Don Wiedenmayer stands before an Allied Piper Cub

Algiers 1944

Army still photographer

Donald Wiedenmayer

Italian-Swiss Border,

Nauders, Switzerland - 1945

Italian women wade across the Reno River - 1944

Bicyclists cross the Reno River - 1944

"I remember reaching out from the jeep to retrieve my camera case as it had started to float downstream. That’s when my 35 mm camera around my neck it became water soaked," Wiedenmayer recalled. "I felt certain that the film was ruined."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The film wasn't and Wiedenmayer later printed several of these water-damaged prints for his own collection. The 1944 incident was in which Edmund Burke O'Connell's jeep unexpectedly sank in deep water while crossing the Reno River is recalled in "The Last Farewell - A Journey of the Heart."

Florence, Italy - Three color prints by Don Wiedenmayer show the aftermath of German occupation and the city's liberation by the Allies during the summer of 1944.

Ponte Vecchio Bridge - 1945

Edmund Burke O'Connell and his partner John Mason crossed the Arno River by jeep during the summer of 1944 while under sporadic German sniper fire. Their jeep was the first Allied vehicle they claimed into the liberated city.

Don Wiedenmayer identified fellow still photographer David Kurland in the background and O'Connell's first still partner John Mason in the foreground. The location is unknown.

Thanks to Don Wiedenmayer for providing these official photos taken during his service in North Africa and Italy. Captions are from Don's notes.

15th Army Group Headquarters,

Florence, Italy, Early 1945

Front row, (left to right) Maj. Gen. Alfred M. Gruether, Chief of Staff, Fifth Army; Maj. Jen. Geoffrey Keyes, C/G II Corps; Lt. Gen. Mark Clark, C/G 15th Army Group; Lt. Gen. Lucien K. Truscott, C/G 5th Army; Maj. Gen. Willis D. Crittenberger, C/G IV Corps; Maj. Gen. Vernon E. Prichard, C/G 1st Armored Division. BACK ROW: Maj. Gen Edward H. Almond, C/G 92nd Division, Maj. Gen William G. Livesay, C/G 91st Division; Maj. Gen. John B. Coulter, C/G 85th Division; Maj. Gen. Charles L. Bolte, C/G 34th Division; and Maj. Gen, Paul W. Kendall, C/G 88th Division. (Wiedenmayer photo)

LT. GEN. MARK W. CLARK

Official Army 8 x 10 portrait of Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, Commanding General of 5th Army (Autographed to Don Wiedenmayer, 196th Signal Photo Company)

THREE-STAR ARRIVAL

Not all of the generals sported such large flags but General George S. Patton used a rigid metal flag so it would always stand out. (Wiedenmayer photo)

15th Army Group Headquarters,

Florence, Italy, Feb. 13, 1945

George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff; Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark, Commanding General, 15th Army Group and Lt. General Joseph T. McNarney, Commanding General, Mediterranean Theater of Operations. (Wiedenmayer photo)

DECORATED BY PRINCE UMBERTO

Florence, Italy - Early 1945 - His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Umberto, Lieutenant General of the Realm and Commander-in-Chief of the Italian Army has just decorated Lt. General Mark W. Clark, Commanding General of 5th Army. There was a question as to whether General Mark Clark should have accepted the decoration from Prince Umberto as Italy was not an ally but a co-belligerent. (Wiedenmayer photo)