Who described Marines and Sailors at Iwo Jima as having "uncommon valor was a common virtue"?

The phrase "uncommon valor was a common virtue" was famously used by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz in reference to the Marines and Sailors fighting at Iwo Jima during World War II. This statement was made to honor the bravery and determination displayed by those servicemen in a particularly brutal and pivotal battle.

Nimitz's remarks capture the essence of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the troops in the face of overwhelming odds and harsh conditions. The battle of Iwo Jima was significant not only for its strategic importance but also for the intense and fierce fighting that characterized it, making the accolades toward the Marines and Sailors especially poignant. The phrase emphasizes that while the valor shown by the Marines was extraordinary, such courage was a shared quality among all who served during the battle, thus reinforcing a sense of unity and collective bravery among them.