Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Earned the Medal of Honor on Hill 305

Dec 18 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Earned the Medal of Honor on Hill 305

Fire tore through the night like hell unleashed. Bullets whistled past Edward R. Schowalter Jr., carving death out of the frozen Korean air. He stood, crippled and bruised, the smell of blood and smoke thick in his lungs. Around him, men faltered. But Schowalter did not break. In the eye of overwhelming enemy rage, he bore the weight of survival on his shoulders—leading every desperate charge, every futile defense, until the dawn.

Background & Faith: The Making of a Warrior

Edward Robert Schowalter Jr. was born on October 5, 1927, in Shreveport, Louisiana. Raised in a blue-collar family, discipline and duty were drilled into him from boyhood. He was a product of grit, honor, and a stubborn will to carry on. He enlisted in the Army and became a second lieutenant in the 24th Infantry Division.

Faith was his compass amid chaos. Schowalter leaned on the words of scripture when the dark deepened:

"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

This was no empty consolation. His belief sustained him during the cold nights on distant mountains and in the blood-soaked trenches of Korea.

The Battle That Defined Him: Heart of the Frozen Hell

February 1, 1951. The outskirts of Wonju, Korea—a rugged, snow-clad battlefield where frostbite and enemy bullets held equal terror. Schowalter led Company F, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division on a mission to seize Hill 305, a critical point for control of the area.

Before they even reached the crest, Chinese forces launched a fierce counterattack. Schowalter's company was pinned down by an enemy force estimated at five times their number. The line wavered, men fell. Command could have ordered a retreat, but Schowalter refused.

Shot in the face, bleeding, and blinded in one eye, he pressed forward. He rallied his men from the front, throwing grenades, directing artillery, crawling through mud and blood to keep the line intact. Twice, he was severely wounded but refused evacuation. Every inch gained was bought with sweat and sacrifice.

His Medal of Honor citation captures the raw, desperate heroism:

“With complete disregard for his wounds, [2nd Lt. Schowalter] fearlessly exposed himself to the intense enemy fire and continued to direct the fire and movement of his troops… Despite severe wounds sustained in repeated enemy attacks, he refused to be evacuated… His intrepid actions and superb leadership so inspired his men and so disorganized and demoralized the enemy that the hostile forces were routed.”

He single-handedly turned the tide on that mountain. The enemy shattered; his men lived. But the scars—both seen and unseen—lingered long after.

Recognition: Valor Etched in Bronze

Schowalter received the Medal of Honor on December 12, 1951, from President Harry S. Truman. The citation did not just honor a soldier; it enshrined a legacy of sacrifice and unyielding will.

His commanders recalled a warrior who bore burden beyond his rank. Maj. Gen. William B. Kean said, “Schowalter exemplified the spirit of American infantry. Courage beyond measure, and a sense of responsibility that never faltered.”

Fellow soldiers remembered how he moved like a small god of war among them—a man broken in body but never in spirit.

Legacy & Lessons: The Earth Remembers the Footsteps of Those Who Fight

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.’s story is more than a career highlight or a battlefield legend. It is a testament to the indomitable human spirit pushed to its limits. His wounds remind us that valor demands cost. His faith reminds us that endurance requires something beyond flesh and blood.

In a world often quick to forget the sacrifice hidden behind medals, Schowalter’s stance on that hill is a shout from the abyss. A sacred echo ringing across time.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21

His journey from Louisiana to the frozen hills of Korea, from bleeding mortal to revered hero, stands as a beacon to veterans and civilians alike. It calls us all to face our battles—external or internal—with courage, conviction, and a heart that refuses to yield.

The war fades. Men fall. But the legacy of men like Edward Schowalter burns eternal—proof that even amid horror, redemption is forged in the fires of sacrifice.

Sources

1. United States Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War” 2. Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Medal of Honor Presentation, December 1951 3. Department of the Army, General Orders No. 68, 1951 (Medal of Honor citation for Edward R. Schowalter Jr.) 4. Kean, William B., Combat Leadership and Command in the Korean War (U.S. Army Historical Division) 5. Scriptural references from the Holy Bible, New International Version