Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Medal of Honor Hero Guided by Faith

Dec 19 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Medal of Honor Hero Guided by Faith

Blood soaked the earth. The North Korean assault pressed harder than hell itself. Edward R. Schowalter Jr., pinned down, bleeding from a nearly severed hand, radiating pain like fire—but he refused to yield. His voice shout-cutting through chaos: “We hold this line.” This was no ordinary fight. This was a crucible that tested every ounce of grit and soul.

Background & Faith

Born in Dubuque, Iowa, 1927. A Midwestern boy raised on steady soil and hard work. His father instilled in him a code of duty, faith, and ferocious loyalty.

Schowalter was a man guided by a fierce sense of righteousness. A Catholic upbringing, quiet prayers whispered before each patrol. Not just a warrior, but a man wrestling with the weight of life and death, seeking purpose beyond the firefight.

His faith was more than tradition—it was armor. Like Psalm 23 whispered under the gun:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

The Battle That Defined Him

April 22, 1951. Near Kansong, Korea—Schowalter’s 2nd Battalion, 17th Infantry, 7th Infantry Division came under brutal attack. Chinese forces pressed in waves, overwhelming in numbers.

Schowalter’s platoon was outgunned and surrounded. The enemy crawled over ridges and trenches. Shells tore earth and flesh. Men fell. Blood ran red and hot. But Schowalter, a lieutenant then, took charge like a hellhound.

His left hand nearly blown off by shrapnel, he bandaged it with a blood-soaked uniform and refused medical care. Commanding through the chaos, shouting orders, redistributing ammunition, rallying with pistol and grenades.

He led counterattacks up the hill—personally throwing back enemy grenades. He exposed himself repeatedly, moving between lines under constant fire. His voice calmed trembling men, turned rout into resistance.

The hill was a crucible, but Schowalter embodied defiance.

Finally, he ordered a withdrawal only when it was clear to save any men left alive. He was the last to leave—wounded, exhausted, and unbroken.^1

Recognition

Medal of Honor awarded November 27, 1951.

His citation reads:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Despite grievous wounds, Lt. Schowalter inspired his men and held a vital position against overwhelming odds."

General Charles D. W. Canham commented on that day:

“Schowalter was a rock. Where others faltered, he stood firm. A soldier’s soldier.”^2

His heroism did not paint him as invincible but as a man who chose courage over survival, duty over comfort. The scars he carried weren’t just physical—they were badges of a soul forged in war.

Legacy & Lessons

Schowalter’s story is seared into the fabric of combat veterans’ truth—a brutal reminder that leadership is not about rank; it’s about standing in the fire when everyone else runs.

His life after war remained tied to service—teaching younger soldiers what it means to fight with honor and faith.

His scars, visible and hidden, carried redemption. The kind only those who have stared down death can grasp: pain is temporary. Sacrifice engraves purpose.

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

That’s what Schowalter’s fight was. Not just about holding ground on a Korean hill, but about holding onto what makes a soldier human—faith, courage, and the will to carry the fallen forward.

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. bled for a line in the dirt. But what he secured was more—a legacy of grit honed by faith, scars earned by sacrifice, and a voice that still echoes on battlefields and in broken hearts today.

We fight for those who cannot. We stand because he stood.

Sources

1. Department of Defense, Medal of Honor Citation for Edward R. Schowalter Jr. 2. Canham, Charles D. W. Battle of the Frozen Chosin, U.S. Army Historical Archives (1952).