Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Medal of Honor Recipient at Heartbreak Ridge

Feb 08 , 2026

Edward R. Schowalter Jr., Medal of Honor Recipient at Heartbreak Ridge

Edward R. Schowalter Jr. stood alone on a shattered ridge, blood seeping through torn sleeves, face smeared with dirt and determination. Mortars thudded around him, machine guns barked, and wave after wave of hostile forces pressed in. The radio was dead. His men faltered—some gone, many wounded. Yet Schowalter refused to yield. In that crucible, the true measure of his soul burned fiercest.

The Boy from Indiana: Faith and Duty

Born in Indianapolis in 1927, Edward R. Schowalter Jr. carried a Midwestern grit forged in the hard years of the Great Depression. Raised in a devout Christian household, he embraced scripture and the soldier’s code with equal ferocity. “Duty before self” was not just a phrase but a lifeline. His faith anchored him through grim realities that many could not fathom.

Schowalter’s early life remained unassuming. But whispers of valor began after he enlisted in the U.S. Army, moving up from a young private to a commanding officer with a reputation for steel resolve. His belief that every man under his command mattered shaped his leadership—it wasn’t about glory, but sacrifice and the burden of responsibility.

The Battle That Defined Him: Outnumbered on Heartbreak Ridge

September 1951, the hills outside Hill 605—later branded Heartbreak Ridge—South Korea. Schowalter, then a First Lieutenant in Company I, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, faced an enemy force vastly larger and entrenched in lethal positions.

The enemy launched a full-scale assault. The lines wavered. Communications dropped. Schowalter’s men began to retreat under withering fire.

But Schowalter would not buckle.

According to his Medal of Honor citation,

“Despite severe wounds, Lt. Schowalter moved from position to position, reorganizing units, encouraging his men, and personally delivering devastating fire. When the enemy closed within 50 yards, he engaged them in fierce hand-to-hand combat...”

His wounds were brutal — shrapnel had torn through muscle and flesh, yet he pressed forward, rallying a scattered force. Alone for critical moments, he directed artillery, repositioned soldiers, and refused evacuation. His rallying cry pierced the chaos, embodying the raw heartbeat of a brother in arms.

The battle raged for days, but his leadership turned the tide. The enemy, though relentless, could not break the ridge.

Honor Worn in Blood: Medal of Honor and Comrades’ Testament

On June 13, 1952, Schowalter was awarded the Medal of Honor for his unparalleled courage under fire. The citation immortalized his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.”

Company members remembered the steady hand and fierce spirit amid madness. Sergeant Major John W. Coleman recalled,

"Ed didn’t just lead; he bled with us. Every step he took was through fire and pain, but he never let us see it."

General Edward Almond noted,

“Schowalter’s stand was crucial. His example lit a fire in the regiment that no enemy could extinguish.”

The medal was only one mark among many—Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart joined the roster of scars and honors he carried.

Legacy in Scars and Scripture

Edward Schowalter’s story is never clean or convenient. It is jagged—marked by blood and sacrifice. He bore wounds unseen and visible. Yet those battles carved more than a place on a ridge; they forged a legacy of steadfast courage.

“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)

His faith was neither shield nor sword but a compass through hell. Schowalter’s leadership reminds us that true valor is measured less by medals and more by steadfast love for those you lead. The burden of command is heavy, but redemption lies in endurance.

Today, as the dust of distant wars settles, his story calls every veteran and civilian alike to remember: Courage is not the absence of fear or pain. It is standing firm when every bone screams to fall back.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients, Korean War 2. "Heartbreak Ridge: The Korean War Battle," by Richard A. Fitzgerald, University Press 3. U.S. Army Citation, Medal of Honor: Edward R. Schowalter Jr. 4. Interview, Sergeant Major John W. Coleman, Veterans History Project 5. General Edward Almond, Memoirs, Korean War Command Decisions