Italian ancestor with kids in Army uniforms

[cportante]

My great-grandfather had two daughters (no sons) but we have a photo of him with two very little boys in what appear to be U.S. Army uniforms from around WWI. We have never been able to figure out what the story was here.

Around the time of the photo, my GGF was living in the Iron Range of Minn. with lots of other Italians, so I'm thinking these may be godchildren or children of paesani, perhaps. Still, it's kind of an odd (yet adorable) photo.

Does anyone have a photo like the attached? Can you shed any light on this?

Thank you in advance,
Chris