Photos: WWII vet, children he saved reunite

Image 0 of 14

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler smiles as he arrives at Bologna's airport, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler poses with Giulio, left, Mafalda, right, and Giuliana Naldi that he saved during a WWII at Bologna's airport, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler touches a rock where he was sitting with Giulio, Mafalda, and Giuliana Naldi to take picture after saving them during WWII, in Monterenzio, near Bologna, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler poses with Giulio, left, Mafalda, right, and Giuliana Naldi that he saved during a WWII at Bologna's airport, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler sits in front of the house where he saved Giulio, Mafalda, and Giuliana Naldi, during WWII, in Monterenzio, near Bologna, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler's wife wears a t-shirt with a picture with her husband, Giulio, Mafalda, and Giuliana Naldi taken during a WWII, at Bologna's airport, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler holds Giuliana Naldi's hand that he saved during a WWII, at Bologna's airport, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler speaks with journalists at Bologna's airport, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler, right, is welcomed upon his arrival by Giulio Mafalda Giuliana Naldi that he saved during a WWII at Bologna's airport, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler sits in front of the house where he saved Giulio, Mafalda, and Giuliana Naldi, during a WWII, in Monterenzio, near Bologna, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion Martin Adler, a 97-year-old retired American soldier, center, receives a kiss from Mafalda, right, and Giuliana Naldi, whom he saved during WWII, during a reunion at Bologna's airport, in Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Adler treasured a black-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The veteran met the three siblings - now octogenarians themselves - in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

Reunion A 97 year old retired American soldier Martin Adler, center, poses with Giulio, left, Mafalda, right, and Giuliana Naldi that he saved during a WWII at Bologna's airport, Italy, Monday, Aug. 23, 2021. For more than seven decades, Martin Adler treasured a back-and-white photo of himself as a young soldier with a broad smile with three impeccably dressed Italian children he is credited with saving as the Nazis retreated northward in 1944. The 97-year-old World War II veteran met the three siblings -- now octogenarians themselves -- in person for the first time on Monday, eight months after a video reunion. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) (Antonio Calanni/AP)

August 24, 2021 at 2:31 pm EDT

Latest Photo Galleries

PHOTOS: New water park to open in Metro Atlanta

PHOTOS: New water park to open in Metro Atlanta

April 01, 2026 at 12:17 pm EDT

REMEMBER THIS? $40 million Dean Gardens, Michael Jackson nearly bought, Tyler Perry did

REMEMBER THIS? $40 million Dean Gardens, Michael Jackson nearly bought, Tyler Perry did

April 01, 2026 at 8:28 am EDT

PHOTOS: Shop of north Georgia paramedic, coroner destroyed in blaze

PHOTOS: Shop of north Georgia paramedic, coroner destroyed in blaze

March 31, 2026 at 11:07 am EDT

PHOTOS: See founding documents for America's 250th birthday at Atlanta History Center

PHOTOS: See founding documents for America's 250th birthday at Atlanta History Center

March 27, 2026 at 8:37 am EDT

PHOTOS: Braves unveil new food items, seating options at Truist Park

PHOTOS: Braves unveil new food items, seating options at Truist Park

March 25, 2026 at 5:56 am EDT

PHOTOS: Historic Rome courthouse burns

PHOTOS: Historic Rome courthouse burns

March 23, 2026 at 3:21 pm EDT

PHOTOS: Lines stretch out the door at Atlanta's airport; 9 hour waits reported

PHOTOS: Lines stretch out the door at Atlanta's airport; 9 hour waits reported

March 23, 2026 at 11:51 am EDT

Chattahoochee Nature Center celebrates 50th anniversary

Chattahoochee Nature Center celebrates 50th anniversary

March 23, 2026 at 9:28 am EDT

Photos: NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament – First Round – Tampa

Photos: NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament – First Round – Tampa

March 23, 2026 at 12:00 am EDT

TSA security line nightmare at Hartsfield-Jackson

TSA security line nightmare at Hartsfield-Jackson

March 22, 2026 at 3:48 pm EDT