Edward R. Schowalter Jr. earned the Medal of Honor at Outpost Harry

Oct 22 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. earned the Medal of Honor at Outpost Harry

Blood drenched the frozen hills outside Outpost Harry. The night sky cracked open with artillery fire. Men were falling, but Edward R. Schowalter Jr. did not falter—not once.

Steel in his veins, grit in his bones. This was no ordinary fight. It was a crucible where courage and pain intertwined like barbed wire.

Born for the Battlefield

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. came from a generation forged by storms—the Great Depression, world war shadows, and a heart wired for service. Raised in a disciplined home in Wisconsin, the military was not just a career. It was a calling.

Faith was his unseen armor. He carried a quiet conviction rooted deep in scripture and prayer—a belief that purpose extends beyond ourselves. A code steeled not by ambition but by sacrifice and honor.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

The Battle That Defined Him

July 18, 1953: Outpost Harry, Korea. One of the last, fiercest clashes before the armistice. The Chinese People’s Volunteer Army launched wave after wave to reclaim the strategic hill. The air thick with gunpowder and desperation.

Schowalter, then a young captain in the 15th Infantry Regiment, was ordered to hold the line at all costs. The odds were merciless. His unit was outnumbered, outgunned, and shattered by previous attacks.

Every inch gained was soaked in blood. Schowalter’s left leg took a deadly blast from a mortar round. Still, he refused evacuation. Instead, he dragged himself forward, rallying his men through sheer force of will.

“His courage and leadership inspired the men to hold their positions… despite their grievous wounds and the overwhelming enemy numbers.” – Medal of Honor citation[1]

Over the next 14 hours, his company repelled assaults that threatened to overrun the hill. Schowalter directed counterattacks, distributed ammunition, and even fired his rifle with one hand while clutching his shattered limb with the other.

He barked orders through pain so intense it almost broke him. But breaking was not on the menu that day.

Honored in Steel and Ink

For his extraordinary heroism, Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor on August 2, 1954. His citation describes a warrior who stood “firmly and fearlessly refusing to be evacuated until the enemy was defeated and his soldiers’ lives secure.”

“He exemplified the highest traditions of the military service.” – Secretary of the Army[2]

Brothers-in-arms remember him not only for bravery but for relentless devotion to his men. One comrade said,

“Captain Schowalter was the kind of leader who would crawl through hell and back to get us all home.”

Legacy Etched in Valor and Redemption

Schowalter’s story is more than medals and fast bullets. It’s a testament to the warrior’s burden—carrying terrible wounds but rising above to lead others through hell’s gates.

Battle scars are not just skin deep. They speak of sacrifice etched in flesh and spirit.

His endurance echoes the Psalmist’s cry:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” – Psalm 23:4

Every veteran who’s stared death in the face carries a shard of Schowalter’s resolve. The message is brutal and beautiful: You stand when falling would be easier.

Today, his legacy demands remembrance—not just of heroism, but of redemption. War carves deep wounds. Faith and honor stitch them back together.

To civilians who wear comfort unaware of such cost, stand humbled. To brothers and sisters in arms, remember: courage is forged in pain, sustained by purpose, and immortal in sacrifice.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients – Korean War [2] Department of the Army, General Orders Awarding the Medal of Honor to Captain Edward R. Schowalter Jr.