PHOTOS: Excavating WWII servicemembers on Tarawa

Brisbane / Landry Family

Remains of Howard Brisbane, excavated in a Pacific grave.

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Tarawa excavation site in 2017. 452 U.S. troops are still missing on Tarawa today.

Clay Bonnyman Evans / History Flight, Inc.

Skull of Marine 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.

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Trash and debris near graves of U.S. troops on Tarawa.

Clay Bonnyman Evans / History Flight, Inc.

Tarawa remains of Marine 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman, Jr., found near Howard Brisbane.

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Tarawa excavation in June 2017. Team prepares to unearth a U.S. Marine.

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Pig pen and shantytown feet from where U.S. service members are buried.

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Barrels and debris near graves of U.S. service members on Tarawa.

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Tarp covering American burial trench, excavated 73 years after Battle of Tarawa.

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Chickens and debris near American WWII burial site.

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Non-profit charity History Flight excavates U.S. Marines.

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Tarawa excavation in June 2017. Anthropologist with the non-profit charity, History Flight, found +100 U.S. service members on the island.

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Tarawa resident works to excavate U.S. Marine.

National Archives

Tarawa Cemetery where Howard Brisbane's family thought he was buried. Area of his grave marker circled in red.

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