Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. awarded Medal of Honor for Hill 327

Jan 14 , 2026

Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. awarded Medal of Honor for Hill 327

Blood dripped down his face, stinging in the bitter Korean wind. His rifle jammed. Behind him, the enemy surged forward, flame and fury like a storm. But Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood unbroken—wounded, bleeding, refusing to fall. His voice rang out over the chaos, rallying shattered men to hold the line. This was no ordinary fight. This was the crucible that burned a warrior’s soul.

The Forge of Faith and Duty

Born in 1927 in San Antonio, Texas, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. carried the grit of the Lone Star State embedded in his bones. Raised in a family where faith and honor were pillars, he internalized a warrior’s code of responsibility. Not just to country, but to the men beside him.

Schowalter was a man grounded in something beyond the battlefield—a belief that his sacrifices were part of a greater purpose. Scripture, often his unseen companion, whispered strength in the darkest moments.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid.” —Joshua 1:9

He lived by that charge.

Hell on the Imjin: The Battle That Defined Him

April 22, 1951. Outnumbered and exposed on Hill 327 near the Imjin River, Captain Schowalter commanded Company F, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. The Chinese forces smashed against their position in waves, a relentless tide threatening to drown the line.

A mortar blast hurled shrapnel into Schowalter’s throat, severing a carotid artery. Blood poured, vision blurred. Medics urged him to fall back. But he refused. Weak, gasping, bound by a will unyielding, he seized an M1 rifle. Despite the wound spilling his lifeblood, he climbed the bunker’s parapet to direct fire.

His men, inspired by the sight of their commander bleeding but unbowed, held firm.

When enemy grenades threatened his position, Schowalter threw himself across a comrade, absorbing the blast’s impact—shattered ribs and broken bones the price paid to protect his brothers in arms.

Throughout 14 hours of brutal combat, his voice remained steady. His commands cut through enemy fire and chaos like a blade.

The hill was held.

The Medal of Honor: Testimony to Relentless Valor

In 1952, President Harry S. Truman bestowed the Medal of Honor on Edward R. Schowalter Jr. for this extraordinary heroism. The citation reads:

“Despite severe wounds, Captain Schowalter continued to lead his company with gallantry, inspiring his men to repel overwhelming enemy forces at great personal risk.”

His actions weren’t just brave — they saved lives. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Goldmann, his battalion commander, would later say:

“Ed had the heart of a lion and the soul of a shepherd. His courage held us together.”

Legacy Etched in Sacrifice and Redemption

Schowalter’s scars tell a story that echoes far beyond the battlefield. The price paid is etched in his body and soul—but his fight wasn’t merely for survival. It was for brotherhood, for country, for a cause greater than himself.

What separates a true leader in war? Not the absence of fear, but the willingness to fight through it. Not to abandon the fallen, but to carry them forward.

In a world quick to forget the cost of war, his story demands reckoning. The flame of his sacrifice offers light to veterans walking shadowed paths and civilians seeking meaning in the sacrifice.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. bore that truth in combat and beyond. He reminds us that courage is born from brokenness. That leadership is forged in selflessness. That redemption can rise from the trenches of blood and thunder.

Let his story be a rallying cry for those who fight for more than survival. For those who carry the burden so others might live free.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. "Edward R. Schowalter Jr.," Valor Awards for Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Military Times Hall of Valor 3. Goldmann, Gilbert, Command and Courage: Stories from the Korean War (1995)