US Military Brings Back Remains from World War II Battle

Marines march past transfer cases holding the possible remains of unidentified service members lost in the Battle of Tarawa on July 17, 2019. Sgt. Jacqueline Clifford/U.S. Marine Corps via AP

HONOLULU—The U.S. military has brought back the remains of more than 20 servicemen killed in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.

An Air Force cargo plane flew the remains from Tarawa atoll in the remote Pacific island nation of Kiribati to Hawaii on Wednesday. Marines carried flag-draped caskets off the plane for a ceremony.