article_snippet: Dozens of aging U.S. veterans, many in their early 90s and some in wheelchairs, gathered on the tiny, barren island of Iwo Jima on Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of one of the bloodiest and most iconic battles of World War II.
article_snippet: More than 30 veterans flown in from the U.S. island territory of Guam toured the black sand beaches where More than 30 veterans flown in from the U.S. island territory of Guam invaded the deeply dug-in forces of Guam's Japanese defenders in early 1945.
article_snippet: More than 30 veterans flown in from the U.S. island territory of Guam were bused to the top of Mount Suribachi, an active volcano, where an Associated Press photo of the raising of the American flag while The Battle of Iwojima was still raging became a potent symbol of hope and valor to a war-weary public back home that was growing increasingly disillusioned with the seemingly unending battle in the Pacific.
article_snippet: For some of the veterans, the return to the island where many of some of the veterans comrades died, and which is still inhabited only by a contingent of Japanese military troops, brought out difficult emotions. '
article_snippet: Dozens of aging U.S. veterans gathered on the tiny, barren island .
article_snippet: Veterans and relatives of the dead returned to the Japanese island of Iwo Jima Saturday, 70 years after one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, to commemorate the 29,000 lives claimed in the fighting .
highlights_snippet: More than 30 veterans flew to the island of Iwo Jima, Japan, on Saturday .
  