Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor Hero at Hoengsong, 1951

Dec 09 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor Hero at Hoengsong, 1951

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood waist-deep in a frozen river, bullets tearing the air and dirt flying like hellfire. His arm shattered, blood slick on the snow, yet he refused to yield. The enemy pressed in, a storm of fury, but Schowalter's voice, hoarse and raw, cut through the chaos: "Forward. We hold this ground." No retreat. Only fight. Only faith. Only survival.

The Roots of a Warrior

Born into a modest Texas family, Schowalter carried the weight of duty before uniform. Raised with a quiet reverence toward God and country, he lived by a code etched in the Old Testament: “Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) This wasn’t just scripture—it was the fire in his gut when the rest of the world grew cold.

His upbringing forged a man who understood sacrifice wasn’t a burden but a calling. Modest words, steel conviction, and a sense of responsibility larger than himself. The kind of man who doesn’t ask why, only how to stand in defense of his brothers in arms.

The Battle That Defined Him

February 7, 1951. Near Hoengsong, Korea, Schowalter, a First Lieutenant, commanded a single platoon—just under 40 men—against a North Korean force estimated in the hundreds. The bitter cold gnawed at their bones. Enemy troops swarmed like wolves, intent on wiping out their outpost.

The position buckled under the assault. Shells exploded. Men fell. Schowalter, hit multiple times, refused to withdraw. Shrapnel tore through his shoulder, but he staunched his own bleeding. With an M1 Carbine and sheer will, he directed defensive fire, rallied his men, and counterattacked repeatedly through the night.

At one point, nearly immobilized by wounds, he crawled to a wounded soldier, dragged him to safety, then returned to the line. His voice, though soaked in exhaustion, pushed the platoon: “Every man holds. No one breaks.”

Schowalter’s platoon halted the enemy's advance, bought precious hours, and secured a vital position in a losing battle. His leadership turned the tide by sheer grit and unyielding faith.

Recognition for Valor

The Medal of Honor came with no fanfare, just an acknowledgment that his actions pushed beyond the limits of human endurance. The official citation reads:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty… led his platoon in the defense and was seriously wounded yet refused to be evacuated… repulsed repeated enemy attacks and repeatedly reorganized his men, successfully holding a critical position.”

He earned not just a medal but the respect of a corps hardened by fire. General Matthew Ridgway noted the significance of such heroism in Korea—a conflict often overshadowed, but defined by valor.

Comrades described Schowalter as a man who refused to let the battlefield break him. Lieutenant Colonel George M. Branch said, “Ed’s strength was that he never let his wounds or fear stop him. He carried every man with him.”

Legacy Burned in Blood and Faith

Schowalter’s story is not one of invincibility but resilience—the kind born under fire and tempered by belief. He embodied a truth as old as war itself: courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the decision to face it.

The scars he bore weren’t marks of weakness but badges of a sacrifice made so others might live. Today, his legacy calls veterans and civilians alike to confront life’s battles head-on. To stand, often alone, even when the enemy closes in.

Redemption in war comes not from glory, but from fighting for something greater than yourself. Schowalter’s life is witness: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

The blood spilled on frozen Korean soil whispers through time. Edward R. Schowalter Jr. answered his country’s call and refused to let the darkness swallow his men. His story reminds us all: in the hellfires of combat, faith becomes armor, sacrifice becomes strength, and legacy carves a path for the broken to rise again.