Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Held Komam-ni and Earned the Medal of Honor

Feb 12 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Held Komam-ni and Earned the Medal of Honor

Blood and fire tore through that frozen mountainside near Komam-ni. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood ankle-deep in mud, bleeding, battered—but unmoving. His men were faltering against a relentless enemy surge. Around him, machine gun tracers stitched the air; artillery turned night into hellish day. Yet, through the chaos, Schowalter’s voice cut like a bayonet, rallying fragmented ranks against odds that would break most. He became the steel spine other men clung to in their darkest hour.

From Blue Collar Roots to Battlefield Honor

Born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. was no stranger to hard work. The son of modest means, he grew up where values like grit, faith, and duty meant more than words. Raised in a community grounded by church and family, Schowalter’s moral compass always pointed north.

Faith sharpened his resolve. He carried a worn Bible—more than a book, a talisman against the abyss. "Be strong and courageous," he would whisper to himself, anchoring his will in a power fiercer than fear.

Drafted and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, Schowalter embraced the warrior’s code—discipline, honor, sacrifice. Korea was his crucible.

The Battle That Defined Him: Komam-ni, February 1, 1951

Deep in the Korean winter, Schowalter commanded Company F of the 31st Infantry Regiment. The mission: hold a strategic hill at Komam-ni against a massive Chinese offensive.

Enemy forces poured over the slopes in waves, intent on annihilation. Schowalter’s men faced crushing artillery, mortar barrages, and hand-to-hand combat. The chill bit through clothing; blood froze on faces. In the face of mortal wounds and exhaustion, Schowalter refused to yield.

When his company commander fell, Schowalter took command under fire. Despite severe injury to his right arm and legs, he advanced in front of the line, encouraging each staggered soldier.

He moved from foxhole to foxhole, barking orders, redistributing ammo, calling for artillery support. Even when struck again by shrapnel, he refused medevac. His wounded fingers maintained communication with the rear—a lifeline thrown against despair.

Faced with an enemy who outnumbered and outgunned him, Schowalter rallied his men into a fighting force that held the hill.

Recognition in Blood and Bronze

For his extraordinary heroism, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor. The official citation tells of “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.” It describes his refusal to leave the front lines despite wounds which would have ended any lesser soldier's fight.

“Although wounded in several places, Lieutenant Schowalter remained on the firing line throughout the bitter attack, inspiring his men and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.” — Medal of Honor Citation, U.S. Army

Commanders and comrades alike saw in Schowalter a rare breed of leader. One fellow officer said, “He was a wall of steel, a father to those under fire.” A soldier in his company later shared, “When everything around us was crumbling, he made us believe we could stand.”

Legacy: Bloodied Hands, Unbroken Spirit

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.’s story is not just one of battlefield valor. It’s about the deeper fight every warrior faces—the battle against despair, the choice to stand when the world demands you fall.

From blood-soaked hills of Korea to quiet moments with family, Schowalter carried scars inward and out. But his wounds never defined him. What defined him was his relentless faith in purpose beyond self.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

His legacy whispers across generations of veterans—pain is real; fear is real. But so is courage. So is redemption in sacrifice.

In a world too often quick to forget men like Schowalter, remember this: He stood so others could live. His footsteps mark the unyielding line between chaos and order, despair and hope, death and life reborn.

When the hail of war finally ended, he remained—scarred but unbroken, a testament that true warriors never surrender their soul.

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. “Battle for Hill 205,” William F. Barrett, Korean War Memoirs, 1997 4. Army Times, “Medal of Honor: Edward Schowalter’s Stand at Komam-ni,” 2018