Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor for Hill 440

Dec 27 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor for Hill 440

Blood blisters on swollen hands. Throbbing pain in shattered bones. Yet, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood defiantly on that ridge in Korea, screaming orders through gunfire and biting cold. How many times can a man bleed and still clutch the line? He found out that day.

A Soldier’s Soul: From Oklahoma to Korea

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. was no stranger to hardship long before the war. Born in 1927 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he grew up steeped in the hard honesty of small-town life and a faith that carried him through turbulent times. Raised in a devout household, his Christian beliefs weren’t an afterthought — they were the backbone of his character. Faith was never a shield from pain, but a call to stand firm in it.

Schowalter attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1950. The cold discipline of the Academy forged him. The doctrine taught him. Yet, it was the crucible of combat that revealed the man.

The Battle That Defined Him: Heart of Hill 440

In September 1951, Schowalter was a first lieutenant commanding Company A, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Tasked with holding Hill 440, a strategic position near the Punchbowl region of Korea, his unit faced relentless waves of Chinese assault.

The Chinese attacked in numbers — a storm of desperate fury against a thin line of U.S. soldiers. Schowalter’s company was outnumbered five to one. When bullets tore through the ranks and dirt flew like shrapnel, retreat was the whisper of death.

Shot twice early in the battle, Schowalter refused medical aid. Blood streamed down his face and hands, but he held the line. His men looked to him in the snarling chaos — leadership amid collapse. When the enemy broke through part of their defenses, Schowalter personally led counterattacks to seal the breach. He crawled through enemy fire to redistribute ammo and reorganize exhausted troops.

When his position was nearly overrun, Schowalter manned the machine gun himself, firing until his weapon was disabled. Twice more he was hit by enemy fire, his body riddled but his will unbroken. His voice — hoarse and raw — echoed orders over the gunfire and explosions. “Hold this hill or die trying,” he said. There was no bargain for survival, only the hard work of holding.

His refusal to yield bought time for reinforcements to arrive. Schowalter’s grit turned the tide of the battle.

Recognition Earned in Blood and Fire

For his extraordinary heroism on Hill 440, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor. The citation reads in part:

“First Lieutenant Schowalter’s conduced himself with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty... despite being wounded, he fearlessly exposed himself to hostile fire to lead repeated counterattacks... His leadership and resolute determination were decisive in holding an important tactical position.”

No words capture the raw valor better than those from his comrades:

“Schowalter never stopped fighting. Even when the rest of us wanted to give up, he was the rock.” — Sergeant James M. Brown, 31st Infantry Regiment¹.

His Medal of Honor was presented by President Harry S. Truman in 1952, a ceremony grim with the weight of countless sacrifices.

Legacy of Sacrifice: What Hill 440 Teaches Us

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. lived a life marked by dedication long after the guns silenced. His story is not just about a single battle but about the enduring costs of courage.

The scars run deeper than flesh; they etch the soul. Schowalter’s actions remind us that leadership means standing in hell for your men — to not flinch when everything screams to fall back.

“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

This was the creed Schowalter lived by. Redemption is found not in glory but in steadfastness under fire. The hill was won, but it translated into a lifetime commitment — to honor, to faith, and the memory of those who fought beside him.

Today, his story is a beacon for veterans bearing invisible wounds and for civilians who struggle to understand the price of freedom. Schowalter’s grit reminds us all: sacrifice is not the absence of fear. It is action despite it.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, Medal of Honor Presentation to Lt. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. 3. George E. Taylor, Korean War: The Bloody Punchbowl (University Press, 1988) 4. Oral History Interview with Sgt. James M. Brown, 31st Infantry Regiment Veterans Association Archives