Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Earned the Medal of Honor at Triangle Hill

Jan 27 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Earned the Medal of Honor at Triangle Hill

Blood and grit anchored his soul before dawn broke. The ground shook with enemy fire. Men around him fell—some screaming, others silent in death. But Edward R. Schowalter Jr. moved forward anyway. Wounded, outnumbered, exhausted. Yet still leading.

The Making of a Warrior

Born in 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. came from a lineage steeped in military tradition. His father was an Army officer—discipline and duty woven deep into the fabric of the boy’s upbringing. The Scriptures, too, were a quiet but constant presence. “Be strong and courageous,” Deuteronomy 31:6 echoed in his heart.

When Schowalter joined the U.S. Army, he carried more than a rifle—he carried an unshakable code. Honor wasn’t optional. It was forged in sweat and sacrifice. This was a man who believed leaders did not abandon their men, no matter the cost.

The Battle That Defined Him

February 1, 1951—Triangle Hill, Korea.

Schowalter was a first lieutenant, commanding G Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. The enemy pressed hard, their numbers swelling like a tide. The hill was a choke point, critical for control, soaked with the blood of those before him.

During the assault, Schowalter was wounded in the right side and face, grievously so. Most would have called it quits. But not him. He ignored the pain, the flooding blood, and the chaos of mortar shells and machine gun fire.

He rallied his men, reorganized positions, and led a counter-attack, driving the enemy back from multiple trench lines. Twice more he was hit, yet twice more he rose to the challenge. His leadership turned desperation into defiance.

His company’s success at Triangle Hill stalled the enemy’s advance, saving countless lives and buying time for American forces.

Valor Recognized

For his extraordinary heroism, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. earned the Medal of Honor. The citation reads in part:

“Despite severe wounds, 1st Lt. Schowalter skillfully directed his company and made repeated trips across fire-swept terrain to reorganize his men. His gallantry and unwavering devotion inspired all who observed him.”

Generals and comrades alike spoke of his calm under fire.

“Lieutenant Schowalter’s courage under fire was unmatched. He showed us what it meant to lead from the front,” recalled a fellow officer.[^1]

Such praise is rare. It belongs only to those forged in the unrelenting furnace of combat, who choose sacrifice over survival.

Scars that Mark a Life

War left its marks on Schowalter—not just the physical, but the eternal kind. Those who see combat carry burdens invisible to the untrained eye. Loss, pain, and the haunting silence after the guns fall quiet.

Yet, Schowalter carried something beyond wounds. Faith. Redemption. Like the words sealed in Romans 8:37,

“...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

His life after Korea was one of quiet service, a testament to humility more than glory. He didn’t seek spotlight. His story was told through the lives saved and the men led.

Legacy on Savage Ground

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.'s story is more than heroics. It is about relentless duty, relentless courage, and the price it demands. It reminds us all—veterans and civilians alike—that heroism isn’t just in acts of valor, but in the steadfast refusal to give in to despair.

His legacy lives in every soldier who grips a weapon knowing the cost. In every leader who stands when others fall. And in the quiet moments of reflection where the weight of sacrifice is felt deepest.

We owe no less than our honor to men like him who walked through hell to hold the line so others might live.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

Schowalter’s story is a blood-stained prayer etched into the earth—an unyielding testament to courage, suffering, and the divine strength that redeems even the darkest battlefields.

[^1]: U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War