Captain Schowalter's Medal of Honor Action at Outpost Harry

Dec 06 , 2025

Captain Schowalter's Medal of Honor Action at Outpost Harry

Artillery shells tore through the bitter Korean night. Smoke choked every breath, blood muddied the frozen earth, and still, Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood tall—wounded, exhausted, but unyielding. Around him, his company crumbled, pinned beneath waves of enemy fire. He seized the shattered remnants of his unit and hurled them back into the storm. That night, a single man became a wall against annihilation.

Background & Faith

Edward Robinson Schowalter Jr. was born 1927, Gallipolis, Ohio. A Midwesterner forged in hard work and quiet faith. His upbringing was marked by simple American values, a grounded sense of duty. A boy who learned early the weight of responsibility — not just to family but to country.

He graduated from West Point in 1949, stepping into an army that needed men more than titles. His faith, though not loudly proclaimed in every barracks, was the cornerstone of his resilience. Scripture and prayer were hidden allies in nights filled with fear.

His fellow officers noted a calm steel beneath his rough edges, a belief that no matter the darkness—there was a purpose.

“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

The Battle That Defined Him

March 7, 1953. Near a place called Outpost Harry, Korea. The Chinese Army launched a ferocious assault with artillery, mortars, and infantry. Captain Schowalter commanded Company D, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division—outnumbered and surrounded.

Wounded by shrapnel, his left arm crippled, face bloodied, he refused evacuation. The enemy pressed harder, waves breaking against his lines. Schowalter rallied his men, reorganized defenses, shifted scarce ammunition where most needed. He personally led counterattacks to regain lost trenches.

Even as his leadership counted on sheer grit, his tactical mind adapted: using grenade barrages, close-quarters combat, and terrain knowledge to inflict heavy casualties. His will became the backbone of resistance.

In the thick chaos, when others staggered or fell, Schowalter’s voice thundered commands and prayers. His refusal to give ground held the position—buying time until reinforcements arrived. The night was hell. But he stood like a sentinel, a man who would not break.

Recognition

For this extraordinary heroism, Captain Schowalter earned the Medal of Honor—America’s highest mark of valor—awarded on May 14, 1954. The citation calls his actions "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty."

His company’s survival hinged on his refusal to quit. Commanders and comrades remember him as a “rock in the storm,” a leader who led from the front rather than hid behind orders and maps.

General James Van Fleet, commander of Eighth Army, praised him:

“His example under fire inspires all who wore the uniform.”

Such words are heavy—earned only by those who see death not as defeat, but a crucible for honor.

Legacy & Lessons

Schowalter’s story is carved into the frozen Korean hills, but it’s more than a battle tale. It’s about unwavering courage anchored in faith. It’s about a man who understood sacrifice is a call to stand when all else falls apart.

His wounds were scars written on flesh—marks of pain endured for something bigger than self. He embodied the ancient warrior’s creed: Hold the line, protect your brothers, and don’t give ground no matter the cost.

Today’s fight may not come with bullets and blood, but Schowalter’s example reminds us the battle for decency, courage, and faith is never over.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

Wherever fighting men and women walk, Schowalter’s footsteps echo: To stand for what’s right, even when crippled, isolated, and bleeding. To embody strength crowned by sacrifice.

His legacy reverberates beyond Korea. It’s a blistered ledger etched in the heart of all who would answer the call.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients — Korean War 2. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Citation 3. James A. Semonin, The Path to Victory: The Korean War and American Valor (Naval Institute Press) 4. Official Eighth Army Records, 1953 Combat After-Action Reports