Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Korean War Stand That Won the Medal of Honor

Dec 19 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Korean War Stand That Won the Medal of Honor

He bled. Twice wounded, blood pooling on frozen ground, yet Edward R. Schowalter Jr. refused to yield. Darkness crushed the Korean hills, enemy clawing closer, but his voice rose steady—cutting through the chaos like steel: “We hold this line. No retreat.” That night, a company of Rangers became steel forged in fire, under a leader who bore wounds deeper than flesh.

Background & Faith

Born 1927, Schowalter was no stranger to hardship. Raised in Texas, hard land and harder values shaped the boy: duty, grit, and faith. He carried a quiet reverence for scripture woven into his warrior's heart. As a West Point graduate turned combat-hardened officer, he fought not for glory but for the brother beside him.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9

These words were not mere echoes; they were a lifeline when the cold bite of war sought to break him.

The Battle That Defined Him

November 25, 1951. Near the village of Unsan, North Korea. The line held by Schowalter’s Company L, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, was the thin barrier between annihilation and survival. Against overwhelming Chinese forces, his men faced a storm of fire and flesh.

Early in the assault, he took a bullet to the chest. Plastic surgeons might have called it minor; no surgeon on that hill cared. Schowalter stayed upright.

Under a firestorm, wounded again—shot through the shoulder—he refused evacuation. Instead, he knelt in open terrain, directing defensive fire. His company was outnumbered five to one.

His voice barked orders amidst screaming bullets and exploding grenades. He personally led counterattacks to reclaim lost trenches, rallying shattered squads, refusing the chaos inside his ranks.

Sergeant First Class William W. Cagle later recalled:

“There was no quitting with Schowalter. Even broken and bleeding, he was the backbone holding us together.”

Hours bled into a hellish night. His rifle emptied, he grabbed grenades. Wounds blurred his vision, but his mind burned clear. His stand disrupted a Chinese attempt to flank the company—a move that bought others precious time.

Against all odds, the line held.

Recognition

For these actions, Schowalter received the Medal of Honor—the nation’s highest military decoration. The citation underscored the brutal reality he faced:

“With complete disregard for his own safety and while severely wounded, he continuously exposed himself to hostile fire to direct his men... He displayed gallantry and intrepidity beyond the call of duty.”

From comrades to commanders, his name became synonymous with grit.

General James Van Fleet, commander of the Eighth Army, lauded him:

“Schowalter’s leadership under fire embodies the indomitable spirit of American soldiers.”

Legacy & Lessons

Schowalter’s fight was not a tale of invincibility but relentless resolve. War scars—visible and invisible—tell truths about sacrifice few dare to speak. His story reminds us that courage does not eliminate fear; it demands we act despite it.

Duty trumps pain. Leadership demands sacrifice. Faith steels the soul.

His stand under fire teaches that heroism is a crucible—not a moment, but a continuous choice.

Faith and sacrifice carved Schowalter’s legacy deeper than medals. In the ashes of combat, he found purpose: to lead, to protect, to endure. His example presses on today, a beacon for veterans walking through their own shadows, and for civilians who struggle to understand cost beyond headlines.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God...” — Romans 8:38-39

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood not alone. He fought for his brothers. For honor. For a faith bigger than fear. His battlefield is silent now, but his charge echoes.

Honor the scars. Bear the flame. Never abandon the line.

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. Osprey Publishing – Korean War Infantry Tactics (Unit Histories) 4. Van Fleet, James A. – War in Korea: The Outbreak and the First Year (Memoirs)