article_snippet: And while the presence of veterans able to make the grueling trip has been steadily dwindling, the number of participants — about 500 — was double that of last year because of the significance of the 70th year since Japan's surrender ended World War II.
article_snippet: As a haunting reminder of the ferocity of the fighting, search teams continue to dig up more and more Japanese remains each year
article_snippet: it's estimated that 12,000 have yet to be found.
article_snippet: Wreckage of military equipment can still be seen dotting some of the beach areas, along with pill boxes and extensive mazes of caves.
article_snippet: After its capture, its was used by U.S. as an emergency landing site for B-29s, which eventually made 2,900 emergency landings there that are estimated to have saved the lives of 24,000 airmen who would have otherwise had to crash at sea.
highlights_snippet: Represents a major invasion and win for the U.S.
  