Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient

Dec 22 , 2025

Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient

The air was thick with smoke and hate. His men were cut down like wheat before a scythe, yet Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood unyielding on the ridge. Bullets screamed past, shells pocked the earth beside him, and blood soaked his uniform. Wounded. Tired. Outnumbered. Still, he shouted orders over the deafening chaos. He refused to let the line break.

Background & Faith

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ed Schowalter was no stranger to discipline and duty. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1949, stepping into a world already tearing at its seams. A soldier forged in the aftermath of World War II, ready to face the budding storms of Korea.

Faith was his bedrock. Schowalter’s Christian walk wasn’t something he wore on his sleeve; it was engraved deep within his marrow. The battlefield was hell, but he drew strength from a deeper place. The Psalmist’s promise—“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4)—rang true in his mind amid the shell bursts.

The Battle That Defined Him

It was April 22, 1951. Near Sokkogae, Korea, Captain Schowalter’s company faced the fiercest test any leader can meet. Tasked with holding a critical hill against overwhelming Chinese assaults, the odds were stacked against them—enemy forces thrice their number.

His position was pierced again and again. First, a bullet struck his face, splitting his cheek open. Later, shrapnel tore through his shoulder and groin. Blood ran freely, but surrendering was not an option.

Refusing evacuation, Schowalter rallied his men, closing ranks, reorganizing defenses, and directing counterattacks. He personally led a bayonet charge down the hill under heavy fire, terrifying the enemy. When radio communication failed, he used hand signals, shouted commands, and employed every scrap of leadership to keep hope alive.

At one point, after losing nearly half the company, Schowalter was hit a fourth time—this time seriously wounded in the leg. Still, he dragged himself to the front lines, refusing medical aid until the position was secure.

The hill was theirs by dawn.

Recognition

For this extraordinary heroism, Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads in part:

“Although painfully wounded, Captain Schowalter rallied his men with inspiring leadership. Against overwhelming enemy forces, he led the counterattack that regained and held the vital hill. His intrepidity and resolve were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service.”[^1]

His battalion commander later said, “Ed’s courage was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anyone fight like that while wounded so badly. He saved the day, literally.”

Legacy & Lessons

Schowalter’s story bleeds truth about the burden of command and the price of valor. Real courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the refusal to let fear dictate your actions. It’s leading when broken.

His battle scarred more than his body—it carved a path for others showing the power of faith under fire, the grit demanded of leaders, and the sacrifice bound in each step of combat.

He carried not just wounds, but the weight of those who depended on him.

Today, Schowalter’s example reminds us that redemption can rise from blood-soaked ground. That an unyielding spirit fortified by faith and duty can withstand hell itself.

As the ancient word testifies:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. isn’t just a name etched in Medal of Honor rolls—he’s a living testament that even amid the darkest valleys, light flickers from the souls willing to fight for it.

[^1]: U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients — Korean War, “Edward R. Schowalter Jr.”