Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Held Hill 755 and Earned the Medal of Honor

Nov 14 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Held Hill 755 and Earned the Medal of Honor

Bloodied ground and candles flicker. A young lieutenant, throat dry, knee deep in mud and blood, gripping his M1 carbine with shattered fingers. Enemy fire pounding, comrades falling. Yet he stands—unyielding, unforgiving. This is Edward R. Schowalter Jr. on April 22, 1951, at the bloody chokepoint near Hill 755, Korea. A man made of grit and resolve, carved out by war’s cruel hand, and tested beyond the breaking point.

Background & Faith

Edward Ross Schowalter Jr. was born in 1927, Missouri steel country. Raised by steady hands, grounded in faith, he carried the weight of duty early. Attending the University of Missouri before the Korean War, he was a man forged by Midwestern grit and a quiet trust in God’s plan. A soldier not only of arms but of spirit.

He took the call to serve, commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. His faith did not shield him from harm but anchored him in the chaos. Scripture, memorized long before battle lines blurred, would later echo in his mind:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

That promise, hard as steel, carried him forward.

The Battle That Defined Him

Late April 1951, Korea—Schowalter commanded Company G, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Enemy forces swarmed them like a flood, overwhelming in number and fury.

His unit was tasked with holding Hill 755, a vital position to blunt the North Korean offensive. The enemy’s assault came hard and fast. Schowalter, wounded twice but refusing evacuation, refused to give ground.

He moved among his men, rallying fragmented squads, personally assaulting enemy machine gun nests that pinned his troops down. Each grenade tossed, each command barked was a lifeline for those clinging to hope in the deluge of bullets.

Despite severe wounds—pierced lung, shattered fingers—he held the line for hours against repeated assaults. When the enemy broke through a forward position, Schowalter led a desperate counterattack, reclaiming lost ground under merciless fire. His actions halted the enemy advance, buying crucial time for reinforcements.

His command was uncompromising: lead from the front. Bleeding and bruised, he was the embodiment of grit and sacrifice on that hillside.

Recognition

For this, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest tribute. His citation named his “extraordinary heroism” and “leadership above and beyond the call of duty.”

Among the accolades, it was the words of his men that etched his legacy deeper:

“You knew he would never quit. He was never just a commander—he was one of us, fighting in the mud and hell alongside every man.”

General Matthew Ridgway, commander of the Eighth Army, praised Schowalter’s valor. His Medal of Honor citation detailed the relentless courage and unselfish leadership that turned the tide on Hill 755.

His name joined the solemn roll of warriors who bore wounds no medal could fully tell.

Legacy & Lessons

Edward Schowalter’s story is not just one of war. It’s a testament to steadfastness in the face of despair. His scars—both seen and hidden—speak of the cost peace demands.

His example reminds every soldier and citizen that courage is forged in moments when all seems lost. Leadership means shouldering burdens alongside your brothers, not above them.

He lived knowing that the battlefield tests more than muscle—it tests faith, resolve, the heart’s mettle. The quiet strength that faith grants is no less vital than any weapon wielded.

The ground on Hill 755 still whispers his name: a man who stood bleeding against the darkness, refusing to yield. That refusal saved lives. That refusal wrote history.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles...” — Isaiah 40:31

We remember Edward R. Schowalter Jr.—not as a mere soldier, but as a beacon of sacrifice and redemption. Because war stains the soul, but redemption rekindles the light.

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 3. Ridgway, Matthew B., Soldier (memoir), 1956.