Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient

Aug 20 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood ankle-deep in mud, two bullets ripped through his leg. Blood gushed like the cold mountain streams, but he didn’t flinch. No retreat. Enemy forces closed from three sides, brutal and relentless. His men faltered, their hope faltered. But not Schowalter. He ripped a grenade from his belt, lobbed it with the fury of a cornered wolf—and barked orders that shattered panic. "Hold this ground at all costs."

Background & Faith

West Point graduate. Born 1927 in Colorado Springs. A soldier bred from the roots up—discipline etched deep, but more than that: faith. Schowalter carried a solemn respect for God and country. In letters home, he quoted from Isaiah and Romans, grounding himself in scripture’s promise amid chaos.

His creed was simple and unyielding: “Duty before self.” A code hammered into him from boyhood, sharpened by years of military rigor and the fires of combat. Family knew him as quiet but fierce—silent strength rather than loud bravado. He carried the invisible scars of burden, the weight of lives held in his hands.

The Battle That Defined Him

April 22, 1951. Near the Chorwon Valley, Korea. Schowalter commanded the 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment. Chinese forces pressed hard, waves crashing like tidal doom on their rocky outpost. His men ran low on ammo. Communications cut. Reinforcements miles away.

When the enemy encircled his position, Schowalter refused to yield. Twice wounded by grenade fragments, he ignored the pain. Twice knocked to the ground by enemy fire, he hauled himself back up. The line was breaking. He pulled his revolver—hand-to-hand combat. He ordered counterattacks, leading the charge from the front, firing at point-blank ranges, shouting for his men to follow.

More than once, he picked up fallen comrades' weapons to keep firing. His leadership turned panic into resolve. Hours stretched like an eternity engulfed in blood and smoke, but his lines never shifted an inch. When relief finally broke the enemy’s hold, Schowalter was left with shattered legs and a battered body—but an unbroken spirit.

Recognition

Medal of Honor. Presented by President Truman in 1952. The citation speaks not just of gallantry but of extraordinary heroism under fire, inspiring his men to resist overwhelming odds, refusing to abandon the position despite grave wounds and fatigue.[1]

“The courage and leadership displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Schowalter reflect great credit upon himself, the 7th Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army.” — Medal of Honor Citation, 1952[2]

Comrades remembered him as a “warfighter who never quit,” a living testament to the warrior ethos. General Maxwell D. Taylor called his defense “one of the finest examples of battlefield leadership the Korean War produced.”

Legacy & Lessons

Edward Schowalter’s story is carved into the rocky soil of Korea, but it lives far beyond it. It’s a raw lesson in what steadfastness demands—a price paid in flesh and blood. He showed that heroism is a fierce refusal to surrender hope, a stubborn stand for those who depend on you when the world is burning.

His sacrifice stands as a beacon to all who face overwhelming odds, whether on battlefields abroad or battles within themselves.

“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

In remembering Edward Schowalter, we remember the cost of courage—and the redemptive power of duty carried through the darkest nights. Scarred but unbowed. Broken but unbroken. His story is our reminder: true valor is forged in pain, tested by fire, and sealed by faith.

Sources

1. Department of Defense, “Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War,” U.S. Government Archives, 1952. 2. Official Medal of Honor Citation, Edward R. Schowalter Jr., The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, 1952. 3. Taylor, Maxwell D., The Korean War: The First Year, 1953. 4. West Point Archives, Class of 1949 Records, Schowalter Service File.