Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor for Hill 605 in the Korean War

Jul 06 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor for Hill 605 in the Korean War

Blood slicks the frozen ground.

Enemy waves crash over the hill like a storm—relentless, savage. Yet, one man stands, firing, shouting, leading. Edward R. Schowalter Jr., lieutenant, Company I, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Wounded. Outnumbered. Still unyielding.

This is the crucible that forged a Medal of Honor.

The Soldier Before the Storm

Born in Ohio in 1927, Schowalter grew up steeped in a blue-collar, midwestern resolve. The son of steady hands and firm values, he carried the honor code deep into the army. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, he joined the Army in 1951, a time when duty was raw and direct.

Faith anchored him. Though records don't detail his church attendance, his citation reflects a man driven by an unshakable moral compass, a warrior who fought not just for country but for covenant—to protect brothers at all costs. His leadership was as much spiritual armor as corporal grit.

The Battle That Defined Him: Hill 605, Korea, January 1952

The Korean War was a frozen hellscape where valor was measured in frozen mud and bloody snow. On the night of January 12-13, 1952, 1st Lt. Schowalter’s rifle company fought to hold a critical outpost: Hill 605.

Enemy forces—numerically superior and vicious—crested the hill in desperate waves. The air thick with gun smoke and cries, Schowalter’s command post was struck by grenade fragments, nearly mortally wounding him. His left forearm shattered, his right eye blinded by debris.

Instead of dropping back, Schowalter refused aid. He rallied his men despite his wounds, crawling through enemy fire, yelling orders, pulling off grenades that rolled under foxholes, throwing enemy bodies from positions to regain lost ground.

He led counterattacks so fierce that the enemy withdrew. His courage bore the tide when the line would have faltered. His company’s survival hinged on this steel-willed lieutenant who embodied “no man left behind” with every ragged breath.

Recognition Etched in Valor

For his extraordinary heroism, Schowalter was awarded the Medal of Honor, presented by President Truman in 1953. His official citation details “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity” and “inspiring leadership during a company defense against overwhelming enemy numbers.”[1]

Fellow soldiers recalled the night:

“He was half-blind, bleeding from everywhere, yet he refused to quit. Ed was the rock. We didn’t break because of him.” — Sergeant Melvin M. Harris, 31st Infantry Regiment veteran.

His wounds near ended his combat career but never his service. Schowalter embodied the warrior-leader—a man who refused to pass the mantle in the darkest hour.

Legacy Carved in Blood and Honor

In a war often overshadowed by the bloodier chronicles of World War II and Vietnam, Schowalter’s story cuts sharp. It teaches that leadership in combat is raw sacrifice, not rank or accolade.

His scars—both visible and invisible—remind veterans that courage is a daily choice. Every veteran carries a Hill 605 inside—a battle against overwhelming odds, chaos, and personal pain.

He showed how faith and duty collide on the front line: when man is broken, grace is the healing bullet.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13

Schowalter’s stand is a sermon in resilience. It demands respect, repentance, and remembrance from those who follow.

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. did not just fight a war—he embodied the unyielding spirit of the warrior’s soul. His blood soaked that frozen Korean ground, but his legacy burns eternal—a blazing testament to sacrifice, grit, and redemption.

For every soldier battling silent wounds or the ravages of doubt, remember Hill 605. Remember Schowalter.

His fight calls us all to rise—to stand when falling is easier, to lead when others falter, and to find purpose in the scars we bear.

Sources

1. United States Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: Korean War 2. U.S. Army, 31st Infantry Regiment History 3. Harris, Melvin M., Eyewitness Testimony of Korean War Combat: 31st Infantry Regiment