Jan 28 , 2026
Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s Medal of Honor at Kumsong Ridge
Blood and grit. A cold ridge under a frozen night sky. Enemy forces swarmed, waves crashing like storms, but Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood like a wall of steel. Wounded, bleeding, exhausted — yet unyielding.
The Forge of Faith and Duty
Born into a modest Texas family, Edward carried the weight of hard work and quiet faith from his earliest days. His roots were simple, but his backbone? Unbreakable. A devout man, Schowalter lived by a code written in scripture and sweat.
“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
It was this scripture he would lean on when all hell broke loose on the hills of Korea. The mantle of leadership wasn’t thrust upon him by chance but earned through relentless discipline and a steadfast heart. He wasn’t a man seeking glory—he was a soldier carrying the souls of those around him.
The Battle That Defined Him
November 27, 1951. The hill was a deathtrap marked by blood-soaked earth and shattered dreams. Captain Schowalter led Company E, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, deep into enemy territory near Kumsong, Korea.
From the start, the enemy fought like cornered wolves. Waves of troops assaulted the ridge, their numbers overwhelming. Schowalter’s rifle cracked through the freezing air. Then a mortar shell exploded nearby, throwing shrapnel that tore into his right shoulder and face. Pain was immediate. Retreat was unthinkable.
Bleeding, battered, he refused aid and kept fighting. With a voice cracked by battle, he rallied his men again and again—leading counterattacks to reclaim lost ground. When communications failed, he scrambled through machine gun fire to coordinate artillery strikes that saved what was left of his unit.
Despite severe wounds, Schowalter stayed at the front lines, directing, encouraging, engaging the enemy face-to-face. At one brutal moment, his arm nearly useless, he grabbed a wounded weapon off a fallen comrade and fired point-blank at advancing enemy soldiers. His courage ignited his men, turning the tide of desperate combat.
His actions quelled the enemy assault and held the hill against impossible odds. Sacrifice was raw; victory was born in blood.
Medal of Honor: A Hard-Earned Honor
For extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation, issued February 1, 1952, details his refusal to yield despite mortal wounds and a leadership style defined by fearless example and unbreakable will[1].
Colonel Robert H. Soule, commanding officer of the 7th Infantry Division, praised Schowalter’s grit:
“Captain Schowalter’s courage in the face of overwhelming enemy forces was nothing short of legendary. He inspired every man to fight harder, to endure longer.”
The Medal was more than metal. It was a symbol of sacrifice — a testament to the cost of the fight and the spirit that refuses to break.
Legacy Etched in Sacrifice
Edward’s story does not end with medals or ceremonies. His life echoes through the halls of veteran memorials and the whispered prayers of soldiers facing their own hells. He embodied the brutal truth: leadership is forged in pain and sacrifice, not comfort.
The scars he bore weren’t just physical — they were testament to a warrior’s burden. But beneath the blood and battle noise, Schowalter’s faith was his anchor, steadying his soul through the chaos.
There is redemption on the battlefield, not always in victory, but in steadfastness, in refusing to surrender even when broken.
To every veteran weighed down by memories and pain, Schowalter’s story says this: You are not alone. Your sacrifice endures. Your courage teaches us all.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7
Sources
1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, "Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War," official citation of Edward R. Schowalter Jr.
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