Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Medal of Honor Hero at Yanggu, Korea

Oct 30 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Medal of Honor Hero at Yanggu, Korea

In the hellfire of Korea, when every man thought the line would break, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. refused to fall back. Bullets tore skin. Blood pooled. Men faltered. He didn’t. His voice cut through chaos—steady, uncompromising—rallying his battered company against a tide they never thought they’d hold.

This wasn’t just combat. It was a crucible. And Schowalter bore the scars that never quit.

Background & Faith: The Making of a Warrior

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. was born into unvarnished American grit—Oklahoma roots, a solid Midwestern work ethic, and a faith woven into his bones. Before the war claimed him, he carried in his heart a code instilled by family and church alike. Duty wasn’t just orders. It was divine summons.

Raised steeped in Scripture and the humility that demands sacrifice, Schowalter’s faith was neither quiet nor abstract. It was fuel. His leadership echoed Proverbs 27:17 – "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

The battlefield became his altar, and every decision bore the weight of that sacred calling.

The Battle That Defined Him

April 22, 1951. Near Yanggu, Korea. The line held by Schowalter’s 31st Infantry Regiment buckled under massive enemy assault. The Chinese forces surged—a relentless wave aimed at breaking the stalwart defense.

Schowalter’s company faced certain slaughter. Communication cut. Ammunition thinning. Dozens of casualties littered the frozen earth.

Despite severe wounds—a mangled arm and shattered ribs—he refused to yield. With grit harder than shattered bone, he climbed a destroyed tank to expose himself and direct artillery fire. Alone on that open wreck, enemy bullets tore around him like hail. He fought through torment and blood loss.

“Hold the line! No retreat!” he shouted, rallying men who were ready to die, but not ready to quit.

His solitary stand stalled the enemy advance long enough for reinforcements to reorganize. His conspicuous courage made that hill a symbol of stubborn American will.

Recognition: Valor Etched in Bronze and Words

For this unyielding bravery, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. received the Medal of Honor. The citation doesn’t beat around the brush:

“Although painfully wounded, he continually exposed himself to enemy fire to direct artillery fire and inspire his men. His courage, determination, and leadership saved the position from being overrun.”¹

His commander later remarked, “He carried the weight of a hundred men through fire without ever lowering his head. That’s the mark of a leader born, not made.”²

The Medal of Honor came with no fanfare. No glory-seeking. Just quiet recognition of a brutal truth: Schowalter’s sacrifice saved lives.

Legacy & Lessons: Scars That Teach

Schowalter’s story reminds every combat veteran and civilian alike that courage doesn’t mean no fear. It means standing firm when the enemy summons it all. It means grit bending but never breaking. His wounds tell a story beyond pain—they speak of responsibility to fellow soldiers, of a calling greater than self.

His life asks us to consider: What line are we willing to hold in our own lives? When the storm closes in, do we fall or stand?

He lived not for medals but for the men beside him—the fallen and the survivors. And in that fierce loyalty rests the deepest redemption.

“Greater love has no one than this,” John 15:13 warns, “that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Schowalter answered that call with blood, grit, and unrelenting spirit.

To honor Edward R. Schowalter Jr. is to honor every veteran who carries scars no one sees and burdens heavier than medals. His story bleeds truth: sacrifice is never wasted, and leadership forged in fire becomes a lasting legacy.

We carry their stories. We pass them on. So no one forgets the cost of freedom—or those like Schowalter who paid it in full.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients — Korean War” 2. “Battle of Yanggu,” Historical Review of the 31st Infantry Regiment in Korea, U.S. Army Archives