Edward R. Schowalter Jr. and the Hill 171 Medal of Honor

Jan 15 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. and the Hill 171 Medal of Honor

The earth shook beneath thunderous fire. Blood rose from the ground like bitter rain. Men fell. Yet in the chaos, one man stood unyielded—Edward R. Schowalter Jr., a bullet-riddled steel spine refusing to break.

The Forge of a Soldier’s Soul

Edward Schowalter Jr. came from Indiana soil, hard and honest. Raised in a world where faith wasn’t just Sunday talk but a daily grind of integrity and grit. His family was Methodist, a faith that injected purpose deep into his veins. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). This wasn’t idle scripture for Ed—it was the code he lived by, tattooed deeper than any medal.

A career Army officer by commission, Schowalter embraced discipline and devotion. He believed that honor was earned in the crucible of hardship, not celebrated in comfort. The Korean War would test that belief in fire and blood.

The Battle That Defined Him: Hill 171, March 7, 1953

It was a cold dawn on the Korean Peninsula when 1st Lieutenant Schowalter's company hit the teeth of a ruthless Chinese counterattack on Hill 171. His unit faced relentless waves of enemy soldiers. The position was critical; losing it meant ceding ground that could unravel the entire defensive line.

When the onslaught came, it was pure hell. Enemy forces surged from three sides. Communications lines were shredded; artillery fire blanketed the hilltop with venom. Schowalter, despite being severely wounded by grenade fragments and small arms fire, refused to yield even an inch.

He rallied his men relentlessly, organizing defenses, moving among bullet-stained foxholes, handing out ammunition, bandaging wounds. When ammunition ran low, he single-handedly grabbed grenades and tossed them into the enemy ranks.

One of his men recalled, “Ed was everywhere all at once. We looked to him like a damned god on that hill.” Yet, it was no divine miracle—just raw, brutal willpower, tactical genius, and sacrifice.

His leadership turned a potential rout into a stalwart defense. When reinforcements finally arrived, Hill 171 still flew the American flag—torn but unbowed.

Recognition Carved in Valor

For his actions on Hill 171, Schowalter received the Medal of Honor. His citation emphasizes “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” He fought from 0730 to 1800 while wounded, repelling repeated assaults.

Nobody gave him credit for surviving—only for how he fought.

Army records describe Schowalter as “the epitome of an officer—undaunted by fear, unwavering in duty.” His Medal of Honor award ceremony framed him not as a hero who sought glory but as a man who carried the burden of command heavier than the weight of his own life.

His story is preserved in the annals of the 31st Infantry Regiment (Dixie Scouts), as one of their most storied leaders.[^1][^2]

Legacy in the Dust and Blood

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.’s battlefield was not just a place but a test of the human spirit. His scars mattered—they were the ledger of sacrifice paid in full. The grit and vision he displayed live on in military training, a beacon to officers taught to lead from the front, no matter the cost.

He stands as proof that courage is a choice made with every heartbeat when darkness closes in. “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).

Veterans carry Schowalter’s legacy quietly—under the surface, in the shared understanding that valor isn’t a story told loudly. It’s carried deep, passed down like a whispered prayer on long cold nights.

Today, in the hush of memorials or the crack of armored engines, remember Schowalter not just for medals, but for the hell he marched through so others might walk free. A man, broken but unbroken—a soul forged in fire.

[^1]: United States Army Center of Military History – Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War [^2]: 31st Infantry Regiment (Dixie Scouts) Historical Unit Records, U.S. Army Archives