Captain Edward Schowalter’s Medal of Honor at Chipyong-ni

Jan 07 , 2026

Captain Edward Schowalter’s Medal of Honor at Chipyong-ni

Blood, grit, and the unforgiving mountain air. The Hell that was Chipyong-ni, Korea, in February 1951. Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stands alone on a frozen ridge, his body shattered by wounds, his men pinned down, the enemy pressing hard from every side. Gunfire dances—a deadly symphony—but he doesn’t falter. He grips the cold steel, leads the fight, and holds that ridge like his life depends on it. Because it does.

The Forged Soldier: Background & Faith

Born in 1927 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Edward Schowalter’s roots ran hard and true. Raised in a modest family, he carried the values of discipline, faith, and service like an old boot—worn but vital. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Schowalter was no stranger to challenge, nor surrender.

A man of devout faith, he lived by the words of scripture—finding strength in them when the bullets flew and the world burned around him.

“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

This wasn’t just a verse pinned on a wall. It was the backbone of his stubborn courage.

The Battle That Defined Him

February 27, 1951. The Chinese People’s Volunteer Army surrounds the American lines near Chipyong-ni, South Korea. Schowalter commands Company A, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. The odds? Slaughter. But retreat was not in his orders... or his heart.

As the enemy closed in, Schowalter took heavy fire. His left arm shattered by a grenade blast, his entire left side pierced by shrapnel. Yet he shouted orders, shifting wounded defenders to new positions, rallying the scattered ranks.

Witnesses later said he moved through the battlefield like a force of nature—undaunted, relentless. He led counterattacks, directed mortar fire, and loosed steady streams of rifle fire. When a nearby tank was hit, and its crew in danger, he dragged wounded soldiers under machine gun fire to safety—without hesitation.

He made one final stand on a knoll, alone and exposed, his body screaming in pain but his spirit ironclad. Schowalter fired a bazooka at advancing troops. When his ammunition ran out, he grabbed a rifle and kept fighting.

The enemy tried to break them—hard and fast. But Captain Schowalter’s defiance kept them at bay. His actions bought precious hours, allowed reinforcements to arrive, and saved his battered unit from annihilation.

Honors Hard-Won: Recognition & Testimony

For this courage, Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor. His citation, issued in March 1951, speaks in brutal clarity:

“Despite grievous wounds, he gallantly directed the defense of his company... consistent disregard for his own safety... courage and leadership were in the highest tradition of military service.”

Generals and comrades alike praised his indomitable will. The 31st Infantry’s commanding officer called him “a lion among men,” while fellow soldiers told of his calming presence amid chaos, a beacon spurring them beyond human limits.

Schowalter’s scars told of more than pain. They told of sacrifice, of leadership that carried others through fire.

Legacy: A Testament Carved in Blood and Faith

Edward Schowalter’s story is not just one of heroism in battle, but the unyielding spirit that transcends war.

The land around Chipyong-ni still whispers of that fight.

His example teaches the bitter truth of combat—that valor is born not from glory but from sacrifice, resilience, and selfless duty. A scarred soldier’s faith, the grit to hold on when the body fails.

He once said in an interview that his deepest hope was that his story would inspire young men and women to serve with honor and to remember that even in war’s darkest moments, courage and faith can light the way.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39

Schowalter’s legacy is etched in those words—as enduring as steel, as redemptive as grace. His story is a living testament: true courage comes with a cost, but it also carries a purpose greater than the battlefield.

We owe this warrior our reverence and remembrance—not just for the medals or the valor—but for the man who stood alone, bleeding, broken, unbowed.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. Steven M. Gillon, The American Experience in Korea: Remembering and Learning from Combat (University Press, 2015) 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Citation Profile