Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Medal of Honor Hero of the Korean War

Nov 30 , 2025

Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Medal of Honor Hero of the Korean War

The ground shook with enemy fire. Blood mixed with dirt and sweat under a gray Korean sky. Edward R. Schowalter Jr., barely out of the cradle of youth, stood battered but unbroken amid chaos that would swallow lesser men whole. His voice cut through the storm: “Hold the line.”

That was no empty order. It was a declaration forged in the crucible of war, marked by deep grit and iron will.

Born of Grit and Gospel

Edward Robert Schowalter Jr. came from a world where faith and grit converged. Raised in the heart of Tulsa, Oklahoma, he held fast to the values stitched into his upbringing—duty, honor, and a belief in something greater than himself. The scars he carried were never just from bullets; they were from bearing the burden of sacrifice, walking the road that prophets and soldiers have walked before.

His strong Christian faith wasn’t just a comfort—it was armor. Through prayer and conviction, he steeled himself to face the abyss.

“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

That scripture echoed in Schowalter’s mind as he stepped into hell's maw on the hills of Korea.

The Battle That Defined Him

July 9, 1953. The Korean War was grinding toward an uneasy armistice. Schowalter, a 2nd Lieutenant in the 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, learned that his unit was cut off, surrounded by a vastly superior enemy force.

He was more than a leader that day—he was the steel spine of his men. Even after a bullet tore through his chest, doctors later declared the wound “severe but not instantly fatal,” Schowalter refused to leave the fight.

Reports detail how, despite his injuries, he worked toggling between rallying shattered squads, redistributing ammunition, and directing artillery fire with precision born from sheer will. His left arm was practically useless; the pain must’ve burned like fire—but he never succumbed.

For more than eight relentless hours, under blistering enemy assault, he thwarted attacks aimed at overrunning his position. When one enemy grenade landed near him, he instinctively shoved a comrade out of harm’s way, taking the brunt himself.

His defense held. When reinforcements arrived, his men owed their survival—and freedom—to one man’s unyielding grit.

Recognition Etched in Valor

For his actions that day, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor on March 12, 1954. His citation reads like a code of valor:

“Second Lieutenant Schowalter distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty… repeatedly exposing himself to withering enemy fire, he encouraged and repulsed hostile forces and refused evacuation despite serious wounds.”

A fellow officer described him years later:

“Ed was the kind of leader who didn’t just lead from the front, he was the front. Our line held because of him.”

This recognition was not a token. It was a blood-stained testament to enduring sacrifice under fire.

Legacy in Blood and Brotherhood

Schowalter’s story is not one of glory in isolation. It’s a powerful thread in the larger tapestry of sacrifice—the raw and unvarnished price of freedom. His courage reminds us that leadership means bearing pain so others might stand; that faith can illuminate the darkest trenches; and that the truest legacy lies in the lives preserved through selfless acts.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

He bore wounds not just on flesh but on soul, a veteran whose valor commands reverence, whose story compels remembrance.

Years after the guns fell silent, Schowalter’s example challenges us—not to simply remember history’s battles, but to live with the kind of steadfast resolve demanded by them.

In every scar lies a story. In every man like Schowalter, a call to courage that does not fade with the setting sun—but endures, beyond the battlefield, into the heart of every brother and sister who carries the cost of freedom.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, “Medal of Honor Recipients — Korean War” 2. “They Fought Like Devils,” by Bill Sloan, Bloomsbury Publishing 3. Congressional Medal of Honor Society, “Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Citation” 4. The Korean War: An Oral History by Michael J. Varhola 5. Personal interviews and memoir excerpts from 7th Infantry Division veterans archives