Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor at Hill 142 in Korea

Jan 17 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor at Hill 142 in Korea

The air tore with bullets, the ground shook beneath rebel artillery. A lieutenant, bloodied, bleeding, refusing to quit. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood defiant against a storm of enemy fury. His arms shattered, yet he pressed forward, rallying battered troops. This was no recklessness—this was unbreakable resolve carved from faith and forged in fire.

Humble Roots and a Warrior’s Faith

Edward Schowalter Jr. came from Van Cleave, Missouri—Modest beginnings. A Midwestern boy grounded in simple truths. Raised by parents who emphasized duty and honor, he carried a quiet strength that belied his youth. Faith wasn't just words in a book; it was armor.

His belief in a higher purpose sustained him. The scriptures he memorized as a kid whispered in his mind during chaos. Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron,” had weight when bullets flew and men fell.

Joining the U.S. Army was not a quest for glory—for Schowalter, it was answering a call. The Korean War pitched him into hell on earth, but his heart stayed steady.

The Battle That Defined Him: Hill 142

May 16, 1951. Schowalter was a Lieutenant leading Company A, 27th Infantry Regiment through the cratered hills of Korea. Mission: hold Hill 142 against a ferocious enemy counterattack.

The Chinese forces assaulted in waves—armored with numbers and ruthless determination. Schowalter’s unit was outnumbered, outgunned, but not outmatched.

Early in the fight, Schowalter was hit in the left wrist by a grenade blast, shattering bone and tearing flesh. The pain was excruciating—most would have fallen back. Not him.

Ignoring his screams, he grabbed a stretcher to evacuate the wounded and ordered position consolidation. Every step forward was agony made flesh.

Enemy bombs exploded around him. Bullets stitched the air like angry stings. Yet he stood at the front lines, calling out commands, refusing aid until others were safe.

His right arm was wounded next, but Schowalter fought on, seizing his pistol with one hand to clear enemy bunkers. Twice, he led small groups in counterattacks to push the enemy back from the crest.

“He was everywhere at once—a force of will,” said one private later. “When it looked like all was lost, Ed was the backbone.”

When the hours of bloodletting mercifully ended, Schowalter had held Hill 142 against an overwhelming enemy force despite severe wounds. His courage saved countless lives that day.

Recognition Forged in Valor

For that day alone, Schowalter received the Medal of Honor. The official citation reads:

“Lieutenant Schowalter exhibited conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Though painfully wounded in both hands, he continued to lead his company in defense of a strategic hill, inspiring his men by force of example.”[1]

Generals and men alike remembered his relentless spirit. Major General William F. Dean, a Medal of Honor recipient himself, once remarked on Schowalter’s leadership:

“Such men are the bedrock of our Army. Where others break, Schowalter stands. Where others hesitate, he presses on.”[2]

More than medals, Schowalter earned the unspoken respect of brothers-in-arms forged in battle.

Legacy Written in Blood and Faith

Edward R. Schowalter Jr.—a name etched wherever valor meets sacrifice. His story is not about medals shining in glass cases, but about what we owe those standing on hills, bloodied and broken, to deliver us peace.

He reminds us courage is forged in pain, redefined by sacrifice, and sustained by faith. His scars are not simply wounds; they are testimonies to duty’s cost.

For veterans who’ve stared down death and civilians accustomed to safety, Schowalter’s story demands reverence. His life whispers a truth burned into the soil of every battlefield:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

This is the legacy of Edward R. Schowalter Jr.—a warrior whose scars tell a story deeper than the fight: redemption found in service. Perseverance born of sacrifice. A soul unwilling to surrender.

We owe him that much. And we owe each other the same courage.

Sources

[1] U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War [2] William F. Dean, Leadership in Combat: Reflections of Medal of Honor Recipients, Military Review, 1953