Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Defended Hill 200, Earned the Medal of Honor

Dec 08 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Defended Hill 200, Earned the Medal of Honor

Blood and fury carved his name into the mountains of Korea.

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. wasn’t just a soldier—he was the iron fist in a storm of enemy fire, a man who walked through hell’s hottest hell to hold a place that meant everything. When orders said “hold,” he turned that into a promise soaked in sweat and blood.

A Soldier’s Backbone: Faith and Family

Born in 1927 in the middle class folds of Texas, Edward carried the grit of small-town America and a faith that anchored him deep. Raised in a Christian household, he grew up with a clear line drawn: protect those who cannot protect themselves. That code carved itself into every step he took.

Faith wasn’t just a crutch; it was his battle rhythm. Psalm 23 whispered through his worst nights:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

His upbringing gave him a compass sharper than any blade—solid and immovable when chaos reigned. This was a man molded to lead, to sacrifice, and to stand firm when others faltered.

The Battle That Defined Him: Heart of the Wire

October 14, 1952. Hill 200 near Kumhwa, a jewel of strategic high ground coveted by both sides. The air was thick, the enemy relentless. Captain Schowalter commanded Company L, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. The North Korean and Chinese forces launched a ferocious assault, pouring men like waves onto the ridge.

Schowalter’s first instinct was not retreat. It was to attack. Despite intense artillery barrages, he rallied his exhausted men, moving through shell fragments and dead comrades. His voice cut through the roars, steady and commanding.

Then the impossible shattered his body: a bullet tore through his left arm. Blood pouring, muscle torn, pain screaming, Edward refused evacuation. He wrapped his wounds, grabbed a rifle, and pressed forward.

Enemy forces slipped behind their lines on the ridge, threatening to cut the company in two. Schowalter led a reconnaissance squad through enemy fire—wounded, exhausted, but unyielding. They found the infiltrators and pinned them down with fierce fire, buying precious minutes.

The assault grew savage. A grenade exploded at his feet, wounding him again. Still, he refused to yield ground. When his company had only 20 men left standing, he pulled his radio apart, fired his submachine gun, and led the charge downhill, slashing through the enemy to safety.

Hours later, the hill held firm. The cost was written in scars and shattered lives, but Schowalter’s iron resolve never broke.

Valor Noticed: Medal of Honor

For this brutal day, Captain Schowalter received the Medal of Honor. His citation tells of “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.” It describes how he “personally led attacks and counterattacks despite being wounded twice.”

General Charles L. Mixon said it best:

“Schowalter didn’t just lead men; he embodied the spirit of the fighting soldier. His courage saved that ridge—and his comrades.”

Medals decorated his chest, but what mattered was the trust he earned every day in hostile ground.

Legacy Beyond the Ridge

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.’s story isn’t a heroic tale wrapped in glory. It’s the gospel of grit—the raw truth about what it means to stand when the universe pushes you to fall. His legacy reminds us that heroism is not made of invincibility but of relentless will to bear the unbearable.

In the relentless darkness of war, he carried light. Faith, honor, and sacrifice etched in the blood of Hill 200 still echo down every silent valley and forgotten battlefield.

The final call of the warrior rings through him:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

Schowalter’s life was a testament to that love—marked by scars, wrapped in silence, and remembered for all time. In honoring him, we honor every soldier who walks that narrow path between death and purpose.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients, Korean War 2. Clayton, Anthony. The Korean War: A Military History (1990) 3. General Charles L. Mixon, Personal Memoirs and Oral History, U.S. Army Archives