela, Sicily, July 11, 1943. Lt. Robert J. Longini. (Army) |
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RELUCTANT MODEL - German prisoner has picture taken, Fedala, French Morocco. This U.S. Army Signal Corps photo shows captured German officer poses unwillingly for Signal Corps photographer Lt. Robert Longini, at Fedala. Reactions of prisoners were different as their tempermants. Note the U.S. flag on the lieutenant's sleeve. This device was used so that natives would be able to distinquish Yanks easily. Original caption has published version in the upper right corner. Born and educated in Chicago, Robert John Longini (1915-1962) became interested in photography at the age of eleven and worked as a documentary film maker and photographer all his life. Among his influences were Robert Capa, the Life magazine photographer and father of modern war photography; Wallace Kirkland, a personal friend who also photographed for Life; and Lázló Moholy-Nagy, the Bauhaus painter and photographer who was head of the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where Longini also taught. A lieutenant in the U.S. Army 163rd Signal Photographic Company, Longini served in North Africa and Italy; he was the official Army photographer at the Casablanca Conference and also the cameraman for the Army documentary The Battle of San Pietro. Link: http://library.mcmaster.ca/archives/findaids/fonds/l/longini.htm |
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196th Signal Photo Company Photographers - Selected Photos
These special tribute pages features some of the significant still photography of five Army Signal Corps photographers who served in the 196th Signal Photo Company. They include:
/ Cecil "Max"Campbell / John Mason / Donald Wiedenmayer / Jerry KosseffIndex to 196th Signal Photo Company - Still Photo Gallery
Known Army Signal Corps photographs attributed by Signal Corps serial number to individual members of the 3131st Signal Service Company and the 196th Signal Photo Company, Italian Campaign, 1944-1945. These photos were obtained from the National Archives and the public domain.
/ G-L / M-R / S-Z
We invite you to sign our guestbook and leave your comments
/ View GuestbookHome / About the Co-Authors / About the Book / The Latest - Author Events / Edmund Burke O'Connell / Media Inquiries / Screenplay / Villa Calamai / Donald Wiedenmayer / Contact the Authors / Buy the Book
Historical Resources
O'Connell's Equipment: Bell & Howell 35mm Eyemo Camera
Captain Melvin Gillette / Architect of the Army Pictorial Service
Selected Reference Materials (Orders and Official Documents) / Army Pictorial Service - North Africa
196th SPC - Awards and Decorations
/ 196th SPC Roll of Honor / 196th SPC - Unit History/ 196th SPC - Campaign for Sicily / 196th SPC - Motion Picture Coverage / 196th - Still Photo Coverage
Bibliography / Veteran's History Project / Nauders Crossroads - 1945
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© The Last Farewell - A journey of the heart
By Edmund Burke O'Connell and co-authors Julie Whitman Jones and Thomas J. Sullivan, Jr.
email the authors: info@thelastfarewell.net
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