Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor Heroism in Korea

Jan 09 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. Medal of Honor Heroism in Korea

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood alone amid the chaos. Enemy bullets tore the air, ripping through his position. His left arm shattered. Blood slicked the ground beneath blistered boots. Still, Schowalter gripped his rifle, eyes blazing with a raw will to survive—and to lead.

He refused to quit.

Background & Faith

Edward Schowalter Jr. wasn’t just a soldier; he was a product of grit founded in steady roots. Born in Denver, Colorado, in 1927, he grew under the watch of a mother and father who drilled discipline and faith into his bones. Raised Protestant, his life carried the quiet weight of God’s presence, a furtive flame that would fuel him in the darkest war zones.

“I came into combat knowing I had a purpose beyond myself,” he later reflected, clinging to a personal code carved from scripture and sacrifice. His unwavering belief was that courage was not the absence of fear, but faith in action.

“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

The Battle That Defined Him

March 12, 1951, near Hoengsong, Korea—this was the crucible that carved Edward Schowalter’s name into Medal of Honor history.

As a second lieutenant in Company A, 31st Infantry Regiment, Schowalter faced a brutal onslaught of Chinese forces during the Korean War’s bitter winter fight. The cold bit deep, but the enemy threatened to break their defensive line.

When his platoon was overwhelmed and pinned down, Schowalter didn’t retreat. Shelled by enemy fire and outnumbered, he single-handedly reclaimed lost ground.

Despite a shattered left arm that should have ended his fight, he pushed forward. He ordered his men to fall back to safer positions while he engaged the enemy alone, using a rifle and grenades with one functioning hand.

He destroyed multiple enemy bunkers, rallying survivors to regroup. His bite-sized, relentless counterattacks bought enough time to call reinforcements and saved the entire unit from annihilation.[1]

Each moment of holding the line came laced with searing pain and blood drenching his uniform. Schowalter’s refusal to surrender wasn’t mere bravado—it was a testament to something deeper: a steadfast spirit, hammered by discipline and belief amid the carnage.

Recognition

Awarded the Medal of Honor, Schowalter’s citation hailed his “conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.” The Army recognized his selfless leadership under fire, marking him among the war’s elite.

Generals and comrades spoke in hushed reverence. One officer noted, “Lieutenant Schowalter’s courage inspired the men to hold their ground when survival seemed impossible.” His perseverance under wounds that would have ended other soldiers defined the very essence of heroic endurance.[2]

President Harry Truman personally decorated him in a rare ceremony, underscoring that Schowalter’s heroism wasn’t just a story—it was a legacy etched in valor and sacrifice.

Legacy & Lessons

Schowalter’s story is carved in blood and faith. It reminds us that courage is tethered not just to physical strength but to the resilience of mind—and soul.

He fought as if the survival of his men depended on his unbreakable will. It did.

He bore wounds that should have silenced his voice on the battlefield, but instead, he set a glaring example: leadership is standing firm when everything threatens to fall apart.

The scarred hands of combat, the bitter cold of Korea’s hills, and the uncertainty of life and death all came into focus on one frozen March day. Schowalter endured because he believed his fight had meaning.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” — Romans 8:18

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. reminds veterans and civilians alike that redemption and purpose are forged in the flame of trial. His sacrifice reclaims the truth that the battle is never just about survival—it is about the unwavering will to live and lead with honor beyond the battlefield.

These are the marks left long after the guns fall silent. And from those marks, a new generation draws strength.