I can't imagine how it would have been like being there during that time....
From what I've read, Iwo was hot, humid, and stunk of sulfurous fumes that pecolated up from the magma dome beneath the island. Imagine living with the stench of rotting eggs 24/7!
Only the flight crews were able to escape the stench when they went off into combat.
My hat's off to those who bled and died on that island.
RC