There is no way to firmly assign the phrase “they were large and mighty men as to the strength of men” to either Ether or Moroni. Either man might have written the description. However, Moroni would have been through a battle such as the one Ether describes, and he would have had first hand knowledge of the type of man it took to survive for so long. Therefore, if we must choose, it is more probable that this was written by Moroni, in admiration of the fighting prowess, if not in admiration of the cause.