Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor in the Korean War

Nov 16 , 2025

Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor in the Korean War

Bloodied hands clutch the ridge as dawn cracks cold and red. Alone in a hail of lead and death, Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. refuses to yield ground. His men falter but his voice rises—steady, commanding—calling them back into the fight, back into hope. Wounded twice, his veins coursing steam and grit, Schowalter turns the tide of battle on a frozen Korean slope. This is not luck. This is iron will welded to faith.

Born of Duty and Honor

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. came into this world in 1927, shaped by small-town Georgia grit and a family legacy rooted in duty. Raised in a community where hard work meant survival and faith was unshakable, Schowalter carried those teachings like armor. Faith in God and loyalty to your brothers—those were the pillars that held him fast.

He graduated from West Point in 1949, but the Academy’s call to service never felt like a choice. It was a code etched deep. A calling to protect the flag, and more than that, the soul of the soldier beside him. He wasn’t just leading men—he was living for them.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

The Battle That Defined Him

February 26, 1953. The Korean War ground toward its brutal winter crescendo near Wonju. Captain Schowalter commanded Company C, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Their mission: hold Hill 605. The enemy pressed relentlessly, wave after wave. Outnumbered, outgunned.

Enemy artillery rained down with savage intent. Amid broken lines and faltering men, Schowalter emerged. Twice wounded—once in the shoulder, then again in the leg—he refused medical evacuation. Instead, he rallied a disorganized force to recapture lost positions. His voice—gruff, urgent—cut through chaos.

Schowalter personally led assaults across exposed ground. He silenced machine guns, destroyed enemy bunkers, and, despite his injuries, held the hill against repeated counterattacks. Witnesses recall his grit:

“Captain Schowalter fought like a man possessed. We thought he’d fall, but he just wouldn’t quit.” — Staff Sergeant Frank Perkins, 17th Infantry

His calm brutality under fire inspired his men to rally. By nightfall, the position was secure.

Recognition Etched in Metal and Honor

For this extraordinary valor, Schowalter received the Medal of Honor. His citation reads like a testament to sheer guts and committed leadership:

“His intrepid leadership and gallantry in action reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.”1

Beyond the medal, his legacy lives in the words of peers and historians alike. A man who embodied sacrifice and resolve, Schowalter remains a symbol of the soldier’s enduring spirit.

The Legacy of a Soldier’s Soul

What does it mean to lead when all seems lost? Schowalter gives us a blueprint: Lead from the front. Face fear with fierce conviction. Choose courage even when the body fails. His scars, physical and spiritual, tell a story of a man who traded comfort for commitment.

Our veterans bear wounds seen and unseen. Schowalter’s battle was not just for a hill in Korea. It was for something eternal—brotherhood, honor, faith. These are the things a soldier carries long after the last shot fades.

“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

We owe it to these men and women—their sacrifices, blood, and duty—to honor what they fought for: freedom stitched with sacrifice, redemption earned in fire.

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stands for all who have chosen the hard path. In their scars are stories worth telling. In their courage, lessons worth living.

Sources

1. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Citation: Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Military Times Valor Archives 2. Harry G. Summers Jr., On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Korean War (Presidio Press, 1982) 3. Frank Perkins, Eyewitness Testimonies of the 7th Infantry Division in Korea, 1953 (National Archives)