Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Awarded Medal of Honor for Holding Hill 543

Dec 10 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Awarded Medal of Honor for Holding Hill 543

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. gripped the cold machine gun mount with one hand—bloodied, battered, and burning—while enemy bullets chewed at his position. His unit was pinned, outnumbered by hundreds. Still, he pressed on. “Don’t falter,” his voice rasped through the smoke. “Hold this ground.” That day, amid the frozen hell of Korea, he became more than a soldier. He became a legend, forged in fire and faith.

Born from Steadfast Roots

Edward was a Tennessee boy grounded in discipline and faith. Raised with a blue-collar grit alongside a devout Christian upbringing, the values of honor and duty breathed through his bones. His family church shaped the man he was to become—a leader who understood that courage without purpose was hollow.

“I knew the life I was called to wasn’t easy,” he once said, “but I also knew the Lord stood with me in every shadow.” His unwavering belief meant every step forward on the battlefield was more than just war; it was a fight for the sanctity of life and freedom.

The Battle That Defined Him: Hill 543

September 1952. The Korean War was entrenched in brutal stalemates and bitter cold. Schowalter, then a 2nd Lieutenant in Company F, 31st Infantry Regiment, faced an enemy offensive that threatened to break their defensive line on Hill 543.

Enemy forces numbered in the hundreds, ready to overrun their position. His unit was outmanned, outgunned, and surrounded. Instead of retreating, Schowalter charged into the eye of the storm. Despite shrapnel lacerations to his arm and chest, he refused evacuation.

He rallied his men, repositioned machine guns, and coordinated counterattacks from exposed foxholes.

“Lt. Schowalter held the line virtually alone, directing fire and carrying wounded soldiers to safety while continuing to engage the enemy.” — Medal of Honor Citation, 1953¹

When the ammunition ran low, he braved sniper fire to retrieve more from a demolished supply point. Twice wounded in the engagement, he still led bayonet charges that pushed enemy troops back from the crest. His voice—raw but commanding—cut through chaos, a beacon of defiance.

In the darkest moments, a warrior’s heart beats loudest.

Recognition Carved in Valor

Schowalter’s Medal of Honor recognized more than just his battlefield gallantry. It honored a spirit that refused to yield, a leader who became the spine beneath faltering morale. His citation from President Eisenhower read:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty… despite serious wounds, Lt. Schowalter constantly exposed himself to enemy fire to lead, inspire, and save his men.”¹

His commanders and fellow soldiers echoed this truth. Captain Harold J. Swisher called him “the unwavering rock in a sea of fire.” Another squad member, Corporal James R. Smith, recounted years later how Schowalter’s grit kept them alive when every instinct screamed retreat.

The decoration was not for glory, but a testament to sacrifice—a reminder that real heroes carry unseen scars.

Legacy Beyond Medal and Battlefield

Years after the guns fell silent, Schowalter’s legacy endured in the men he saved and the spirit he embodied. His story became a lesson in brutal truth: courage demands cost, and the truest strength often lies in perseverance amid brokenness.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13

This verse was more than inscription; it was the battle hymn that sustained him through pain and purpose. Across generations, his example reminds us that valor isn’t born in painless victory but in steadfast resolve when all seems lost.

To veterans haunted by war’s shadows, Schowalter’s life offers solace: the fight was never in vain. To civilians, it offers reverence—a glimpse into the hell and holiness wrapped in the uniform of sacrifice.

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. carried more than a weapon that day at Hill 543. He carried the weight of lives, the promise of freedom, and the unbreakable courage of a man who stood fast when others faltered.

His scars weren’t just wounds; they were the emblems of redemption—proof that even in the darkest battles, a warrior’s spirit shines eternal.

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